The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Wheeling, West Virginia, US.

18th century

1769 – Wheeling founded by Ebenezer Zane. 1774 – Fort Fincastle built. 1777 – September: Siege of Fort Henry "by a large force of Indians." 1782 – September: Attempted siege on fort by "about 40 British regular soldiers and about 250 Indians." 1793 – Town grid laid out. 1795 – Town incorporated. 1797 – Wheeling becomes seat of Ohio County. 1798 – Shepherd Hall (residence) built.

19th century 1806 – George Miller becomes town mayor. 1807 – Wheeling Library Company founded. 1814 – Linsly Institute for boys founded. 1817 – Elm Grove Stone Arch Bridge built. 1818 National Road begins operating. Va. North-Western Gazette newspaper begins publication. 1821 – Glass manufacturing begins. 1834 – Wheeling Water Works established. 1836 City chartered. Moses W. Chapline becomes city mayor. 1840 – Population: 7,885. 1848 – Wheeling Female Academy and Wheeling Lyceum established. 1849 Wheeling Suspension Bridge opens. Nail manufacturing begins. 1850 Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling established. Population: 11,435. 1852 – Baltimore and Ohio Railroad built. 1853 Wheeling Hospital established. Iron Market House in business. 1859 – Wheeling Library Association established. 1860 – Population: 14,083. 1861 January: Andrew J. Sweeney becomes mayor. May: First Wheeling Convention held. June: Second Wheeling Convention held. 1863 June 20 Wheeling becomes capital of the new state of West Virginia. West Virginia Legislature convenes. Daily Register newspaper begins publication. 1865 – St. Joseph's Academy for girls established. 1866 – Greenwood Cemetery established. 1870 West Virginia capital relocated from Wheeling to Charleston. Population: 19,280. 1875 – Wheeling becomes capital of West Virginia again. 1879 – Bloch Brothers in business. + Wheeling timeline 1880 – Population: 30,737. 1882 – Wheeling Public Library established. 1883 – Soldiers and Sailors Monument dedicated. 1884 – Ohio River flood. 1885 – West Virginia capital relocated from Wheeling to Charleston again. 1890 City Hospital established. Population: 34,522. 1897 – Cathedral Parish School built. 1898 – March 26: Ohio River flood. 1900 – Population: 38,878.

20th century

1904 – Victoria Theater in business. 1907 – March 15: Ohio River flood. 1910 – Population: 41,641. 1913 – March 28: Ohio River flood. 1915 – Rex Theater in business. 1917 – Liberty Theatre in business. 1922 – Lincoln Theater in business. 1926 WWVA radio begins broadcasting. Wheeling Area Historical Society founded. 1928 Oglebay Park established. Madonna of the Trail monument dedicated. Capitol Theatre in business. 1929 – Wheeling Country Day School incorporated. 1930 – Oglebay Institute established. 1933 – Ohio County Public Library active. 1935 – Wheeling News-Register newspaper in publication. 1936 March 19: Ohio River flood. City centennial. 1937 – January 26: Ohio River flood of 1937. 1942 – December 21: Ohio River flood. 1950 – February 9, 1950: Senator Joseph R. McCarthy made the "Enemies Within" speech before the Ohio County Women's Republican Club 1952 – October 23: US president Truman visits city during election campaign. 1953 – WTRF-TV (television) begins broadcasting. 1955 – Fort Henry Bridge and Jesuit Wheeling College open. 1970 – Wheeling Area Genealogical Society founded. 1976 – Wheeling Park High School established. 1977 – Oglebay's Good Zoo established. 1983 – Alan Mollohan becomes U.S. representative for West Virginia's 1st congressional district. 1992 - Wheeling Thunderbirds (later renamed to Wheeling Nailers in 1996) plays first hockey game at Civic Center. 1988 - Aetnaville Bridge closes to traffic on Wheeling Island 1996 - Ohio River floods, reaches 45.4 flood stage in January 1999 - Suspension Bridge is renovated for 150th birthday.

21st century

2001 - Wheeling Heritage Port opens to the public. 2004 - remnants of Hurricane Ivan causes widespread flooding in the area in September. The Ohio River flooded reaching 45.4 feet. 2005 - significant rainfall causes the Ohio River to flood again on January 7, reaching 42.1 feet. 2008 – Andy McKenzie becomes mayor. 2010 – Population: 28,486 city; 147,950 metro. 2011 – David McKinley becomes U.S. representative for West Virginia's 1st congressional district. 2016 – Glenn Elliott elected mayor. 2019 - Ohio Valley Medical Center closes on September 4. 2019-2022 - $214 million dollar renovation of 26 bridges along I-70 in Wheeling takes place. 2024 - Denny Magruder elected mayor 2025 - 9 people die in flash flooding along Little Wheeling Creek in Triadelphia and Ohio County.

See also Wheeling, West Virginia history List of mayors of Wheeling, West Virginia National Register of Historic Places listings in Ohio County, West Virginia Other cities in West Virginia: Timeline of Charleston, West Virginia Timeline of Huntington, West Virginia

References

Bibliography

published in 19th c.

published in 20th c.

Charles A. Wingerter. History of Greater Wheeling and Vicinity. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1912.

+ chronology

Minder, Mike. Wheeling’s Gambling History to 1976. Wheeling: Nail City Publishing, 1997.

published in 21st c. Fones-Wolf, Ken, “‘Traitors in Wheeling’: Secessionism in an Appalachian Unionist City,” Journal of Appalachian Studies, 13 (Spring–Fall 2007), 75–95. . Duffy, Sean, & Rinkes, Paul, Wheeling: Then & Now. Mount Pleasant, S. Carolina: Arcadia Publishing, 2010.

External links

Items related to Wheeling, various dates (via Digital Public Library of America).