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.

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.