1848
William Cooper purchases 577 acres of land in rural Shelby County and establishes Cooper Street as the main thoroughfare
1894
the first streetcar begins regular runs down Cooper Street and Young Avenue
1899
half of Cooper-Young is annexed into the Memphis city limits
1900
Steamboat Captain C. L. Harris purchased a home in Cooper Young
1905
Young Avenue is named for Judge J. P. Young, a Memphis historian and attorney
1909
second half of Cooper-Young is annexed in the Memphis city limits
1910
Fleece School is built (later renamed Peabody School)
1915
by this time most of the homes in Cooper-Young neighborhood had been built
1917
Piggy Wiggly opens its doors in the neighborhood, becoming the 5th store in Clarence Saunders legendary grocery chain
1925
the Peabody Theatre at the corner of Cooper and Nelson opened to rave reviews
1930
the first “nickel pie” was sold from which would be known as the Keathley Pie Company years later
1950
Easy Way Market opens in Cooper-Young
1951
Johnny Cash records his first record in the basement of the old Galloway Church at 1015 South Cooper Street
1970s
Cooper-Young becomes a popular neighborhood for musicians, leading to an influx of artists of all types and helping to establish the art vibe that is so essential to the neighborhood’s personality
1978
the first Cooper-Young festival is held in the parking lot of what is now First Congregational Church
1979
the community newspaper, The Lamplighter, was published as a forum of information for residents
1988
Cooper-Young Business Association is formed with 60 charter members and assumes management of the Cooper-Young Festival
1988
CYCA and CYBA are granted $500,000 federal Oasis Project which gave the commerial district a jumpstart including lamp posts, gingko trees and a gazebo with flower beds and benches at the intersection of Cooper and Young
1989
Cooper-Young is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
1991
CYBA charters the Cooper-Young Development Corporation to take title of the Oasis improvements and to kickstart housing in the shabbier areas in the area
1994 – 1999
the CYDC would repair, restore and renovate over 50 homes receiving over 1 million dollars in grant money
2000
the iconic neighborhood depiction of Cooper-Young by artist, Jill Turman, is installed at the trestle running above Cooper Street, creating a signature entry point to the district
2008
the monthly First Thursday Night Out is held as a way to create celebrations and savings for visitors to the district
2010
more than 100,00 visitors made their way to the Cooper-Young Festival, marking an all-time high in attendance
2012
the neighborhood is named one of the “Top 10 Great Neighborhoods in America” by the American Planning Association, adding further validation to the areas commercial and residential sustainability
