when was wikipedia founded

Wikipedia was founded on January 15, 2001.

This date marks the launch of the English Wikipedia as a side project to Nupedia, proposed by Larry Sanger and backed by Jimmy Wales. It quickly grew from a simple wiki experiment into the world's largest online encyclopedia, now hosted by the nonprofit Wikimedia Foundation.

Founding Context

Wikipedia emerged in early 2001 when Sanger suggested using wiki software for faster article creation on the Nupedia mailing list. The domain wikipedia.org went live on January 13, with the first edit occurring two days later on "Wikipedia Day." Founders Wales and Sanger aimed for a free, collaborative resource blending "wiki" (quick Hawaiian for fast) and "encyclopedia."

Key Milestones

• January 12-13, 2001 : Domains wikipedia.com and .org registered.

• January 15, 2001 : Official launch with the first article.

• March-May 2001 : First non-English editions (German, Catalan, French, Swedish, Italian).

• 2003 : Wikimedia Foundation established to oversee operations.

By 2021, it celebrated 20 years, reflecting on its volunteer-driven model that now spans hundreds of languages.

Growth and Impact

From one English edition, Wikipedia exploded due to its open-editing policy, reaching millions of articles by 2026. It's the most-visited reference site, emphasizing neutrality and verifiability. Founders note its roots in Bomis, a for-profit venture, but it pivoted to nonprofit sustainability via donations.

"Wikipedia was launched on January 15, 2001... as a single English language edition."

TL;DR : Launched January 15, 2001, by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger—25 years ago as of 2026.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.