Timeline of Asheville, North Carolina

The following is a of the history of the city of Asheville, North Carolina, USA.

Prior to 20th century

• 1792 – Settlement established (approximate date).
• 1793 – Log courthouse built.
• 1797 – Town of Asheville incorporated; named after politician Samuel Ashe.
• 1800 – Population: 38.
• 1824 – Buncombe Turnpike built in vicinity of Asheville.
• 1829 – Vance Circulating Library Society founded.
• 1849 – Asheville News begins publication.
• 1850 – Population: 502.
• 1870
• North Carolina Citizen newspaper begins publication.
• Population: 1,400.
• 1879 – Public Library opens.
• 1880 – Western North Carolina Railroad begins operating.
• 1882 – The first organized fire department is created, which will eventually become the Asheville Fire Department.
• 1883 – City of Asheville incorporated.
• 1889
• Streetcar begins operating.
• Construction of Biltmore Estate begins near Asheville.
• 1890 – Population: 10,235.
• 1893 – Young Men's Institute Building constructed.
• 1894 – Swannanoa Country Club founded.
• 1895 – Construction of Biltmore Estate is completed.
• 1897 – Zebulon Baird Vance monument erected in Pack Square.
• 1898
• Manor Hotel in business.
• Biltmore Forest School established near Asheville.
• 1899 – Appalachian National Park Association formed during a meeting in Asheville.
• 1900 – Future writer Thomas Wolfe born in Asheville.

20th century

• 1906 – Will Harris's murderous rampage
• 1909
• St. Lawrence Church built.
• Palace Theatre in business.
• 1913 – Grove Park Inn in business.
• 1915 – Asheville Masonic Temple built.
• 1916 - The Great Asheville Flood
• 1917 –
• West Asheville becomes part of the city of Asheville.
• Nov. 16, a fire at Catholic Hill School for Colored Children killed seven and destroyed the building. Considered to be one of the worst disasters in Asheville history.
• 1920 – Population: 28,504.
• 1922 – Imperial Theatre in business.
• 1924 – Hi-rise Jackson Building constructed.
• 1925 – Memorial Stadium opens.
• 1927
• WWNC radio begins broadcasting.
• First Baptist Church built.
• 1928
• Asheville City Hall and Buncombe County Courthouse built.
• Dutch-owned Enka rayon manufactory begins operating near city.
• 1929 – Kenilworth becomes part of Asheville.
• 1930
• Southern Mountain Handicraft Guild founded.
• Population: 50,193.
• 1934
• Bus begins operating.
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park established in vicinity of Asheville.
• 1935 – Blue Ridge Parkway construction begins.
• 1941 – Black Mountain College of art relocates to vicinity of Asheville.
• 1948 – March 10: Highland Hospital fire; Zelda Fitzgerald among the fatalities.
• 1952 – Western North Carolina Historical Association organized.
• 1953 – WISE-TV (television) begins broadcasting.
• 1954 – WLOS-TV (television) begins broadcasting.
• 1959 – Asheville Industrial Education Center established.
• 1961 – Asheville Regional Airport begins operating.
• 1964 – Asheville Chamber of Commerce donated the North Carolina Governor's Western Residence to the state government
• 1971 – Asheville Mall in business.
• 1976 – Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County organized.
• 1978 – North Carolina Division of Archives and Records "Western Office" headquartered in Asheville.
• 1979 – Old Buncombe County Genealogical Society formed.
• 1980 – Population: 54,022.
• 1983 – James M. Clarke becomes U.S. representative for North Carolina's 11th congressional district.
• 1990 – Sister city agreement established with Vladikavkaz, Russia.
• 1991 – Asheville Citizen-Times newspaper in publication.
• 1994 – Sister city agreement established with San Cristóbal de las Casas, Mexico.
• 1996 – Sister city agreement established with Saumur, France.
• 1998 – City website online (approximate date).

21st century

• 2000 – Population: 68,889.
• 2003 – Asheville Film Festival begins.
• 2004 – Sister city agreement established with Karpenisi, Greece.
• 2005
• Terry Bellamy becomes first African-American in city elected mayor.
• Patrick McHenry becomes U.S. representative for North Carolina's 10th congressional district.
• 2006 – Sister city agreement established with Valladolid, Mexico.
• 2007 – Asheville-Buncombe Libraries changed name to Buncombe County Public Libraries.
• 2008 – Sister city agreement established with Osogbo, Nigeria.
• 2010 – Population: 83,393.
• 2013 – Esther Manheimer becomes mayor.
• 2019 – Population: 92,870.
• 2024 – Asheville, along with the entirety of the western end of North Carolina, sustains catastrophic damage as a direct result of Hurricane Helene.

See also

• List of mayors of Asheville, North Carolina
• Buncombe County history
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Buncombe County, North Carolina
• of other cities in North Carolina: Charlotte, Durham, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Raleigh, Wilmington, Winston-Salem

References

Bibliography

• (Includes information about Asheville)
• Chase, Nan K. 2007. Asheville, a history. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co.

External links

• Items related to Asheville, North Carolina, various dates (via Digital Public Library of America)
• (Subject guide)