This is my point form version of what I've gotten from the book "Tolkien: The Illustrated Encyclopedia".
~ 1697 Second Age. War of Sauron and the Elves in progress. Dwarves of Khazad-dum seal the doors. From then on it was named Moria, "dark chasm", because its histories and people was not known to the outside world.
~ Dwarves of the Misty Mountains delve happily until 1980 Third Age. While going after a rich mithril vein they released a Balrog which had slept there since the end of the First Age.
~ Dwarves battled for a year against the Balrog. After the loss of two of the Dwarven kings, the Dwarves deserted Moria.
~ Moria becomes the dwellingplace of the Balrog, the Orcs, and other servants of Sauron. The beauty of the halls is mutilated and ruined.
~ 2989- 2994 Third Age. Group of Dwarves attempt to re-establish the Kingdom of Moria. They are trapped between the Orcs at the East Gate and the Kraken (the Watcher in the Water) at the West Gate.
~ 3019 Third Age. Balrog is slain by Gandalf the Wizard. However, it appears that even without the Balrog, the halls of Moria remained empty for a long time (perhaps forever) afterwards.
There you go, enjoy.
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