Critical Points in Timeline
1540 - Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto visits Western North Carolina.
1643 - Early colonial trade was established with the Cherokees following existing trading paths, which crossed at the present location of Asheville.
1792 - January 14, the creation of Buncombe County from Burke and Rutherford Counties.
1795 - Asheville, originally named Morristown, was changed to Asheville in honor of Governor Samuel Ashe and was named Buncombe County seat.
1828 - The Buncombe Turnpike was completed after four years of labor.
1643 - Early colonial trade was established with the Cherokees following existing trading paths, which crossed at the present location of Asheville.
1792 - January 14, the creation of Buncombe County from Burke and Rutherford Counties.
1795 - Asheville, originally named Morristown, was changed to Asheville in honor of Governor Samuel Ashe and was named Buncombe County seat.
1828 - The Buncombe Turnpike was completed after four years of labor.
- Primarily used for cattle drives throughout the 1800’s, the Turnpike helped to shift the economy to corn and livestock.
- The construction of the Turnpike marks the first large African American migration to Western North Carolina as labor for road construction.
1850 - Sometime just before 1850 Sherrill's Inn, at Hickory Nut Gap is built. The Inn is the earliest lodging for traveler's into Buncombe County and western North Carolina.
1865 - April 6, the Battle of Asheville is fought and Union soldiers were forced into retreat. Several weeks later, Asheville was sacked by three regiments of Union forces despite surrendering.
1865 - Upon Emancipation many African Americans moved further west towards Tennessee, while others moved to Henderson County to establish their own community.
1870 - A time of general isolation as bad roads and Civil War destruction cut Western North Carolina off from the rest of the state.
1865 - April 6, the Battle of Asheville is fought and Union soldiers were forced into retreat. Several weeks later, Asheville was sacked by three regiments of Union forces despite surrendering.
1865 - Upon Emancipation many African Americans moved further west towards Tennessee, while others moved to Henderson County to establish their own community.
1870 - A time of general isolation as bad roads and Civil War destruction cut Western North Carolina off from the rest of the state.
1880-1920 - The African American population of Asheville grew rapidly with all of the service industry jobs available as Coxe, Grove, and Vanderbilt opened tourist resorts and made Asheville the premiere health resort for the Victorian wealthy.
1880 - October 2, completion of the Western North Carolina Rail Road.
1883 - First City Directory is printed for Asheville and population of Asheville is recorded as 3,874 (2,408 white and 1,466 colored). In three years the population increased by 48% (since the 1880 census).
1889 - Asheville improves streets and becomes the first city in North Carolina with an electric street car public transportation system.
1890 - Rapid development in Asheville results in the establishment of suburbs and the rapid segregation of residential and commercial areas.
1890-1895 - Construction begins on the Biltmore Estate of George W. Vanderbilt under to direction of Richard Morris Hunt and with assistance of Frederick Law Olmsted, landscape architect, Richard Sharp Smith, and Rafael Guastavino.
1880 - October 2, completion of the Western North Carolina Rail Road.
- The vast majority of the labor for this project came from African American chain-gangs and free laborers.
1883 - First City Directory is printed for Asheville and population of Asheville is recorded as 3,874 (2,408 white and 1,466 colored). In three years the population increased by 48% (since the 1880 census).
1889 - Asheville improves streets and becomes the first city in North Carolina with an electric street car public transportation system.
1890 - Rapid development in Asheville results in the establishment of suburbs and the rapid segregation of residential and commercial areas.
1890-1895 - Construction begins on the Biltmore Estate of George W. Vanderbilt under to direction of Richard Morris Hunt and with assistance of Frederick Law Olmsted, landscape architect, Richard Sharp Smith, and Rafael Guastavino.
1930 - November 1930 saw the collapse of the Central Bank and Trust Company and the crash of Asheville's economy.
1935 - September 11, 1935, construction on the Blue Ridge Parkway is begun.
1941 - Street car lines are pulled up and used for scrap metal in the war effort. Rationing is in full effect.
1947 - Asheville and western North Carolina, like much of the country experienced a downturn in the economy and industrial growth began to put pressure on the environment. Pollution is evident and discussed in the news. Tourism continues, but includes middle-income families who look for convenience motels and short stays.
- The City government went bankrupt and city officials were faced with an enormous debt.
- Asheville's economy begins a long and slow decline that would remain for some thirty years.
1935 - September 11, 1935, construction on the Blue Ridge Parkway is begun.
1941 - Street car lines are pulled up and used for scrap metal in the war effort. Rationing is in full effect.
1947 - Asheville and western North Carolina, like much of the country experienced a downturn in the economy and industrial growth began to put pressure on the environment. Pollution is evident and discussed in the news. Tourism continues, but includes middle-income families who look for convenience motels and short stays.
1957 - Asheville-Hendersonville Airport is constructed through a bond initiative approved by the voters on May 4, 1957. Air transportation gives rise to new and greater number of visitors to area.
1959-1972 - These were years of controversy in Asheville as integration was forced throughout the south.
1968 - Blue Ridge Parkway was dedicated.
During this same period the I-240 extension was completed and provided rapid access to Asheville and with I-26 and I-40 helped to relieve the growing congestion in the downtown area.
1959-1972 - These were years of controversy in Asheville as integration was forced throughout the south.
1968 - Blue Ridge Parkway was dedicated.
- The planning and construction of the Parkway over a twenty-two year history, was originally called the "Appalachian Highway."
During this same period the I-240 extension was completed and provided rapid access to Asheville and with I-26 and I-40 helped to relieve the growing congestion in the downtown area.