The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Roanoke, Virginia, United States.
Prior to 20th century
1835 - Town of Gainesborough incorporated. 1838 - Roanoke County created. 1852 - Big Lick Depot built near Gainesborough; Virginia & Tennessee Railroad begins operating. 1865 - April: Big Lick settlement sacked by Federal forces during American Civil War. 1870 - Atlantic, Mississippi & Ohio Railroad begins operating. 1874 Town of Big Lick incorporated. John Trout becomes mayor. 1878 - Big Lick News begins publication. 1882 Big Lick and Old Lick renamed "Roanoke". Roanoke Machine Works in business. Population: 5,276. 1883 - YMCA branch founded. 1884 - City of Roanoke incorporated. 1885 - Municipal market established. 1886 - Roanoke Daily Times newspaper begins publication. 1889 - Evening World newspaper begins publication. 1890 Roanoke Hospital founded. Population: 16,159. 1891 - Roanoke Weekly Press newspaper begins publication. 1893 - September 20: "Lynch riot" occurs.
20th century 1902 - Beth Israel congregation formed. 1903 - Agricultural "Great Roanoke Fair" begins. 1904 - Chamber of Commerce founded. 1906 - Virginian Railway begins operating. 1910 City Health Department established. Mill Mountain Incline (funicular) begins operating. Population: 34,874. 1911 - Roanoke Theatre in business. 1913 - Bijou Theatre in business. 1914 - YWCA branch founded. 1919 - "Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court" established. 1920 - Population: 50,842. 1921 Public Library opens. Ku Klux Klan branch active (approximate date). 1924 - WDBJ radio begins broadcasting. 1925 - Patrick Henry Hotel in business. 1926 - Memorial Bridge opens. 1930 - Big Lick Garden Club formed. 1933 - Roanoke Municipal Airport begins operating. 1936 - First Dr. Pepper plant east of the Mississippi River opened by John William "Bill" Davis; Roanoke soon becomes the Dr. Pepper Capitol of the World Christina Rogers, "Dr Pepper pops to life again", Roanoke.com. Retrieved July 14, 2009. 1939 - Roanoke Tribune newspaper begins publication. 1950 - Population: 91,921. 1952 WSLS-TV (television) begins broadcasting. Mill Mountain Zoo established. 1955 - WDBJ-TV (television) begins broadcasting. 1957 - Roanoke Historical Society founded. 1959 - Temple Emanuel Synagogue built. 1966 - Virginia Western Community College established. 1976 - Portion of Roanoke County becomes part of city. 1980 - Population: 100,220. 1985 - Valley View Mall in business. 1992 - David A. Bowers becomes mayor. 1993 - Bob Goodlatte becomes U.S. representative for Virginia's 6th congressional district. 2000 - City website online (approximate date).-
21st century 2004 - O. Winston Link Museum opens. 2010 - Population: 97,032. 2016 October 25: FreightCar America shooting occurs. Sherman P. Lea becomes mayor. 2020 - The Norfolk Southern locomotive shops cease production in Roanoke after 139 years of operations.
See also Roanoke, Virginia history List of mayors of Roanoke, Virginia National Register of Historic Places listings in Roanoke, Virginia Timelines of other cities in Virginia: Alexandria, Hampton, Lynchburg, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Richmond, Virginia Beach
References
Bibliography
circa 1893-
(Fulltext)
circa 1964-
(Fulltext)
External links
Items related to Roanoke, Virginia, various dates (via Digital Public Library of America) (Local history collection)