- 1872 - Religious Founders purchased 414 acres for Camp Meeting Grounds.
- 1873 - "The Rehoboth Beach Camp Meeting Association of the Methodist Episcopal Church" chartered. Summer Camp Meetings begun; boardwalk, hotel & "tent" houses built; Post Office opened.
- 1878 - Railroad from Harrington to Rehoboth completed: passenger and freight.
- 1879 - Rehoboth Beach Camp Meeting Association became "Rehoboth Beach Association" by charter change. Surf House (first hotel) burned; original Henlopen Hotel built. RR Station built in center of Rehoboth Avenue.
- 1881 - Camp Meeting activity discontinued.
- 1891 - First municipal Charter granted by Legislature included name change to "Cape Henlopen City"
- 1892 - First policeman employed.
- 1893 - Name, changed to "Rehoboth." First lifeguard. Lewes-Rehoboth Canal begun.
- 1899 - Town authorized Telephone service.
- 1901 - First school opened.
- 1903 - First Mayor. First beach concessions. Horn's pier built, 150 feet into ocean.
- 1905 - Town authorized gas light service.
- 1906 - Fire Company formed; two "chemical fire engines" bought. First Town Hall built.
- 1908 - Larger school built. Electric-light system, with street lights, commenced.
- 1913 - Water system begun. Fire destroyed first blocks of Rehoboth and Baltimore avenues.
- 1914 - Storm destroyed boardwalk, pier and pavilions; Surf Avenue washed out.
- 1915 - Bulkheads and groins constructed.
- 1916 - Lewes-Rehoboth Canal completed.
- 1918 - First public gas pump for autos. Two ocean-going barges washed ashore.
- 1923 - Volunteer Fire Department formed.
- 1925 - Paved road extended from Georgetown;online casino drawbridge built over Canal.
- 1926 - Eastern Shore Gas & Electric Co. franchised to provide electricity to Town. City annexed south to Silver Lake.
- 1927 - First paved roads.
- 1928 - Railroad passenger service ceased.
- 1935 - Sanitary Sewer System begun.
- 1937 - Name changed to "City of Rehoboth Beach." First City Manager employed.
- 1944 - Collier Thomas Tracy washed ashore. Shipwreck remains can still be seen at low tide.
- 1962 - Severe coastal storm destroyed boardwalk and many beachfront properties.
- 1965 - Present Municipal Center built.
- 1968 - City annexed areas on south side of Silver Lake.
- 1973 - Centennial of Rehoboth Beach Camp Meeting Association.
- 1991 - Centennial of Municipal Charter.
- 1992 - Boardwalk again substantially destroyed by January nor'easter - and again rebuilt in time for season.