# Timeline of Asheville, North Carolina

The following is a timeline 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.