Timeline of Huntsville, Alabama facts for kids

Huntsville, Alabama, has a long and interesting history, stretching back over 200 years! This timeline will take you through some of the most important moments in the city's past, from its early days as a small town to becoming a major center for space and technology. Get ready to explore how Huntsville grew and changed over time!

Early History of Huntsville

Founding and Growth (1800s)

• 1809 – The town of Twickenham was officially started in what was then the U.S. Mississippi Territory.
• 1811 – Twickenham got a new name: "Huntsville."
• 1812 – Green Academy, an early school, was opened.
• 1817
  • Huntsville became part of the new U.S. Alabama Territory.
  • The Huntsville Republican newspaper began publishing.
• 1818 – A social library was active in Huntsville, where people could read and share books.
• 1819
  • Important meetings were held in Huntsville to create the constitution for the new Alabama Territory.
  • Huntsville became part of the brand new U.S. state of Alabama.
  • The first meetings of the Alabama Legislature (the state's law-making group) took place in Huntsville.
• 1820 – The capital city of Alabama moved from Huntsville to Cahaba.
• 1822 – Maple Hill Cemetery started being used around this time.
• 1825 – The Southern Advocate and Huntsville Advertiser newspaper began publication.
• 1840 – The city's population was 2,496 people.
• 1855 – The Memphis and Charleston Railroad started running trains through Huntsville.
• 1860 – The Huntsville Depot, a train station, was built.
• 1862 – During the American Civil War, Huntsville was taken over by Union soldiers.
• 1870 – The population grew to 4,907 people.
• 1888 – The Monte Sano Railroad Workers' House was built.
• 1896 – Oakwood College was founded.
• 1898 – The B’nai Israel Synagogue was built.
• 1900 – The population reached 8,068 people.

Huntsville in the 20th Century

Newspapers and Public Spaces (1900-1940)

• 1910 – The Huntsville Daily Times newspaper began publishing.
• 1912 – The Lyric Theatre, a place for shows and entertainment, opened.
• 1916 – The Carnegie Public Library building opened its doors.
• 1932 – The United States Courthouse and Post Office was built.
• 1935 – Monte Sano State Park was created near the city, offering outdoor fun.
• 1938 – The Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge was established close to Huntsville, protecting nature.

Space and Growth (1940-2000)

• 1941 – The U.S. military's Redstone Arsenal started operating, becoming a very important site.
• 1947 – Production of the Keller (automobile) car began.
• 1950
  • The city's area was 4 square miles.
  • The population was 16,437 people.
• 1951 – The Huntsville-Madison County Historical Society was formed to preserve local history.
• 1955 – The Huntsville Symphony Orchestra was formed, bringing music to the city.
• 1957 – Lee High School was built.
• 1960
  • The U.S. NASA Marshall Space Flight Center was established, making Huntsville a key place for space exploration.
  • The city's area grew to 51 square miles.
  • The population jumped to 72,365 people.
• 1962 – The Arts Council was formed to support local artists and cultural events.
• 1964 – The Huntsville News newspaper began publication.
• 1968 – Joe W. Davis became the mayor of Huntsville.
• 1969 – Virgil I. Grissom High School was established.
• 1970 – The population reached 139,282 people.
• 1974 – Oakwood Adventist Academy was established.
• 1975
  • The Von Braun Civic Center, a large convention center, opened.
  • The Madison County Nature Trail was created for outdoor activities.
• 1976 – The Huntsville Depot museum was established, sharing the history of the old train station.
• 1982
  • The Panoply Arts Festival began, celebrating arts and culture.
  • The Alabama Constitution Village museum was established.
• 1984 – Madison Square Mall, a shopping center, opened for business.
• 1986 – The Interstate 565 highway was built, improving transportation.
• 1988 – Steve Hettinger became mayor.
• 1989 – A large tornado outbreak affected the area in November.
• 1990 – The population was 159,880 people.
• 1993 – The Big Spring Jam, a music festival, began.
• 1995 – May 18: A tornado hit the Anderson Hills area.
• 1996
  • Loretta Spencer became mayor.
  • The Huntsville News newspaper stopped publishing.
• 1997 – The United States Army Aviation and Missile Command made Huntsville its headquarters.

Huntsville in the 21st Century

Modern Developments (2000s-Present)

• 2008 – Tommy Battle became mayor.
• 2010
  • The population was 180,105 people.
• 2014
  • The city's area grew to 210 square miles.
  • The Twickenham Square shopping and residential complex was built.
  • The Restore our Roads initiative was created to fund many road projects for future growth.
• 2020
  • Construction began on the next part of the Northern Bypass, connecting Interstate 565 to US 231/431.
  • A protest took place on June 3, 2020.