November 19, 1860 - Future U. S. Senator Leroy Percy is born on the Percy plantation.

October 1882 - Captain James Alexander Feltus, who bought Three Oaks Plantation in January 1876, deeds the Memphis & Vicksburg Railroad a right of way through his plantation.

February 16, 1885 - As the first train arrives, Captain Feltus dedicates the town and awards railroad auditor C. E. Armstrong the privilege of naming it Leland in honor of his sweetheart Lela McCutcheon.

February 20, 1886 - Leland is incorporated by the State Legislature.

January 1889 - Leland suffers a disastrous business district fire; businessmen begin rebuilding with brick.

1904 - The Delta Branch Agricultural Experiment Station is established at nearby Stoneville, consequently bringing numerous scientists and researchers to Leland as citizens.

March 21, 1908 - A Collier's Weekly magazine article characterizes Leland as "The Hellhole of the Delta" because of the town's prevalence of gambling and alcohol and cocaine abuse.

1923 - The Leland Garden Club is founded and assumes the task of cleaning up and landscaping Deer Creek.

April 1927 - A break in the Mississippi River levee allows severe flooding of a significant portion of the Delta, including Leland.

1927 - George B. Walker begins a dairy business; in subsequent years his Guernseys set numerous production records.

March 1929 - Governor Theodore Bilbo designates the Town of Leland as the City of Leland.

Late 1920s and 1930s - Finklea Brothers "Dawn Patrol" becomes the first in Mississippi to poison cotton by using airplanes.

1932 - Hilton Waits writes a thesis at the University of Mississippi on the sales tax and wins a seat in the Mississippi House of Representatives where his ideas are incorporated into the state's sales tax law. Subsequently, Mississippi becomes the first state to make the sales tax workable. Alfred Holt Stone of Dunleith Plantation assumes leadership of the Mississippi Tax Commission.

September 1936 - Jim Henson is born in Greenville. While his father works at Stoneville, Jim grows up along Deer Creek, which inspires his later creation of the Muppets.

1938/39 - Dr. K. L. Witte's jumping horse, Miss Leland, wins a national title in 1938 and ties for second place in the international competition in 1939.

1944-45 - German prisoners of war are held in a camp two miles south of Leland.

Late 1940s - Lelanders move into the national performing arts world: Floyd Huddleston writes hit songs for Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland and for several Hollywood movies, Josephine Schillig becomes a talent scout for Arthur Godfrey, Barbara Dunnam joins the "Rockettes" dancers, and Marie Lillo begins a singing career that will lead to performances with Milton Berle, in opera, and on television and Broadway.

June 1951 - The National Council of State Garden Clubs presents the Leland Garden Club a national award for their Deer Creek project, helping to earn Leland its new characterization as "The Beauty Spot of the Delta."

January 28, 1952 - President Harry Truman presents Army M/Sergeant Hubert Lee the Congressional Medal of Honor for valor in the Korean War.

August 1959 - Dillingham, a furniture manufacturer, announces plans to locate a plant in Leland.

March 1964 - Leland becomes to first city in Mississippi with a population under 10,000 to win all ten awards in the Merit Community Program.

December 1964 - Leland initiates its renowned "Christmas on Deer Creek," which has consistently been ranked among the top events in the Southeast.

June 1967 - Geraldine Dean is selected president of the National Council of State Garden Clubs.

December 1968 - Leland natives Emmett Griffith, Tommy Baggette, and Bill Boone III serve roles in the Apollo 8 mission, the first to circle the moon. Griffith and Baggette assist with the launch at Cape Kennedy, while Boone helps track the mission at the Houston Space Center.

March 1969 - Time magazine announces that Leland native Johnny Winter has signed a contract with Columbia Records.

1969 - John Dillard pioneers the farming of pond-raised catfish and subsequently helps to build its support industries.

March 1970 - President Richard Nixon appoints Burrell McGee to the Advisory Committee on the Arts of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D. C.

June 25, 1970 - Mack Payne signs a contract with the Kansas City Royals professional baseball team.

1971 - Leland native Joe Frank Carollo, member of the pop singing group Hamilton, Joe Frank, and Reynolds, appears on American Bandstand with the Number 4 record in the nation, "Don't Pull Your Love Out." In July the record goes to Number 1.

August 1979 - Jamie Bell, tennis professional, associates with the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch.

1980 - Gracie Reed becomes a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader.

1981 - Former Leland newspaper publisher Larry Speakes becomes the spokesman for President Ronald Reagan.

January 1982 - Blues artist James "Son" Thomas plays at the White House.

April 1982 - Johnie Cooks joins the National Football League when the Baltimore Colts select him as the second pick in the draft.

April 1983 - Teresa Zepponi is named Miss Mississippi Teen USA and represents the state in the national pageant.

May 27, 1983 - B. F. Smith is recognized for 35 years of service in the Delta Council organization, promoting agriculture and a better quality of life in the Delta.

March 1985 - La-Z-Boy Furniture Company opens a plant in Leland in the old Dillingham building.

February 1986 - Leland celebrates its Centennial.

March 1986 - Governor Bill Allain issues a special citation to former professional model Mary Frances Flood for her outstanding contributions to the beauty pageant industry in Mississippi, especially for her astounding record in coaching beauty pageant winners.

Late 1980s - Robert Hitt Neill begins a career as humorist, professional storyteller, and author.

March 1990 - Leland native Connie Lillo appears in the movie "Die Hard II."

April 1990 - Dr. Edgar E. Hartwig, a research agronomist, is honored for 50 years of service in which he personally developed most of the soybean varieties planted in the South.

February 9-10, 1994 - Leland suffers severe ice storm.

June 1999 - Cohen Brothers filmed portions of the epic film "O Brother Where Art Thou" at Rexburg Road

June 2000 - Leland begins promotion of its blues music heritage with an annual Highway 61 Blues Festival.