Timeline of Durham, North Carolina facts for kids

Durham, North Carolina, is a city with a rich and interesting past. It's located in the state of North Carolina, USA. This timeline will take you through some of the most important moments in Durham's history, from its early days to the present. You'll learn how it grew from a small community into a bustling city known for its universities and research.

The 1800s: A New City Begins

• 1865 - April 26: A very important event happened near Durham. General Johnston, a leader for the South in the Civil War, surrendered to General Sherman. This marked a big step towards the end of the war.
• 1867 - Durham officially became a town. This means it got its own government.
• 1869 - The Union Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church was started in Hayti. Hayti was a historic African American community in Durham.
• 1880 - The population of Durham was 2,041 people.
• 1881
  • Durham became the main town for the new Durham County.
  • W. Duke Sons & Company, a big tobacco company, started its business.
• 1887
  • The Durham Hebrew Congregation was formed. This was a Jewish community group.
  • Main Street Methodist Church was built.
• 1888 - Emmanuel AME Church was built.
• 1889
  • The Durham Daily Sun newspaper began printing.
  • The First Christian and Missionary Alliance Church was founded.
• 1890 - The population grew to 5,485 people.
• 1891 - St. Joseph's African Methodist Episcopal Church was built.
• 1892 - Trinity College moved to Durham. This college would later become a very famous university.
• 1894 - The Morning Herald newspaper began printing.
• 1898 - The North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company started its business. This was a very important company, especially for the African American community.

The 1900s: Growth and Change

• 1901
  • Durham City limits grew much larger, becoming four times their original size.
  • Lincoln Hospital was opened. This hospital was important for the community.
• 1906
  • The Durham Chamber of Commerce was created. This group helps local businesses.
  • Immaculate Conception Catholic Church was built.
• 1909 - The Arcade Theatre was built, offering entertainment to the city.
• 1910 - The population reached 18,241 people.
• 1913 - The Durham Colored Library was founded. This was an important place for learning.
• 1919 - The Carolina Times newspaper began publication.
• 1923 - The National Religious Training School and Chautauqua opened.
• 1924
  • Trinity College was renamed "Duke University." It became a major university.
  • Trinity United Methodist Church was built.
• 1925 - The North Carolina College for Negroes became active. This college is now North Carolina Central University.
• 1926 - Duke University's Divinity School was established.
• 1930
  • Duke University's School of Medicine opened. This brought advanced medical care and research to Durham.
  • The population grew to 52,037 people.
• 1933 - A lawsuit called Hocutt v. Wilson was filed. This case was about ending segregation in schools.
• 1934 - WDNC radio began broadcasting, bringing news and music to homes.
• 1939 - The North Carolina College for Negroes established its law school.
• 1945 - The Durham Drive-In cinema opened, a popular spot for movies.
• 1950 - The population reached 73,368 people.
• 1954 - WTVD television began broadcasting from Durham.
• 1955 - The Raleigh-Durham Airport terminal opened, connecting the area to other cities.
• 1957 - June 23: The Royal Ice Cream Sit-in happened. This was a protest for civil rights, where people sat at a segregated counter to demand equal treatment.
• 1958 - The Research Triangle Institute was founded. This was a big step for scientific research in the area.
• 1959 - The Research Triangle Park was established. This park became a world-famous center for science and technology companies.
• 1960 - The population was 84,642 people.
• 1961 - The Durham Industrial Education Center opened. It later became Durham Technical Community College.
• 1962 - Carolina Friends School was founded. Also, Bennett Place became a state historic site.
• 1964 - Operation Breakthrough, a program to help fight poverty, was established.
• 1968 - The City Human Relations Commission was formed to promote fairness.
• 1969
  • March 11: A student demonstration took place.
  • North Carolina Central University became active.
  • Duke University's School of Business and Museum of Art were established.
• 1970 - The population reached 100,768 people in the city.
• 1974 - The Duke Homestead and Tobacco Factory became a state historic site.
• 1975 - The Ar-Razzaq Islamic Center was founded.
• 1980 - The city population was 100,831 people.
• 1985 - The Atlantic Coast Sikh Association made Durham its headquarters.
• 1990 - The city population grew to 154,580 people.
• 1991 - The Herald-Sun newspaper began publication.
• 1993 - Sylvia Kerckhoff became the mayor of Durham.
• 1997 - The city's website went online, making information more accessible.
• 1997 - Nick Tennyson became mayor.
• 1998 - The Triangle Tribune newspaper began printing.
• 2000 - The population reached 187,035 people in the city.

The 2000s: Modern Durham

• 2001 - Bill Bell became mayor of Durham.
• 2002 - The Buddhist Mindfulness Practice Center was founded.
• 2004 - G. K. Butterfield became a U.S. representative for North Carolina.
• 2005 - Duke University's Nasher Museum of Art building opened.
• 2006 - A major event involving the Duke lacrosse team occurred, drawing national attention to the university.
• 2007 - The Southern Coalition for Social Justice was formed. This group works for fairness and equality.
• 2010 - The population of Durham reached 228,330 people.