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Timeline of Wheeling, West Virginia

The following is a 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.
  • 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.http://www.wcdsedu.com/programs/about/history/
  • 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

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