Timeline of Charleston, West Virginia

The following is a 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."
• 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.
• 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).