Timeline of Charlotte, North Carolina facts for kids

The following is a timeline of the history of Charlotte, North Carolina, United States.

Prior to 19th century

• 1763 – Mecklenburg County established.
• 1768 – Charlotte Town incorporated.
• 1770 – Queen's Museum chartered.
• 1774 – Charlotte becomes capital of county.
• 1775 – Mecklenburg Resolves signed.
• 1777 – Liberty Hall Academy incorporated.
• 1780 – Battle of Charlotte fought.

19th century

• 1835 – Charlotte Journal newspaper begins publication.
• 1837 – Charlotte Mint opens.
• 1850 – William F. Davidson becomes mayor.
• 1852
  • Railway begins operating.
  • Western Democrat newspaper begins publication.
• 1857
  • Charlotte Female Institute established.
  • YMCA becomes active.
  • Gas lighting in use.
• 1858 – Charlotte Military Academy established.
• 1867 – Biddle Memorial Institute founded.
• 1875 – Charlotte public schools established.
• 1880 – Population: 7,084.
• 1886 – Charlotte Chronicle newspaper begins publication.
• 1887
  • Electric lighting in use.
  • Charlotte Fire Department founded.
• 1888 – The Charlotte News begins publication.
• 1890 – Charlotte Post newspaper begins publication.
• 1891
  • City hall built.
  • Charlotte Literary and Library Association organized.
  • Latta Park established
• 1897 – Elizabeth College established.

20th century

• 1903 – Charlotte Carnegie Public Library opens.
• 1905
  • Brevard Street Library for Negroes opens.
  • Southern Power Company incorporated.
• 1908 – Union National Bank founded.
• 1915 – Temple Israel built.
• 1921 – WBT radio begins broadcasting.
• 1924
  • Hotel Charlotte opens.
  • Radiator Specialty Company founded.
• 1930
  • Population: 82,675
  • Work started to create Bryant Park
• 1932 – Charlotte Symphony Orchestra formed.
• 1933 – WSOC radio begins broadcasting.
• 1935 – Charlotte Municipal Airport established.
• 1936 – Mint Museum opens.
• 1940 – Population: 100,899.
• 1946 – Charlotte Center of the University of North Carolina opens.
• 1947 – The Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte founded.
• 1949 – WBTV (television) begins broadcasting.
• 1950 – Population: 134,042.
• 1955 – Ovens Auditorium opens.
• 1957
  • WSOC-TV (television) begins broadcasting.
  • American Commercial Bank formed.
• 1960 – Population: 201,564.
• 1961 – Stan Brookshire becomes mayor.
• 1966 – Charlotte Botanical Gardens established.
• 1967 – WCNC-TV begins broadcasting.
• 1968 – Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories Arboretum established.
• 1970
  • SouthPark Mall opens.
  • Population: 241,178.
• 1971 – U.S. Supreme Court decides Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, approving racial desegregation busing.
• 1973 – Carowinds Monorail begins operating.
• 1974 – Airplane accident.
• 1976 – Afro-American Cultural Center established.
• 1980 – Population: 314,447.
• 1982 – Heroes Convention (comic books) begins.
• 1983 – Harvey Gantt becomes mayor.
• 1985 – Metrolina Theatre Association established.
• 1986
  • Opera Carolina formed.
  • Airplane accident.
• 1987 – WJZY begins broadcasting.
• 1988
  • Charlotte Hornets begins play.
  • Charlotte Knights franchise established.
• 1989 – Hurricane Hugo.
• 1990 — Population: 395,934.
• 1991
  • Blockbuster Pavilion opens.
  • Museum of the New South incorporated.
• 1992
  • North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center opens.
  • Carolina Actors Studio Theatre and Carolinas Aviation Museum founded.
• 1993
  • City government computer network begins operating.
  • Mel Watt becomes U.S. representative for North Carolina's 12th congressional district.
• 1994
  • WMYT-TV begins broadcasting.
  • Airplane accident.
  • Charlotte's Web Community Network online.
• 1995
  • Pat McCrory becomes mayor.
  • Charlotte Convention Center and Tremont Music Hall open.
  • City website online.
  • Carolina Panthers began play as first NFL team in the Carolinas
• 1997 – Loomis Fargo Bank Robbery.
• 1998 – Bank of America formed.
• 1999 – Federal court ends mandated racial integration in schools via busing.

21st century

2000s

• 2000 – Population: 540,828.
• 2002 – ConCarolinas begins.
• 2003 – Airplane accident.
• 2004
  • Slow Food Charlotte founded.[1]
  • Street Soccer USA headquartered in city.
• 2005 – Charlotte Bobcats Arena and ImaginOn open.
• 2007
  • Lynx Blue Line light rail begins operating.
  • Billy Graham Library opens.
• 2009 – Anthony Foxx becomes mayor.

2010s

• 2010
  • NASCAR Hall of Fame and Bechtler Museum of Modern Art open.
  • Population: 731,424.
• 2011 – Occupy Charlotte begins.
• 2012
  • Little Sugar Creek Greenway built.
  • Democratic National Convention held in Charlotte.
• 2013
  • Robert Pittenger becomes U.S. representative for North Carolina's 9th congressional district.
  • Population: 792,862.
• 2014 – Alma Adams becomes U.S. representative for North Carolina's 12th congressional district.
• 2015 – Population: 827,121 (estimate).
• 2016 – September: Protests and unrest following the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott leave several police officers wounded, and a civilian shot.