# Timeline of Charlotte, North Carolina

The following is a timeline of the history of Charlotte, North Carolina, United States.

## Prior to 19th century

* 1763 – Mecklenburg County established.
* 1768 – Charlotte Town incorporated.
* 1770 – Queen's Museum chartered.
* 1774 – Charlotte becomes capital of county.
* 1775 – Mecklenburg Resolves signed.
* 1777 – Liberty Hall Academy incorporated.
* 1780 – Battle of Charlotte fought.

## 19th century

* 1835 – Charlotte Journal newspaper begins publication.
* 1837 – Charlotte Mint opens.
* 1850 – William F. Davidson becomes mayor.
* 1852
** Railway begins operating.
** Western Democrat newspaper begins publication.
* 1857
** Charlotte Female Institute established.
** YMCA becomes active.
** Gas lighting in use.
* 1858 – Charlotte Military Academy established.
* 1867 – Biddle Memorial Institute founded.
* 1875 – Charlotte public schools established.
* 1880 – Population: 7,084.
* 1886 – Charlotte Chronicle newspaper begins publication.
* 1887
** Electric lighting in use.
** Charlotte Fire Department founded.
* 1888 – The Charlotte News begins publication.
* 1890 – Charlotte Post newspaper begins publication.
* 1891
** City hall built.
** Charlotte Literary and Library Association organized.
** Latta Park established
* 1897 – Elizabeth College established.

## 20th century

* 1903 – Charlotte Carnegie Public Library opens.
* 1905
** Brevard Street Library for Negroes opens.
** Southern Power Company incorporated.
* 1908 – Union National Bank founded.
* 1915 – Temple Israel built.
* 1921 – WBT radio begins broadcasting.
* 1924
** Hotel Charlotte opens.
** Radiator Specialty Company founded.
* 1930
** Population: 82,675
** Work started to create Bryant Park
* 1932 – Charlotte Symphony Orchestra formed.
* 1933 – WSOC radio begins broadcasting.
* 1935 – Charlotte Municipal Airport established.
* 1936 – Mint Museum opens.
* 1940 – Population: 100,899.
* 1946 – Charlotte Center of the University of North Carolina opens.
* 1947 – The Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte founded.
* 1949 – WBTV (television) begins broadcasting.
* 1950 – Population: 134,042.
* 1955 – Ovens Auditorium opens.
* 1957
** WSOC-TV (television) begins broadcasting.
** American Commercial Bank formed.
* 1960 – Population: 201,564.
* 1961 – Stan Brookshire becomes mayor.
* 1966 – Charlotte Botanical Gardens established.
* 1967 – WCNC-TV begins broadcasting.
* 1968 – Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories Arboretum established.
* 1970
** SouthPark Mall opens.
** Population: 241,178.
* 1971 – U.S. Supreme Court decides Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, approving racial desegregation busing.
* 1973 – Carowinds Monorail begins operating.
* 1974 – Airplane accident.
* 1976 – Afro-American Cultural Center established.
* 1980 – Population: 314,447.
* 1982 – Heroes Convention (comic books) begins.
* 1983 – Harvey Gantt becomes mayor.
* 1985 – Metrolina Theatre Association established.
* 1986
** Opera Carolina formed.
** Airplane accident.
* 1987 – WJZY begins broadcasting.
* 1988
** Charlotte Hornets begins play.
** Charlotte Knights franchise established.
* 1989 – Hurricane Hugo.
* 1990 — Population: 395,934.
* 1991
** Blockbuster Pavilion opens.
** Museum of the New South incorporated.
* 1992
** North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center opens.
** Carolina Actors Studio Theatre and Carolinas Aviation Museum founded.
* 1993
** City government computer network begins operating.
** Mel Watt becomes U.S. representative for North Carolina's 12th congressional district.
* 1994
** WMYT-TV begins broadcasting.
** Airplane accident.
** Charlotte's Web Community Network online.
* 1995
** Pat McCrory becomes mayor.
** Charlotte Convention Center and Tremont Music Hall open.
** City website online.
** Carolina Panthers began play as first NFL team in the Carolinas
* 1997 – Loomis Fargo Bank Robbery.
* 1998 – Bank of America formed.
* 1999 – Federal court ends mandated racial integration in schools via busing.

## 21st century
### 2000s

* 2000 – Population: 540,828.
* 2002 – ConCarolinas begins.
* 2003 – Airplane accident.
* 2004
** Slow Food Charlotte founded.
** Street Soccer USA headquartered in city.
* 2005 – Charlotte Bobcats Arena and ImaginOn open.
* 2007
** Lynx Blue Line light rail begins operating.
** Billy Graham Library opens.
* 2009 – Anthony Foxx becomes mayor.

### 2010s

* 2010
** NASCAR Hall of Fame and Bechtler Museum of Modern Art open.
** Population: 731,424.
* 2011 – Occupy Charlotte begins.
* 2012
** Little Sugar Creek Greenway built.
** Democratic National Convention held in Charlotte.
* 2013
** Robert Pittenger becomes U.S. representative for North Carolina's 9th congressional district.
** Population: 792,862.
* 2014 – Alma Adams becomes U.S. representative for North Carolina's 12th congressional district.
* 2015 – Population: 827,121 (estimate).
* 2016 – September: Protests and unrest following the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott leave several police officers wounded, and a civilian shot.