1987

Nov. 3: Voters approve the incorporation of Santa Clarita.

Dec. 15: Santa Clarita is incorporated.

1988

Jan. 26: First Planning Commission forms.

May 10: First Parks and Recreation Commission forms.

June 14: City Council hires its first city manager, George Caravalho.

July 1: Dianne Van Hook becomes College of the Canyons president.

Oct. 15: City approves logo.

Nov. 21: Santa Clarita Main Post Office opens on Creekside Road.

1989

City contracts with Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for law enforcement services.

1990

Jan. 27: City opens Canyon Country Park, its first park.

April: City’s first Arbor Day celebration.

July 4: City’s first Fourth of July celebration.

Concerts in the Park series created.

Nov. 6: Voters approve the annexation of Pinetree-Timberlane, the city’s first expansion.

1991

June 25: City Council approves first general plan, which managed growth through 2010.

Anti-Gang Task Force created.

Aug. 2: Santa Clarita Transit debuts.

1992

Sept. 24: Valencia Town Center shopping mall opens.

Oct. 26: Santa Clarita Metrolink Station opens.

1993

Jan. 5: Santa Clarita’s first mayor, Howard “Buck” McKeon, is sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time.

1994

Jan. 17: The magnitude-6.7 Northridge earthquake strikes at 4:31 a.m., causing $300 million in damage to the SCV.

Feb. 7: City opens Via Princessa Metrolink Station.

Feb. 8: City forms Newhall Redevelopment Agency.

March 25: Cowboy Festival moves to Melody Ranch Picture Studio.

1995

Jan. 17: First State of the City luncheon held.

June 17: Six Flags Hurricane Harbor opens.

July 19: Saugus Speedway announces it will no longer host auto racing.

Nov. 12: City hosts first Santa Clarita Marathon.

1996

Aug. 14: Randy Wicks, The Signal’s award-winning editorial cartoonist, dies of a heart attack.

Nov. 12: A parks bill was signed that included a provision blocking the creation of an Elsmere Canyon landfill. The city and its residents campaigned against the dump.

1997

March 29: Santa-Clarita.com, the city’s official website opens.

Dec. 1: Santa Clarita opens its first homeless shelter.

1998

March 1: Billy Mayfair wins the PGA Tour’s Nissan Open (now called the Northern Trust Open) at Valencia Country Club. It was Tiger Woods’ first playoff loss.

July 1: Sandi Nieves murdered her four daughters, ages 5 to 12, and set her house on fire. She was convicted in 2000, and currently sits on death row at the Central California Women’s Facility.

Oct. 17: Santa Clarita Skatepark opens.

1999

Feb. 13: The Santa Clarita Valley switches from the 805 area code to the 661 area code.

Dec. 15: The City Council skipped over Jill Klajic in its mayoral rotation and re-elected Jo Anne Darcy as mayor.

2000

Central Park in Saugus opens.

March 18: Jan Heidt Newhall Metrolink Station opens.

April 3: Construction begins on Golden Valley Road.

North Valencia II annexes to city.

2001

Bouquet Canyon beautification project begins.

First Sister City program starts with Tena, Ecuador.

Via Princessa bridge opens.

Aug. 31: Sheriff’s deputy Jake Kuredjian, a Newhall resident, is killed in the line of duty in Stevenson Ranch.

Nov. 17: Jo Anne Darcy Canyon Country Library opens.

2002

April 29: Sheriff’s deputy David March, a Santa Clarita resident, is killed in the line of duty in Irwindale.

City celebrates Whitney Canyon Open Space Acquisition with Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.

Activities Center at the Sports Complex opens.

2003

Aquatics Center at the Sports Complex opens.

Second Sister City established with Sariaya, Philippines.

Haskell Canyon bridge and road widening completed.

2004

Jan. 27: Lennar and LNR purchase developer Newhall Land and Farming.

San Francisquito Trail opens.

Veterans Historical Plaza in Newhall breaks ground .

Oct. 15: Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center at College of the Canyons opens.

2005

April 16: Valencia Heritage Park opens.

May 28: Veterans Historical Plaza in Newhall opens.

Golden Valley interchange at Sierra Highway opens.

Aug. 27: Disc golf opens at Central Park.

2006

Jan. 21: Newhall Community Center opens.

Feb. 11: Youth Grove at Central Park opens.

April 4: Transit Maintenance Facility opens. It’s the city’s first environmentally friendly building.

2007

Feb. 24: Amgen Tour of California stops in the city for the first time.

July 1: Santa Clarita Enterprise Zone comes into effect.

October: More than 100,000 acres and 21 homes burn in brush fires across the SCV.

2008

City acquires more than 900 acres of open space at Golden Valley

June: City launches Extreme Neighborhood Makeover program.

2009

April 28: City launches 21-Point Business Plan for Progress.

June: More than 5,000 police and firemen participate in the Western States Police & Fire Games in Santa Clarita.

2010

Jan. 16: Councilman Bob Kellar’s remarks at an immigration rally attract national attention.

March 15: Capt. Paul Becker takes command of the SCV Sheriff’s Station.

March 27: Cross-valley connector road is completed.

City acquires 250 acres of open space of Golden Valley.

City acquires 243 acres of Rodda/Agua Dulce property.

City acquires 842 acres of Elsmere Canyon.

2011

July 1: Santa Clarita Public Library system opens, taking control of the Valencia, Canyon Country and Newhall libraries from the county.

2012

Sept. 11: Santa Clarita becomes third largest city in Los Angeles County.

Sept. 29: Old Town Newhall Library opens.