1850Government
== History ==
Founded in 1850, the city of Gainesville was established on a 40-acre (16 ha) tract of land donated by Mary E.
1858History
The first hint of prosperity arrived with the Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoach in September 1858, bringing freight, passengers, and mail.
1860History
In 1860, Cooke County voted against secession.
1862Crime
In 1862, during the Civil War, the Great Hanging at Gainesville, a controversial trial and lynching of 40 suspected Union loyalists, brought the new town to the attention of the...
1873Government
Gainesville was incorporated on February 17, 1873, and by 1890 was established as a commercial and shipping point for area ranchers and farmers.
1887Infrastructure
For example, when the GC&SF arrived in 1887, goods could travel directly to or from Gainesville, directly to Chicago and Galveston, on the same railroad.
1903Government
== Public library ==
The public library for Cooke County, Cooke County Library, was first established in 1903; the library is in Gainesville.
1910History
=== Courthouse ===
Gainesville is home to a courthouse with an octagonal rotunda topped by stained glass, erected in 1910.
1911Military
In 1911 a monolith topped with a statue of a Confederate soldier was placed on the lawn outside the courthouse.
1912History
"The 1912 Cooke County Courthouse was designed by the Dallas firm of Lang & Witchell.
1924Education
NCTC began as Gainesville Junior College in 1924, and has the distinction of being the oldest continuously operated community college in Texas.
1964Architecture
A 1964 state marker defended the executions, but later memorials - including a 2014 granite monument near the site - commemorate the victims.
1968Government
Originally established as Weber Aircraft, LLC, in 1968, the company was subsequently acquired by Group Zodiac Aerospace and became known as Zodiac Seats U.S.
1969History
The MKT through town was abandoned around 1969 after having providing service for 90 years.
1999History
The return of Amtrak on June 14, 1999, brought Gainesville back full circle to one of the original sources of its growth and success.
2000History
=== 2000 census ===
As of the census of 2000, 15,538 people, 5,969 households, and 4,005 families resided in the city.
2001Sports
The NCTC Lion baseball team won the 2001 NJCAA National Championship.
2002Sports
The GHS varsity basketball team won the 3A-Division I State Championship in 2002, and the varsity football team won the 3A-Division I State Championship in 2003.
2003Education
A notable member of the 2003 championship football team was Darcel McBath, who was recruited by and played for the Texas Tech University Red Raiders and was drafted in the third...
2007Disaster
On June 18, 2007, thunderstorms moved through Gainesville, resulting in intense flooding.
2012History
82 overpass were not added until 2012.
2016Architecture
Constructed in the mid-1990s as a "destination" shopping mall, it has since become a distressed mall, with very few stores remaining in 2016.
2018History
In 2018, Zodiac Aerospace and its subsidiaries (including Zodiac Seats U.S.) were purchased by Safran, a French multinational aircraft engine, rocket engine, aerospace-component...
2019History
With around 1,500 employees (as of 2019), SSUSA is the largest single employer located within Gainesville/Cooke County.
2020History
By 2020, the population had grown to 17,394.
2021Education
The campus was officially renamed in 2021 Archived July 25, 2021, at the Wayback Machine from Robert E.
2023Architecture
At over a mile long from end to end, the casino contains four hotel towers, a convention center, and as of September 2023 the Lucas Oil Live venue which host popular musical act...