Timeline of Chattanooga, Tennessee facts for kids

Chattanooga is a city in Tennessee, United States. This page shares a timeline of important events in its history. A timeline helps us see how a place has changed over many years.

Chattanooga's Early History: The 1800s

• 1840: James Enfield Berry became the first mayor of Chattanooga.
• 1849: The Western and Atlantic Railroad started running trains, connecting Chattanooga to other places.
• 1851: Chattanooga officially became a chartered city. This means it got special rules and rights to govern itself.
• 1854: The Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway also began operating, making the city an important railroad hub.
• 1862: In June, the First Battle of Chattanooga took place during the American Civil War.
• 1863:
  • September: Union forces, who were fighting for the United States government, took control of Chattanooga.
  • November 24: The Battle of Lookout Mountain happened near the city.
  • November 25: The Battle of Missionary Ridge also took place, another important battle in the Civil War.
• 1866: In March, the Union forces left Chattanooga, and the city began to rebuild.
• 1867: March brought the largest flood ever recorded in Chattanooga's history.
• 1869: The Chattanooga Times newspaper started publishing, sharing news with the city's residents.
• 1882: The Walnut Street Temple, a place of worship, was officially opened.
• 1890: The famous Walnut Street Bridge was built. It was one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world at the time.

Chattanooga in the 1900s: A Century of Growth

• 1905: The Chattanooga Public Library opened its doors, giving people a place to read and learn.
• 1909: Hixson High School was founded, providing education for many students.
• 1917: The Market Street Bridge was built, another important bridge for the city.
• 1921: The Tivoli Theatre, a beautiful place for shows and performances, opened.
• 1923: The Chattanooga Theatre Centre was founded, offering plays and acting opportunities.
• 1924: The Memorial Auditorium was built, a large venue for events and concerts.
• 1930: The city's population grew to 119,798 people.
• 1933: The Chattanooga Free Press newspaper began publishing.
• 1935: The Electric Power Board of Chattanooga was created to provide electricity to the city.
• 1937: The Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park was established, becoming home to many animals.
• 1940: The population reached 128,163.
• 1950: The population was 131,041.
• 1959: The Olgiati Bridge was built.
• 1960: The population was 130,009.
• 1961: The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum was founded, preserving old trains and railroad history.
• 1972: The National Knife Museum was founded in Chattanooga.
• 1975: Marilyn Lloyd became a U.S. representative for Tennessee, meaning she represented the area in the national government.
• 1980: The population grew to 169,565.
• 1983: The Chattanooga African-American Museum was established, celebrating the history and culture of African Americans in the area.
• 1984:
  • The Veterans Memorial Bridge was built.
  • The operation of the Hamilton County Jail was handled by a private company.
• 1987: The Fellowship of Southern Writers, a group for writers from the Southern United States, made Chattanooga its home.
• 1992: The Tennessee Aquarium opened, becoming a popular attraction with many different kinds of aquatic animals.
• 1995: The International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum was established.
• 1997:
  • The city's official website went online, making information about Chattanooga available on the internet.
  • Jon Kinsey became the mayor of Chattanooga.
• 1999: The Chattanooga Times Free Press newspaper began publishing, combining the two main newspapers.

Chattanooga in the 21st Century: Modern Times

• 2001: Bob Corker was elected mayor of Chattanooga.
• 2005:
  • The Hunter Museum of American Art building was made larger.
  • Ron Littlefield was elected mayor.
• 2009: Ron Littlefield was re-elected as mayor.
• 2010:
  • The Electric Power Board started offering super-fast internet service, one gigabit per second.
  • The city's population was 167,674.
• 2011:
  • The Volkswagen Chattanooga Assembly Plant began making cars in the city.
  • Chuck Fleischmann was elected as the U.S. representative for Tennessee's 3rd congressional district.
• 2013: Andy Berke was elected mayor.
• 2015: A tragic shooting event occurred, resulting in the deaths of five military members and injuries to three others.
• 2017: Andy Berke was re-elected mayor.
• 2021: Tim Kelly became the new mayor of Chattanooga.