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985
Eric the Red sails to North America and established a community.
1000
The Archbishop of Milan first mentions a vehicle called a "carroccio," a platform with four wheels that is used to carry flags.
1114
Leif Ericson sails to North America to setup an outpost.
1135
Henry I of England orders all highways to be made broad enough for two wagons to pass, or 16 soldiers to march abreast.
1200
The practice of paying tolls begins and it is seen as a charitable duty to pay for road and bridge upkeep.
1250
Roger Bacon predicts the coming of horseless carriages, saying that "cars can be made so that without animals they will move with unbelievable rapidity."
1285
England passes its first road act which dictates that when roads become rutted, another shall be laid out alongside.
1300
Eyeglasses Invented.
1326
Small handguns first appear and influence road travel. Standard practice is to carry a gun under the left arm, since most people are right handed, road travelers stay to the right in order to keep approaching strangers on their left side.
1492
Columbus sailed to the new world.
1562
Citizens are expected to pitch in to repair roads. Queen Elizabeth increases the annual number of days people must work on the roads from four to six.
1585
Sir Walter Raleigh founded a colony on the Roanoke island in what became Virginia.
1607
England established its first permanent settlement in North America at Jamestown, Virginia, under John Smith.
1620
Puritans landed at Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts.
1650
Local governments in New England set taxes to pay for repair and construction of highways.
1662
The first bus begins operations in France. The scheduled service operates horse-drawn vehicles that seat eight. It always leaves on time whether full or empty.
1672
Colonial postal officials employed native American couriers to carry mail between New York and Albany because winter is too severe for white couriers.
1673
The first internal combustion engine is designed by a Dutch physicist. It uses gun-powder for fuel.
1769
Military engineers build the first self-propelled road vehicle.
Gasper de Portola claimed California for Spain and established the mission system under Junipero Serra. The missions were connected by the El Camino Real, the first road north/south road in California.
1770
A steam powered vehicle crashes into a stone wall making it the first motor vehicle accident.
1783
First Hot Air Balloon.
1785
William Murdock built the first motorcycle, a steam tricycle.
1789-93
Alexander MacKenzie of Canada, crosses continent by land.
1793
Lancaster Pike between Philadelphia and Lancaster established. First turnpike in the United States.
1803
Louisiana Purchase extends U. S. territorial control west of the Mississippi River.
1804-06
Lewis and Clark Expedition use rivers and overland travel to explore the northwest.
1825
New Jersey farmers build the first locomotive to run on rails.
1826
First modern railway line, the Liverpool & Manchester Railway opens for business.
1828
Omnibus - a horse drawn coach carrying 10 to 12 people were first used.
1831
First electric motor is invented.
1832
First horse-drawn street car in New York City.
1838
Boston introduced steam railroad lines.
1849
Gold Discovered in California.
1851
Gordon's Ferry began operation on the Kern River near Bakersfield.
1853
Gadsden Purchase transfers Mexican lands in New Mexico, Arizona and California to U. S. ownership.
1858
Butterfield Overland Stage Line began operation in the San Joaquin Valley using celerity wagons. They used Gordon's Ferry to cross Kern River. (October).
1861-65
Civil War.
1863
First subway opens in London.
1866
Kern County created, Havilah named county seat.
Havilah Weekly Courier published first issue.
U. S. Congress appropriates Indian lands as right-of-way for construction of transcontinental railroad.
1867
Troll road constructed by Colonel Baker in Caliente wash area to the Los Angeles-Havilah Road in the Walker Basin.
U. S. purchase of Alaska from Russia.
1868
The Austin velocipede was a two-wheeled steam powered motorcycle.
1869
First transcontinental railroad completed. Union Pacific and Central Pacific join up at Promontory Point, Utah.
Havilah Weekly Courier newspaper moves to Bakersfield, renamed the Kern County Weekly Courier
1870
Community of Delano established at Southern Pacific railhead.
1871
Telegraph Stage Company served Bakersfield on its trip from Los Angeles to Fresno.
1873
San Francisco cable cars begin service.
1874
Southern Pacific Railroad opened a terminal at Sumner, in the community of Kern east of Bakersfield. (October)
Community of Tehachapi established.
1875
New York City introduced steam powered elevated trains.
1876
Kern County Weekly Courier consolidates with Southern Californian, becoming the Kern County Courier-Californian
1880
Kern County population was 5,601 people.
1883
Brooklyn Bridge opened in New York City
1885
Karl Benz builds the first true automobile, a two-seater tricycle powered by a four-cycle gas engine and the first in which the engine and chassis form a single unit.
Gottieb Daimler in Germany developed a gasoline powered motorcycle.
1886
First citywide electric trolley system in Montgomery, Alabama.
1887
First cable car service, the Red Car begins operations in Los Angeles.
1888
Richmond, Virginia introduced electric street cars.
1889
Community of Shafter established.
1890
Automobiles commercially available.
Kern County population was 9,808 people.
1892
Horse drawn street car line connected Kern and Bakersfield along 19th Street.
Community of Wasco established.
1895
New York City replaced steam powered trains with electric trains and subways.
1897
Kern County Courier-Californian newspaper becomes The Daily Californian
1898
Santa Fe Railroad opened a terminal at F and 14th Streets in Bakersfield.
City of Bakersfield incorporated.
San Joaquin Valley Railroad began service in the southern San Joaquin Valley.
In Los Angeles, 72 miles of streetcar lines are consolidated under the LA Railway Corp.
1899
The automobile first goes one mile per minute.
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