Timeline of Charlotte, North Carolina

Prior to 19th century

1763 - Mecklenburg County established.

1768 - Charlotte Town incorporated.

1770 - Queen's Museum chartered.

1774 - Charlotte becomes capital of county.

1775 - Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence signed.

1777 - Liberty Hall Academy incorporated.

1780 - Battle of Charlotte fought.

19th century

1835 - Charlotte Journal newspaper begins publication.

1837 - Charlotte Mint opens.

1850 - William F. Davidson becomes mayor.

1852

Railway begins operating.

Western Democrat newspaper begins publication.

1857

Charlotte Female Institute established.

Young Men's Christian Association active.

Gas lighting in use.

1858 - Charlotte Military Academy established.

1867 - Biddle Memorial Institute founded.

1875 - Charlotte public schools established.

1880 - Population: 7,084.

1886 - Charlotte Chronicle newspaper begins publication.

1887

Electric lighting in use.

Charlotte Fire Department founded.

1888 - The Charlotte News begins publication.

1890 - Charlotte Post newspaper begins publication.

1891

City hall built.

Charlotte Literary and Library Association organized.

1897 - Elizabeth College established.

20th century

1903 - Charlotte Carnegie Public Library opens.

1905

Brevard Street Library for Negroes opens.

Southern Power Company incorporated.

1908 - Union National Bank founded.

1915 - Temple Israel built.

1924

Hotel Charlotte opens.

Radiator Specialty Company founded.

1930 - Population: 82,675.

1932 - Charlotte Symphony Orchestra formed.

1935 - Charlotte Municipal Airport established.

1936 - Mint Museum opens.

1940 – Population: 100,899.

1946 - Charlotte Center of the University of North Carolina opens.

1947 - The Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte founded.

1948 - Children's Theatre of Charlotte founded.

1950 – Population: 134,042.

1955 - Ovens Auditorium opens.

1957 - American Commercial Bank formed.

1960 – Population: 201,564.

1961 - Stan Brookshire becomes mayor.

1966 - Charlotte Botanical Gardens established.

1967 - WCNC-TV begins broadcasting.

1968 - Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories Arboretum established.

1970

SouthPark Mall opens.

Population: 241,178.

1971 - U.S. Supreme Court decides Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, approving racial desegregation busing.

1973 - Carowinds Monorail begins operating.

1974 - Airplane accident.

1976 - Afro-American Cultural Center established.

1980 - Population: 314,447.

1982 - Heroes Convention (comic books) begins.

1983 - Harvey Gantt becomes mayor.

1985 - Metrolina Theatre Association established.

1986

Opera Carolina formed.

Airplane accident.

1987 - WJZY begins broadcasting.

1989 - Hurricane Hugo.

1990

Charlotte Allstar Cheerleading founded.

Population: 395,934.

1991

Blockbuster Pavilion opens.

Museum of the New South incorporated.

1992

North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center opens.

Carolina Actors Studio Theatre and Carolinas Aviation Museum founded.

1993

City government computer network begins operating.

Mel Watt becomes U.S. representative for North Carolina's 12th congressional district.

1994

WMYT-TV begins broadcasting.

Airplane accident.

Charlotte's Web Community Network online.

1995

Pat McCrory becomes mayor.

Charlotte Convention Center and Tremont Music Hall open.

City website online.

1997 - Loomis Fargo Bank Robbery.

1998 - Bank of America formed.

1999 - Federal court ends mandated racial integration in schools via busing.

21st century

2000 - Population: 540,828.

2002 - ConCarolinas begins.

2003 - Airplane accident.

2004

Slow Food Charlotte founded.[1]

Street Soccer USA headquartered in city.

2005 - Charlotte Bobcats Arena and ImaginOn open.

2007

Lynx Blue Line light rail begins operating.

Billy Graham Library opens.

2009 - Anthony Foxx becomes mayor.

2010

NASCAR Hall of Fame and Bechtler Museum of Modern Art open.

Population: 731,424.

2011 - Occupy Charlotte begins.

2012

Little Sugar Creek Greenway built.

Democratic National Convention held in Charlotte.

2013

Robert Pittenger becomes U.S. representative for North Carolina's 9th congressional district.

Population: 792,862.

2014 - Alma Adams becomes U.S. representative for North Carolina's 12th congressional district.

2016 - September: Protests and unrest following the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott leave several police officers wounded, and a civilian shot.