1170 Legend has it that the Welsh Prince Madoc set sail from Aber Cerrig Gwynan an old harbour near Rhos on Sea and discovered America. The legend states he landed in Alabama, made his way inland and integrated with the Mandan a local tribe of Indians.
1399 Richard II ambushed, captured and taken prisoner on Penmaen Head.
1784 Thomas Pennant, an inquisitive traveller, visits area and describes a pretty bay with farm land down to beach.
1844 Construction of the Chester to Holyhead railway.
1865 The Pwll Y Crochan and Erskine estates offer for sale 3000 acres of land for development and the concept of a Victorian resort starts to become a reality.
1865 The first house built, known as Ivy House it stood at the top of present day Ivy Road. Town develops rapidly over the next 30 years.
1868 Abergele Train Disaster, Irish mail train bound for Holyhead collides with goods wagons containing 50 barrels of paraffin near Llandulas. Thirty three people killed in conflagration some of whom were wealthy titled Irish land owners.
1880 Penrhos College established.
1885 Rhydal Public School established.
1895 Colwyn becomes an urban district council.
1901 Construction of Colwyn Bay pier.
1920 The Wireless College established.
An Establishment for the training of radio officers in communication techniques. Many joined merchant navy.
1934 Local Government reorganisation – Colwyn Bay Borough Council formed.
1939 Outbreak of Second World War.
1940 Ministry of Food relocates to Colwyn Bay to avoid blitz in London.
1945 Second World War ends.
1970 The Wireless College closes.
1974 Colwyn becomes an urban borough council.
1979 Work commences on the Colwyn-Conwy section of the 55 expressway.
1996 Local government reorganisation in Wales. Colwyn Borough Council becomes part of Conwy County Borough Council a new all purpose unitary authority.