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Timeline of Raleigh, North Carolina facts for kids

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The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.

Prior to 19th century

  • 1587 - In a venture sponsored by Sir Walter Raleigh, John White and a group of colonists land on Roanoke Island at the site of a former, abandoned settlement to found the "Cittie of Raleigh," about 190 miles from present-day Raleigh, NC. John White returns to England for supplies, leaving behind his granddaughter Virginia Dare, the first English child born in the New World.
  • 1590 - His return delayed by threats against England by the Spanish Armada, John White secures passage on a privateer. As the party stepped ashore, there was no sign of the colonists except the letters "CRO" carved on a tree. This abandoned site later became known as the "Lost Colony."
  • 1701 - John Lawson, English explorer, led a 600-mile expedition starting in Charleston, SC and ending at the mouth of the Pamlico River. His journey took him close to the site of what later became Raleigh, NC.
  • 1770 - Joel Lane, a planter, successfully lobbies the colonial General Assembly to create Wake County.
  • 1781 - Lane’s property was the setting for a session of the state General Assembly. At this time the settlement was known as Wake Courthouse, or Bloomsbury and contained a courthouse, a jail, a tavern or inn, and a log church called the Asbury Meetinghouse.
  • 1792
    • The NC legislature authorizes the purchase of 1,000 acres (4 km2) of Joel Lane's land upon which to establish the city of "Raleigh" as the new center of state government.
    • Raleigh founded as capital of North Carolina.
  • 1794
    • State House built.
    • December: State General Assembly convenes.
  • 1798 - Cemetery established.
  • 1799 - The North-Carolina Minerva, and Raleigh advertiser, relocates from Fayetteville to become the first Raleigh Newspaper.
  • 1800 - Raleigh population is 669.

19th century

20th century

1900s-1940s

  • 1901 - Raney Memorial Library opens.
  • 1903 - North Carolina Division of Archives and History headquartered in Raleigh.
  • 1904 - Raleigh Woman's Club founded.
  • 1905 - James I. Johnson becomes mayor.
  • 1910 - Population: 19,218.
  • 1912 - City Auditorium opens.
  • 1913 - State Supreme Court Building constructed.
  • 1914 - Daughters of the American Revolution Caswell-Nash Chapter formed.
  • 1915 - North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation headquartered in Raleigh.
  • 1920
    • City area expanded.
    • Population: 27,076.
  • 1923 - State Agricultural Building constructed.
  • 1924
    • State Theatre opens.
    • Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh officially established
  • 1929 - Raleigh Municipal Airport opens.
  • 1930 - The Mecca Restaurant opens.
  • 1932 - Raleigh Memorial Auditorium opens.
  • 1936 - Raleigh Little Theatre established.
  • 1938
    • State Office Building constructed.
    • Cooper’s Barbeque in business.
  • 1940 - Carolinian newspaper begins publication.
  • 1943 - Raleigh–Durham Airport opens.
  • 1945 - Area of city: 12.5 square miles.
  • 1948 - Hi-Mount developed.
  • 1949 - Cameron Village shopping centre in business.

1950s-1990s

  • 1950
    • Southern Railway station built.
    • Population: 65,679.
  • 1951 - York Industrial Center established near city.
  • 1952 - Southland Speedway opens.
  • 1954 - Farm Bureau Insurance Company building constructed.
  • 1955 - Raleigh Farmers Market built.
  • 1956
  • 1959 - Research Triangle Park development begins near city.
  • 1960
  • 1961 - Center Drive-In cinema active.
  • 1962 - Northwestern Mutual Insurance Company building constructed.
  • 1965 - Area of city: 34.1 square miles.
  • 1967 - North Hills Mall in business.
  • 1970 - Population: 122,830.
  • 1971 - Daughters of the American Revolution Micajah Bullock Chapter formed.
  • 1972
    • Crabtree Valley Mall in business.
    • State Bank of Raleigh and Capital Area Preservation nonprofit established.
  • 1975 - Raleigh Transit Authority established.
  • 1977 - Isabella Cannon becomes mayor.
  • 1978 - Haywood Hall Museum House established.
  • 1979 - Jain Study Center of North Carolina founded.
  • 1980 - Artsplosure begins.
  • 1985 - Piedmont Zen Group formed.
  • 1986 - Sister city relationship established with Hull, UK.
  • 1987 - David Price becomes U.S. representative for North Carolina's 4th congressional district.
  • 1988 - 1988 Raleigh tornado outbreak.
  • 1989 - Sister city relationship established with Compiègne, France.
  • 1990 - Population: 207,951.
  • 1993 - Raleigh City Museum opens.
  • 1995 - Historic Oak View County Park established.
  • 1998 - Animazement convention begins.
  • 1999 - 1999 Special Olympics World Summer Games.
  • 2000 - Population: 276,093.

21st century

2000s

  • 2001
    • November: Raleigh mayoral election, 2001 held.
    • December: Charles Meeker becomes mayor.
    • Sister city relationship established with Rostock, Germany.
  • 2002 - Triangle Town Center shopping mall in business.
  • 2005 - Raleigh Home Movie Day begins.[1][2]
  • 2007 - Marbles Kids Museum opens.
  • 2008
    • Raleigh Public Record in publication.
    • David Price becomes U.S. representative for North Carolina's 4th congressional district again.
    • Sister city relationship established with Xiangyang, China.

2010s

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