The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Charleston, West Virginia, USA.
Prior to 20th century
1794 – "Virginia General Assembly designated 40-acres of George Clendenin's land, as Charlestown." (Includes timeline) 1805 – "Salt-tub mill" begins operating. 1808 – Farmers' Repository newspaper begins publication. 1815 – Ruffner Mansion built. 1818 Charlestown renamed "Charleston". Mercer Academy established. 1819 – Spectator newspaper begins publication. 1841 – Kanawha Lyceum active (approximate date). 1850 – Population: 1,050. 1862 – Battle of Charleston fought near town during the American Civil War. 1863 – June 20: Charleston becomes part of new U.S. state of West Virginia. 1870 City of Charleston incorporated. Charleston designated West Virginia state capital. 1872 – Kanawha Chronicle newspaper begins publication. 1875 – State capital moves from Charleston to Wheeling. 1885 State Capital moves from Wheeling back to Charleston. State Capitol building expanded. 1890 West Virginia Historical and Antiquarian Society headquartered in Charleston. Population: 6,742. 1891 Burlew Opera House in business. West Virginia Colored Institute founded near Charleston. 1892 – Capitol City Commercial College founded. 1897 – Sacred Heart Church built. 1900 – Chamber of Commerce organized.
20th century 1905 – State Bureau of Archives and History headquartered in Charleston. 1906 – Mason School of Music founded. 1909 Charleston Public Library opens. Stalnaker Drugstore in business. 1910 – Population: 22,996. 1913 – Chemical manufactory begins operating. 1916 – Libbey-Owens-Ford glass manufactory and Charleston High School built. 1917 – Owens Bottle Company manufactory in business in Kanawha City. 1919 – Town of South Charleston incorporated near Charleston. 1920 – Charleston Daily Mail newspaper in publication. 1921 – Charleston City Hall built. 1922 – Kearse Theater in business. 1923 – Sacred Heart High School established. 1925 – West Virginia Governor's Mansion built. 1927 WCHS radio begins broadcasting. Garnett Library (public library branch) opens. Union Carbide manufacturer buys Blaine Island in South Charleston, near city of Charleston. 1929 – Charleston Municipal Airport established. 1930 – Population: 60,408. 1932 – State Capitol building rebuilt. 1934 – Kanawha County Public Library established. 1935 – Morris Harvey College relocates to Charleston. (Timeline) 1939 Charleston Municipal Auditorium built. WGKV radio begins broadcasting. State Theatre in business. 1940 – Stonewall Jackson High School built. 1941 – Kanawha Boulevard constructed (approximate date). 1947 – Kanawha Airport, now known as Yeager Airport, begins operating. 1954 – WCHS-TV (television) begins broadcasting. 1957 – WBOY-TV (television) begins broadcasting. 1959 – Charleston Civic Center, now known as the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center, opens. 1960 – Population: 85,796. 1961 July 19: Kanawha River flood. Sunrise Art Museum established. 1978 – Morris Harvey College renamed University of Charleston. 1983 – Charleston Town Center shopping mall in business. 1998 – City website online (approximate date).
21st century 2003 – Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences of West Virginia opens. 2005 – West Virginia Music Hall of Fame established 2010 – Population: 51,400. 2015 – Charleston Gazette-Mail newspaper is formed by the merger of the Charleston Gazette and Charleston Daily Mail. 2020 – Population: 48,864 2021 – Population: 48,018
See also Charleston history National Register of Historic Places listings in Kanawha County, West Virginia West Virginia Legislature (seated in Charleston) List of Governors of West Virginia (seated in Charleston) Other cities in West Virginia: Timeline of Huntington, West Virginia Timeline of Wheeling, West Virginia
References
Bibliography
+ chronology
(fulltext)
External links
Items related to Charleston, various dates (via Digital Public Library of America).