Timeline of Asheville, North Carolina facts for kids

Asheville is a cool city nestled in the mountains of North Carolina, USA. This page shares a timeline of important events in Asheville's history, showing how it grew from a small settlement to the vibrant city it is today. You'll learn about its early days, how it became a city, and some of the big changes it has seen over the years.

Asheville's Early Days: Before the 1900s

• 1792 – A small settlement, or group of homes, was started around this time.
• 1793 – The first log courthouse was built.
• 1797 – The town of Asheville was officially created. It was named after Samuel Ashe, a politician who was once the governor of North Carolina.
• 1800 – The population was very small, with only 38 people living there.
• 1824 – The Buncombe Turnpike, a major road, was built near Asheville, making travel easier.
• 1829 – The Vance Circulating Library Society was founded, giving people access to books.
• 1849 – The Asheville News newspaper started being published.
• 1850 – The population grew to 502 people.
• 1870
  • The North Carolina Citizen newspaper began publication.
  • The population reached 1,400.
• 1879 – A public library opened, offering more books for everyone.
• 1880 – The Western North Carolina Railroad began operating, connecting Asheville to other places by train.
• 1882 – The first official fire department was created to help keep the city safe. This later became the Asheville Fire Department.
• 1883 – Asheville officially became a city.
• 1889
  • A streetcar system started, making it easier for people to get around town.
  • Construction began on the famous Biltmore Estate near Asheville.
• 1890 – The population grew a lot, reaching 10,235 people.
• 1893 – The Young Men's Institute Building was constructed.
• 1894 – The Swannanoa Country Club was founded.
• 1895 – The huge Biltmore Estate was finished.
• 1897 – A monument for Zebulon Baird Vance, another important North Carolina governor, was put up in Pack Square.
• 1898
  • The Manor Hotel opened for business.
  • The Biltmore Forest School was started near Asheville.
• 1899 – The Appalachian National Park Association was formed during a meeting in Asheville, aiming to protect the beautiful mountains.
• 1900 – Thomas Wolfe, who would become a famous writer, was born in Asheville.

Asheville in the 1900s: Growth and Change

• 1906 – A tragic event involving Will Harris occurred.
• 1909
  • The beautiful St. Lawrence Church was built.
  • The Palace Theatre opened, providing entertainment.
• 1913 – The Grove Park Inn, a famous hotel, opened its doors.
• 1915 – The Asheville Masonic Temple was built.
• 1916 – The Great Asheville Flood caused significant damage.
• 1917
  • West Asheville became a part of the city.
  • A fire at the Catholic Hill School for Colored Children tragically killed seven people and destroyed the building.
• 1920 – The population continued to grow, reaching 28,504.
• 1922 – The Imperial Theatre opened.
• 1924 – The tall Jackson Building was constructed.
• 1925 – Memorial Stadium opened for sports and events.
• 1927
  • WWNC radio began broadcasting, bringing news and music to homes.
  • The First Baptist Church building was completed.
• 1928
  • The Asheville City Hall and Buncombe County Courthouse were built.
  • The Dutch-owned Enka rayon factory started operating nearby, creating jobs.
• 1929 – Kenilworth became part of Asheville.
• 1930
  • The Southern Mountain Handicraft Guild was founded to support local artists.
  • The population reached 50,193.
• 1934
  • Bus services began operating in the city.
  • The Great Smoky Mountains National Park was established nearby, protecting a huge area of nature.
• 1935 – Construction started on the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway.
• 1941 – Black Mountain College, a famous art school, moved to the area near Asheville.
• 1948 – March 10: A fire at Highland Hospital resulted in several deaths, including writer Zelda Fitzgerald.
• 1952 – The Western North Carolina Historical Association was organized to preserve local history.
• 1953 – WISE-TV began broadcasting television programs.
• 1954 – WLOS-TV also began broadcasting television.
• 1959 – The Asheville Industrial Education Center was established, offering technical training.
• 1961 – The Asheville Regional Airport began operating, connecting Asheville by air.
• 1971 – The Asheville Mall opened for shopping.
• 1976 – The Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County was organized to protect historic buildings.
• 1978 – The "Western Office" of the North Carolina Division of Archives and Records was set up in Asheville.
• 1979 – The Old Buncombe County Genealogical Society was formed to help people research their family history.
• 1980 – The population reached 54,022.
• 1983 – James M. Clarke became the U.S. representative for Asheville's district in Congress.
• 1990 – Asheville formed a sister city agreement with Vladikavkaz, Russia, to build friendships between cities.
• 1991 – The Asheville Citizen-Times newspaper continued its publication.
• 1994 – A sister city agreement was made with San Cristóbal de las Casas, Mexico.
• 1996 – Another sister city agreement was established with Saumur, France.
• 1998 – The city's official website went online around this time.

Asheville in the 2000s: Modern Times

• 2000 – The population grew to 68,889.
• 2003 – The Asheville Film Festival began, celebrating movies.
• 2004 – A sister city agreement was established with Karpenisi, Greece.
• 2005
  • Terry Bellamy became the first African-American person elected as mayor of Asheville.
  • Patrick McHenry became the U.S. representative for the 10th congressional district.
• 2006 – A sister city agreement was established with Valladolid, Mexico.
• 2007 – The Asheville-Buncombe Libraries changed their name to Buncombe County Public Libraries.
• 2008 – A sister city agreement was established with Osogbo, Nigeria.
• 2010 – The population reached 83,393.
• 2013 – Esther Manheimer became mayor of Asheville.
• 2019 – The population reached 92,870.
• 2024 – Asheville and the western part of North Carolina experienced significant damage from Hurricane Helene.