Wichita's Delano district started out with the reputation of being the rough side of town. A good way to understand how this reputation evolved is to learn the history as it happened. The following is a timeline that highlights the important events in early Wichita that made Delano notorious.

1869 - The establishment of an Osage Indian Territory to the south allowed for Wichita to be formally incorporated as an important cattle-shipping center on the Chisholm Trail. The Cattle-shipping industry would soon become a crucial part of the formation of Delano as a recreational district for the cowboys.

1871 - The township of Delano (sometimes called "West Wichita") was organized by P. McDonald. Wichita's first police department and jail were formed. The police wanted to keep all of the "vices" out of the core of the growing community. Most of the gambling, drinking and prostitution took place in the township of Delano, which did not have any police.

1871 - "Rowdy" Joe Lowe opened a dance hall saloon that was also know to be a brothel. This was one of many such establishments in Delano that thrived especially when cattle-drivers were in town. The city of Wichita required licenses for a drinking establishments and charged fines for gambling and prostitution, which kept taxes low and the city out of debt.

1872 - The racing of nude prostitutes to the river resulted in an ordinance prohibiting nude bathing, but only during the daytime.

1873 - "Rowdy" Joe Lowe shot and killed rival saloon owner Edward T. "Red" Beard. This led to the temporary closing of saloons for the rest of that fall. "Rowdy" Joe soon fled the area to escape prosecution. He was later held in St. Louis.

1875 - The Wichita city council received a number of petitions asking that ordinances banning prostitution be enforced, however there were no prosecutions under this provision until 1879.

1880 - The township of Delano was officially annexed by the city of Wichita, meaning that it was subject to Wichita laws and was under the police jurisdiction.

1881 - A Statewide prohibition law was put into effect, closing all of the saloons and drinking establishments including those in Wichita and the Delano neighborhood.

After, 1880, When Delano became a part of Wichita, the city continued to grow and expand far beyond the borders of old "West Wichita." The interest in historic Wichita started to grow in the late 20th century with the revival of "Wichita Old Town".

Today, 2008, Delano is rare in that it combines the old town character, with a modern young heart.