Timeline of Huntington, West Virginia facts for kids

Huntington, West Virginia, is a city with a long and interesting past! This timeline will take you on a journey through its history, from its very first settlement to the modern day. You'll discover how the city grew, what important buildings were built, and how people's lives changed over the years. Get ready to explore the story of Huntington!

A Look Back at Huntington's History

Early Days: The 1700s

• 1775 – The first lasting settlement in the area was called Holderby's Landing.

Growing Up: The 1800s

• 1837 – Marshall University started as Marshall Academy.
• 1871
  • Huntington became an official city. It was named after a businessman named Collis P. Huntington, who helped plan the city.
  • Peter Cline Buffington became the first mayor.
• 1872
  • The Huntington Argus newspaper began.
  • The First Congregational Church was founded.
• 1873
  • The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway started running trains.
  • The first train station opened.
• 1874
  • Spring Hill Cemetery opened.
  • The Huntington Advertiser newspaper began.
• 1880 – The city's population was 3,174 people.
• 1885 – The Davis Opera House was built.
• 1887
  • Huntington became the main city for Cabell County, taking over from Barboursville.
  • A new railroad station was built.
• 1888 – The Ohio River Railroad started operating between Wheeling and Huntington.
• 1890 – The population grew to 10,108 people.
• 1891 – The town of Guyandotte became part of Huntington.
• 1893 – "Central City" was formed nearby.
• 1898 – The Parthenon newspaper began.
• 1899 – The Cabell County Courthouse opened.
• 1900 – The Ohio Valley Electric Railway started operating.

The 20th Century: Big Changes

• 1901 – The Cabell County Courthouse was officially opened.
• 1903
  • The Carnegie Public Library opened.
  • Camden Park, an amusement park, opened.
• 1905
  • Heiner's Bakery opened.
  • The Post Office and Court House opened.
• 1907 – Old Main building at Marshall University opened.
• 1908 – Huntington bought land for what would become Ritter Park.
• 1909
  • Central City became part of Huntington.
  • The Herald-Dispatch newspaper began publication.
• 1910
  • St. Cloud Commons park opened.
  • The Liggett and Myers Tobacco Company opened.
  • The population reached 31,161 people.
• 1912 – Barnett Hospital and Nursing School opened.
• 1913
  • March 30: A big flood happened on the Ohio River.
  • Ritter Park was created.
• 1915 – The Huntington City Hall building was completed.
• 1916 – Old Huntington High School opened.
• 1917 – The Liggett and Myers Tobacco factory was built.
• 1919 – The Simms School Building opened.
• 1920 – The population was 50,177 people.
• 1923 – The West Virginia Colored Children's Home opened.
• 1924
  • The Foster Memorial Home opened.
  • The Memorial Arch was built.
  • St. Mary's Hospital opened.
  • St. Joseph Central Catholic High School was established.
• 1925
  • The Ohev Sholom Temple was built.
  • The West Virginia Building was built.
• 1926 – The Tivoli Theatre opened for business.
• 1927 – WSAZ radio began broadcasting.
• 1928 – The Keith-Albee Theatre opened for business.
• 1929 – The Rotary Park Bridge was built.
• 1930 – The population reached 75,572 people.
• 1935 – Another flood occurred.
• 1936 – Huntington Junior College was established.
• 1937 – The huge Ohio River flood of 1937 happened.
• 1939 – Barnett Hospital and Nursing School closed.
• 1941 – The Beverly Theatre opened for business.
• 1949 – WSAZ-TV television began broadcasting.
• 1950
  • The Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse (an arena) opened.
  • The population was 86,353 people.
• 1952 – Tri-State Airport opened.
• 1954 – WCHS-TV television station opened.
• 1955
  • WHTN-TV (television) began broadcasting.
  • WOWK-TV television station opened.
• 1956
  • Cabell Huntington Hospital opened.
  • The Huntington Hornets sports team was founded.
• 1957 – The Huntington Hornets team was disbanded.
• 1961 – Marshall University became a full university.
• 1968 – The Cabell-Wayne Historical Society was founded.
• 1969 – West Virginia Public Broadcasting opened.
• 1970
  • November 14: An airplane crash happened near the city. Many people, including the Marshall University football team, were among those who passed away.
  • The West Huntington Bridge was built.
• 1971 – The Kanawha Valley Regional Transportation Authority opened.
• 1972 – The Tri-State Transit Authority opened.
• 1977
  • The Huntington Civic Center (an arena) opened.
  • Marshall University's Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine was established.
  • Nick Rahall became a U.S. representative for West Virginia.
• 1978 – Beech Fork State Park was founded.
• 1980 – The population was 63,684 people.
• 1981
  • The Cam Henderson Center opened.
  • The Huntington Mall opened.
  • WVAH-TV television station was founded.
• 1983
  • The Huntington Area Food Bank was established.
  • The Huntington train station was rebuilt.
  • WTSF radio station opened.
• 1984
  • Harris Riverfront Park opened.
  • WQCW television station opened.
• 1985
  • The East Huntington Bridge opened.
  • The city changed its government style to a "strong mayor" system.
• 1987 – The Huntington Museum of Art opened.
• 1988 – WLPX-TV television station opened.
• 1990
  • The Huntington Cubs baseball team was founded.
  • Fairfield Stadium opened.
• 1991
  • Joan C. Edwards Stadium opened.
  • The Museum of Radio and Technology opened.
• 1993
  • The Huntington Blizzard hockey team was founded.
  • The Masonic Temple opened.
  • The Owens-Illinois Glass Co. factory closed down.
• 1994
  • Cabell Midland High School opened.
  • The Robert C. Byrd Bridge to Chesapeake, Ohio, opened.
  • The Huntington Cubs baseball team disbanded.
• 1996
  • Heritage Farm Museum and Village opened.
  • Huntington High School opened.
  • Old Huntington High School closed.
  • Sam Hood Field opened.
• 1998 – Spring Valley High School opened.
• 2000
  • The city's website went online around this time.
  • The Huntington Blizzard hockey team moved and became the Wildcatters.
  • The Port of Huntington Tri-State opened.

Modern Times: The 2000s

• 2001 – David Felinton became the youngest mayor in Huntington's history.
• 2003 – Marshall Commons opened at Marshall University.
• 2004
  • Fairfield Stadium closed.
  • Pullman Square was built.
  • Tsubasacon (an anime convention) started.
• 2006
  • The movie We Are Marshall, based on true events in Huntington, was released.
  • The Huntington Heroes sports team was founded.
• 2007 – The Robert C. Byrd Biotechnology Science Center opened.
• 2008
  • Dot Hicks Field opened.
  • The Huntington Heroes team disbanded.
• 2009
  • Kim Wolfe became mayor.
  • The Marshall Rec Center opened.
  • Huntington Prep School was founded.
• 2010 – The population was 49,138 people.
• 2011
  • The Huntington Hammer sports team was founded.
  • The West Virginia Colored Children's Home building was taken down.
• 2012
  • The Huntington Hammer team disbanded.
  • Sam Hood Field closed.
  • Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse closed.
• 2013
  • Stephen T. Williams became mayor.
  • The Veterans Memorial Soccer Complex opened.
• 2014 – The Chris Cline Athletic Complex opened.
• 2015 – Evan Jenkins became a U.S. representative for West Virginia.
• 2024
  • Jack Cook Field opened.
  • The Tri-State Coal Cats sports team was founded.