City of Greenwood history

Greenwood was founded in 1851 when its location was selected for the first county seat of Sebastian County.

A.G. Searle establishes an iron foundry on Foundry Street (now Pearl Street), which closes in 1862

The first court house was a log structure, replaced in 1865 by a frame court house which was built in the center of the public square.

1870 First mercantile store is erected by W.S. Wise

Greenwood county was established in 1897; the city of Greenwood is the county seat.

1900 Greenwood has two train depots that average 100 trains every 24 hours

Black businesses clustered on the strip of land that would become Greenwood in 1905, when African Americans acquired the land.

The square was also the site for the Sebastian County Court House until 1916 when a new one was built across the street to the south.

Eighty businesses were opened by the end of 1922.

Following the 1933 Bank Holiday, Citizens National Bank and the First National Bank merge and form the National Bank of Greenwood

1939 Greenwood High School hosts first basketball game

1947 Greenwood's first major train collision.

In 1950, Gwin received a citation from the National Congress of the Daughters of the American Revolution in recognition of her work in the conservation of trees.

1958 Greenwood's largest employer, Mr.

By 1961, 90 percent of African American income in Tulsa was spent outside the Greenwood District.

Funds for this project were made available through a project grant from the Federal Highway Act of 1973.

1975 Flashing signal light were placed at the Ranson Road Railroad crossing.

The clock and bell tower that stands in the middle of town square was designed and built in 1976 in recognition of our Nation's 200th birthday.

1984 The Greenwood Lions Club hosts Greenwood's first community celebration day

In 1997 a Tulsa Race Riot Commission was formed by the state of Oklahoma to investigate the massacre and formally document the incident.

2001 Freedom Park is built; the first and only city park north of M-150 Highway

In April 2002 a private religious charity, the Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry, paid a total of $28,000 to the survivors, a little more than $200 each, using funds raised from private donations.

2003 Construction begins on the newest addition to Greenwood Elementary School