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 1902 – Theodore Roosevelt visited Asheville. 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. 1949- The Thomas Wolfe Memorial is established inside the Old Kentucky Home in downtown Asheville. 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.

See also List of mayors of Asheville, North Carolina Buncombe County history National Register of Historic Places listings in Buncombe County, North Carolina Timelines of other cities in North Carolina: Charlotte, Durham, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Raleigh, Wilmington, Winston-Salem

References

Bibliography

(Includes information about Asheville)

Chase, Nan K. 2007. Asheville, a history. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co.

External links

Items related to Asheville, North Carolina, various dates (via Digital Public Library of America) (Subject guide)