Timeline of Wheeling, West Virginia

The following is a timeline 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.
 * 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.

21st century

 * 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.

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.
 * + chronology
 * Minder, Mike. Wheeling’s Gambling History to 1976. Wheeling: Nail City Publishing, 1997.
 * + chronology
 * Minder, Mike. Wheeling’s Gambling History to 1976. Wheeling: Nail City Publishing, 1997.
 * 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.