Timeline of Alexandria, Virginia facts for kids

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Alexandria, Virginia, USA.

18th and 19th centuries

• 1749 – Alexandria founded.
• 1752 – Carlyle House (residence) built.
• 1754 – Fairfax County Courthouse built.
• 1773 – Christ Church consecrated.
• 1779 – Town of Alexandria incorporated.
• 1783 – Masonic lodge No. 39 (now Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22) established.
• 1784 – Virginia Journal and Alexandria Advertiser begins publication.
• 1789 – A portion of Fairfax County, including Alexandria, is ceded to the federal government.
• 1790
  • Presbyterian Meeting House built.
  • Population: 2,748.
• 1792
  • Bank of Alexandria established.
  • Stabler Apothecary in business.
• 1794
  • Gadsby's Tavern in business.
  • Alexandria Library founded.
• 1801 – Alexandria organized as a county of the District of Columbia.
• 1817 – Market House built.
• 1818 – St. Paul's Episcopal Church consecrated.
• 1823 – Virginia Theological Seminary founded.
• 1825 – Hallowell School opens.
• 1828 – Franklin and Armfield slave traders in business.
• 1830 – Population: 8,241.
• 1833 – St. John's Academy established.
• 1834 – Alexandria Gazette newspaper in publication.
• 1839
  • Lyceum built.
  • Episcopal High School founded.
• 1840 – Population: 8,459.
• 1843 – Alexandria Canal to Georgetown opens.
• 1847 – Alexandria retroceded to Virginia.
• 1852 – City of Alexandria incorporated.
• 1860 – Population: 12,652.
• 1863 – August: Alexandria becomes seat of Restored Government of Virginia.
• 1865 – Convention of the Colored People of Virginia held in city.
• 1870 – City becomes independent of Alexandria County.
• 1873 – Alexandria City Hall rebuilt.

20th century

• 1906 – Union Station built.
• 1923 – Cornerstone of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial laid.
• 1930 – Potomac becomes part of city.
• 1937 – Alexandria Free Public Library opens.
• 1940 – Robinson Library and Vernon Theatre open.
• 1945 – Centre Theatre built.
• 1946 – Old Town Alexandria historic district established.
• 1952 - Part of Fairfax County annexed to city.
• 1954 – Historic Alexandria Foundation chartered.
• 1960 – Population: 91,023.
• 1961
  • Woodrow Wilson Bridge opens.
  • Frank E. Mann becomes mayor.
• 1967 – Charles E. Beatley becomes mayor.
• 1974 – Torpedo Factory Art Center opens.
• 1975
  • Alexandria Packet newspaper begins publication.
  • City archaeological commission formed.
• 1976 – Gadsby's Tavern museum opens.
• 1983
  • Washington Metro King Street–Old Town station, Braddock Road station, and Eisenhower Avenue station open.
  • Gifts in Kind International headquartered in Alexandria.
• 1985
  • Vola Lawson becomes city manager, the first woman to hold the position.
  • Jim Moran becomes mayor.
• 1990 – Population: 111,182.
• 1991
  • Van Dorn Street station opens.
  • Patsy Ticer becomes mayor.
• 1996
  • City website online.
  • Kerry J. Donley becomes mayor.

21st century

• 2003 – William D. Euille becomes mayor.
• 2005 – United States Patent and Trademark Office headquartered in city.
• 2010 – Population: 139,966.
• 2015 – Don Beyer becomes U.S. representative for Virginia's 8th congressional district.
• 2016 – Allison Silberberg becomes mayor.
• 2017
  • The National Science Foundation relocates their headquarters to the Eisenhower Valley neighborhood from Arlington.
• 2019
  • Justin Wilson becomes mayor.
  • Construction begins on Potomac Yard station, slated to be the fifth Washington Metro station in the city,
• 2020 – Population reaches 159,467.
• 2022 – Landmark Mall is demolished as work begins on its redevelopment.