1868 - Captain George Gleason, son of William H. Gleason, bought acreage comprising what is now part of Delray Beach at a price of $1.25 per acre.

1876 - Hannibel Dillingham Pierce appointed first keeper of House of Refuge, a U.S. Coast Guard rescue station located two blocks north of Atlantic Avenue on North Ocean Blvd.

1876 - Lilly Pierce, daughter of Hannibel Pierce, is born, the first white child born between Jupiter and Miami.

1885 - Mail service by the Barefoot Mailman begun between Juno, Palm Beach and Lemon City, a community just north of Miami area.

1890 - East Coast Canal (Intracoastal Waterway) made navigable to House of Refuge area.

1894 - William A. Linton, then Postmaster of Saginaw, Mich., asked his close friend David Swinton to join him on a safari to Florida by barge down the Intracoastal canal. Mr. Linton bought 160 acres of land at $25.00 per acre with the backing of David Swinton. Mr. Linton also made down payment on 640 acres.

1895  -Mr.Linton brought in a small band of followers: E. Burslein Thomson, a civil engineer; W.W. Blackmer, a railroad clerk; Frank W. Chapman, a supply agent for Michigan Central Railroad and 5 farmers Jason Baker, Peter Leurs, Otto Schrader, Kemp Burton and Adolf Hoffman,  Mr. Thomson, the civil engineer, laid out the town of Linton.

1895 - Henry Sterling and family came from    Pennsylvania and together with Mr. Alfred Russell started the first commissary. The farmers had started raising green beans, peppers and other vegetables. However, on February 6, 1895 a hard freeze destroyed all crops, and in despair many settlers left. Mr. Linton was unable to continue payments on his land.

1895 - Frank Chapman was appointed first Postmaster of Linton.

1896 - First passenger train arrives in Linton by Florida East Coast Railroad.

1897 - Mt. Tabor, now the St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, was organized by the black settlers.

1898 - Mr. Linton’s mortgages are foreclosed; a few of the people who remained here bought back the land. The first public school is constructed.

1901 - The town’s name of Linton is changed to Delray and Mr. W.W. Blackmer, the former railroad clerk was appointed leader of the people who remained in the area.

1902 - The Ladies Improvement Association is established.

1902 - The first hotel in Delray is built by Frank W. Chapman.

1903 - Three churches are built -- the Methodist, Episcopal and Trinity Lutheran.

1908 - Telephone service is established.

1909 - U.S. Census counts a population of 250 people in Delray.

1911 - Town of Delray is incorporated with Mr. J.S. Sundy as Mayor.

1911 - A bridge is built across the East Coast Canal (Intracoastal). The Bank of Delray is established and Mr. J.L. Troop is president.

1913 - A library is begun by the Ladies Improvement Assoc. “Doe” Love is appointed new Postmaster. THE DELRAY PROGRESS, the first newspaper, is printed by Mrs. J.M. Cromer and Mrs. T.A. Tasker.

1914 - Delray gets electricity.

1914 - Bijou Theater is built.

1925 - Chamber of Commerce formed.

1925 - The Kiwanis Club of Delray is chartered.

1927 - The Town of Delray became DELRAY BEACH. The area east of the Intracoastal had incorporated in 1923 as Delray Beach. After merging, the entire area became Delray Beach.

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