Timeline of Wheeling, West Virginia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Wheeling, West Virginia, US.
18th century
- 1769 – Wheeling founded by Ebenezer Zane.[1]
- 1774 – Fort Fincastle built.[2]
- 1777 – September: Siege of Fort Henry "by a large force of Indians."[3]
- 1782 – September: Attempted siege on fort by "about 40 British regular soldiers and about 250 Indians."[3]
- 1793 – Town grid laid out.[2]
- 1795 – Town incorporated.[2]
- 1797 – Wheeling becomes seat of Ohio County.[4]
- 1798 – Shepherd Hall (residence) built.
19th century
- 1806 – George Miller becomes town mayor.
- 1807 – Wheeling Library Company founded.[5]
- 1814 – Linsly Institute for boys founded.[6]
- 1817 – Elm Grove Stone Arch Bridge built.
- 1818
- National Road begins operating.[1]
- Va. North-Western Gazette newspaper begins publication.[7]
- 1821 – Glass manufacturing begins.[3]
- 1834 – Wheeling Water Works established.[8]
- 1836
- 1840 – Population: 7,885.[10]
- 1848 – Wheeling Female Academy and Wheeling Lyceum[5] established.
- 1849
- Wheeling Suspension Bridge opens.[4]
- Nail manufacturing begins.[3]
- 1850
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling established.[11]
- Population: 11,435.[10]
- 1852 – Baltimore and Ohio Railroad built.[4]
- 1853
- Wheeling Hospital established.[3]
- Iron Market House in business.[8]
- 1859 – Wheeling Library Association established.[5][12]
- 1860 – Population: 14,083.[10]
- 1861
- January: Andrew J. Sweeney becomes mayor.[9][13]
- May: First Wheeling Convention held.[14]
- June: Second Wheeling Convention held.[14]
- 1863
- June 20
- Wheeling becomes capital of the new state of West Virginia.[2]
- West Virginia Legislature convenes.[14]
- Daily Register newspaper begins publication.[7]
- June 20
- 1865 – St. Joseph's Academy for girls established.[6]
- 1866 – Greenwood Cemetery established.[15]
- 1870
- West Virginia capital relocated from Wheeling to Charleston.[1]
- Population: 19,280.[10]
- 1875 – Wheeling becomes capital of West Virginia again.[2]
- 1879 – Bloch Brothers in business.[4]
- 1880 – Population: 30,737.[10]
- 1882 – Wheeling Public Library established.[12]
- 1883 – Soldiers and Sailors Monument dedicated.[4]
- 1884 – Ohio River flood.[16]
- 1885 – West Virginia capital relocated from Wheeling to Charleston again.[1]
- 1890
- City Hospital established.[3]
- Population: 34,522.[10]
- 1897 – Cathedral Parish School built.
- 1898 – March 26: Ohio River flood.[4]
- 1900 – Population: 38,878.[10]
20th century
- 1904 – Victoria Theater in business.
- 1907 – March 15: Ohio River flood.[4]
- 1910 – Population: 41,641.[3]
- 1913 – March 28: Ohio River flood.[4]
- 1915 – Rex Theater in business.[17]
- 1917 – Liberty Theatre in business.[17]
- 1922 – Lincoln Theater in business.[17]
- 1926
- 1928
- Oglebay Park established.
- Madonna of the Trail monument dedicated.
- Capitol Theatre in business.[17]
- 1929 – Wheeling Country Day School incorporated.
- 1930 – Oglebay Institute established.
- 1933 – Ohio County Public Library active.[12]
- 1935 – Wheeling News-Register newspaper in publication.[7]
- 1936
- 1937 – January 26: Ohio River flood of 1937.[4]
- 1942 – December 21: Ohio River flood.[4]
- 1950 – February 9, 1950: Senator Joseph R. McCarthy made the "Enemies Within" speech before the Ohio County Women's Republican Club[20]
- 1952 – October 23: US president Truman visits city during election campaign.
- 1953 – WTRF-TV (television) begins broadcasting.[21]
- 1955 – Fort Henry Bridge and Jesuit Wheeling College open.
- 1970 – Wheeling Area Genealogical Society founded.[22]
- 1976 – Wheeling Park High School established.
- 1977 – Oglebay's Good Zoo established.[23]
- 1983 – Alan Mollohan becomes U.S. representative for West Virginia's 1st congressional district.[24]
- 1992 - Wheeling Thunderbirds (later renamed to Wheeling Nailers in 1996) plays first hockey game at Civic Center.
- 1988 - Aetnaville Bridge closes to traffic on Wheeling Island
- 1996 - Ohio River floods, reaches 45.4 flood stage in January
- 1999 - Suspension Bridge is renovated for 150th birthday.
21st century
- 2001 - Wheeling Heritage Port opens to the public.
- 2004 - remnants of Hurricane Ivan causes widespread flooding in the area in September. The Ohio River flooded reaching 45.4 feet.
- 2005 - significant rainfall causes the Ohio River to flood again on January 7, reaching 42.1 feet.
- 2008 – Andy McKenzie becomes mayor.[25]
- 2010 – Population: 28,486 city;[26] 147,950 metro.
- 2011 – David McKinley becomes U.S. representative for West Virginia's 1st congressional district.[27]
- 2016 – Glenn Elliott elected mayor.[28]
- 2019 - Ohio Valley Medical Center closes on September 4.
- 2019-2022 - $214 million dollar renovation of 26 bridges along I-70 in Wheeling takes place.
- 2024 - Denny Magruder elected mayor
- 2025 - 9 people die in flash flooding along Little Wheeling Creek in Triadelphia and Ohio County.
