The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States.
19th century
1838 – Cherokee Nation removed from Chattanooga, marched out to 'Indian Territory' (now Oklahoma) on the 'Trail of Tears' 1840 – James Enfield Berry becomes mayor. 1849 – Western & Atlantic Railroad begins operating. 1851 – City chartered. 1854 – Nashville & Chattanooga Railway in operation. 1860 - Population: 2.545. 1862 – June: First Battle of Chattanooga. 1863 September: Occupation by Union forces begins. November 24: Battle of Lookout Mountain. November 25: Battle of Missionary Ridge. 1866 March: Occupation by Union forces ends. Chartered as a city. 1867 – March: The largest flood in the city's recorded history. 1869 – Chattanooga Times newspaper begins publication. 1870 - Population: 6,093. 1871 - Stanton House was built 1880 - Population: 12,892. 1882 – Walnut Street Temple dedicated. 1886 - University of Tennessee at Chattanooga established. 1890 Walnut Street Bridge built. Population: 29,100. 1900 - Population: 30,154.
20th century
1905 – Chattanooga Public Library opens. 1906 - Lynching of Ed Johnson 1909 – Hixson High School founded. 1910 - Population: 44,604. 1917 – Market Street Bridge built. 1921 – Tivoli Theatre opens. 1923 – Chattanooga Theatre Centre founded. 1924 – Memorial Auditorium built. 1925 – WDOD radio begins broadcasting. 1930 – Population: 119,798. 1933 – Chattanooga Free Press newspaper begins publication. 1935 – Electric Power Board of Chattanooga established. 1937 – Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park established. 1940 – Population: 128,163. 1950 – Population: 131,041. 1953 – WROM-TV - now WTVC (television) begins broadcasting. 1954 – WDEF-TV (television) begins broadcasting. 1956 – WRGP-TV - now WRCB (television) begins broadcasting. 1959 – Olgiati Bridge built. 1960 – Population: 130,009. 1961 – Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum founded. 1965 - Chattanooga State Community College established. 1972 – Twelve Tribes (religious group) and National Knife Museum founded. 1975 – Marilyn Lloyd becomes U.S. representative for Tennessee's 3rd congressional district. 1980 – Population: 169,565. 1983 – Chattanooga African-American Museum established. 1983-97 – Gene Roberts began city's longest term as mayor. 1984 – Veterans Memorial Bridge built. 1986 - Chattanooga School for the Arts & Sciences established. 1987 – Fellowship of Southern Writers headquartered in Chattanooga. 1989 – Federal judge ordered change in city governance to city council system to allow for more demographically correct African-American political representation in City Council (Brown vs. Board of Commissioners of the City of Chattanooga) 1992 – Tennessee Aquarium opened. 1995 – International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum established. 1997 City website online (approximate date). Jon Kinsey elected mayor. 1999 – Chattanooga Times Free Press newspaper in publication.
21st century
2001 – Bob Corker elected mayor. 2005 Hunter Museum of American Art building expanded. Ron Littlefield elected mayor. 2009 - Ron Littlefield re-elected mayor. 2010 Electric Power Board's one gigabit per second Internet service began. Population: 167,674. 2011 Volkswagen Chattanooga Assembly Plant began operating. Chuck Fleischmann elected U.S. representative for Tennessee's 3rd congressional district. 2013 – Andy Berke elected mayor. 2015 – Lone-wolf terrorist shooting, killed five military members and injuring three others. 2017 – Andy Berke re-elected mayor. 2021 – Tim Kelly becomes mayor.
See also Chattanooga history List of mayors of Chattanooga, Tennessee Timelines of other cities in Tennessee: Clarksville, Knoxville, Memphis, Murfreesboro, Nashville
References
Bibliography
Published in the 19th century
Published in the 20th century
. 1911-
Govan, Gilbert E. and James W. Livingood. The Chattanooga Country 1540-1951, From Tomahawks to TVA (1952). Pp. 509. in-depth local history online (Includes information about Chattanooga)
Published in the 21st century
External links
Chattanooga Public Library. Local History Items related to Chattanooga, various dates (via Digital Public Library of America).