Historical Timeline

1838
Nathaniel F. Williams Purchases the Land

Nathaniel F. Williams purchased the land from his brother in 1838, and there he and a third brother, Matthew R. Williams, operated Oakland Plantation, which grew cotton, corn, and sugarcane.

  • 1828
    Samuel May Williams Receives Land
    1838
    Nathaniel F. Williams Purchases the Land
    1843
    Sugar Mill Established
    1853
    Oakland Plantation Purchased
    1858
    Post Office Established
    1890
    1890’s- Land Accumulation, Industrial Growth, Rail Station & 2nd Post Office
    1892
    Pop. 500
    1906
    Isaac H. Kempner and William T. Eldridge Acquisitions and Expansion
    1908
    Kempner and Eldridge Modernize Imperial Sugar
    1913
    Levees and Ditches Constructed
    1914
    Pop.200, Businesses Increases
    1917
    Pools, Lakes, and Creek Dredging
    1918
    Lakeview Elementary School Built
    1923
    Hospital and Fire Station Built
    1925
    Population grows from 1,000 to 2,500 and Char House Constructed
    1928
    Last Sugar Cane Crop Harvest
    1936
    Pop. 1,500 and Employment Struggles during Great Depression.
    1946
    Kempner Family Become Sole Owners
    1956
    Pop. 2,285
    1959
    Town Incorporated. T.E. Harman first Mayor
    1964
    Population reaches 3,100
    1970
    Pop. 3,499, 28 Businesses. Master Planned Community
    1980
    Pop. 4,173, 95 Businesses Including Major Corporations
    1988
    Pop. 14,898 and 423 Businesses
    1989
    Pop. 19,874
    1990
    Pop. 24,529 “Fastest Growing in Nation”
    2000
    Pop. 63,328
    2009
    Best for Business