History of Charlottesville, Virginia in Timeline

Charlottesville, Virginia, an independent city and county seat of Albemarle County, was formerly the capital of Virginia. Named after Queen Charlotte, it had a population of 46,553 in 2020. The Charlottesville metropolitan area, encompassing Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, and Nelson counties, has a combined population of roughly 160,000. It serves as the central hub of this larger metropolitan region.

1903: Charlottesville and Albemarle Railway (C&A) was organized

In 1903, streetcar lines existed in Charlottesville since the late 1880s under various names until organized as the Charlottesville and Albemarle Railway (C&A).

1903: Founding of Martha Jefferson Hospital

In 1903, the Martha Jefferson Hospital was founded in Charlottesville.

1906: Renovation of the Church of the Paraclete

In 1906, the Church of the Paraclete was renovated and renamed to Holy Comforter.

1912: Highest percentage for a Democrat to win in Charlottesville

In 1912, it was the highest percentage for a Democrat to win in Charlottesville. In 2020 Joe Biden won the city with the highest percentage for a Democrat since 1912.

1918: Massacre of Nicholas II's royal family

In 1918 there was massacre of Nicholas II's royal family. Between 1968 and 1984, Charlottesville was also the home of Anna Anderson, best known for her claims to be Grand Duchess Anastasia and lone survivor of the 1918 massacre of Nicholas II's royal family.

1935: Charlottesville and Albemarle Railway (C&A) shut down

In 1935, Charlottesville and Albemarle Railway (C&A) operated streetcars until the line shut down due to rising costs and decreased ridership.

1940: Lane High School operated jointly with Albemarle County

From 1940, Lane High School operated jointly with Albemarle County.

1943: Newman Center Begun

In 1943, the Newman Center was begun.

1947: NAACP Branch Organized

In 1947, a local branch of the NAACP was organized in Charlottesville.

August 1950: Cross Burning on Cherry Avenue

In August 1950, three white men were observed burning a cross on Cherry Avenue, a predominantly African-American neighborhood in Charlottesville. It was speculated this was due to a white man socializing with a young African-American woman.

1951: Jackson P. Burley High School was in operation

From 1951, Jackson P. Burley High School, a segregated school for African American students, was in operation.

September 7, 1954: Highest Temperature Recorded

On September 7, 1954, the temperature reached 107 °F (42 °C) which is one of the highest temperatures recorded in Charlottesville.

1956: Cross Burning Outside a Church

In 1956, crosses were burned outside a progressive church in Charlottesville.

1958: Closure of Segregated White Schools

In 1958, Charlottesville closed its segregated white schools as part of Virginia's strategy of massive resistance to federal court orders to integrate, following the Brown v. Board of Education decision.

1962: Liquidation of the Woolen Mills

In 1962, the Charlottesville Factory, rebuilt after being burnt during the Civil War and known as the Woolen Mills, was liquidated.

1963: First African-American Member of Charlottesville School Board

In 1963, Raymond Bell became the first African-American member of the Charlottesville School Board.

1963: Civil Rights Protests Begin

In 1963, civil rights activists in Charlottesville began protesting segregated restaurants with sit-ins, including one at Buddy's Restaurant near the University of Virginia.

1965: Razing of Vinegar Hill Neighborhood

In 1965, the city government razed the downtown African American neighborhood Vinegar Hill as an urban renewal project, displacing many community members.

1967: Jackson P. Burley High School closed

In 1967 Jackson P. Burley High School closed.

1967: St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish Dedicated

In 1967, St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish, a Dominican-run parish for Catholic students at the University of Virginia, was dedicated.

1968: Anna Anderson lived in Charlottesville

From 1968, Charlottesville was the home of Anna Anderson, best known for her claims to be Grand Duchess Anastasia.

1972: Virginia Men's Lacrosse team won first NCAA Championship

In 1972, the Virginia Men's Lacrosse team won their first NCAA Championship.

December 1, 1974: Blue Mints Social Club Meeting

On December 1, 1974, the Blue Mints Social Club met at the home of Mrs. Reva Shelton to plan their annual "Baskets of Cheer" and a Cabaret Dance on New Year's Eve at Carver Recreation Center, with the Randolph Brothers performing.

1974: Lane High School was replaced by Charlottesville High School

In 1974, Lane High School was replaced by Charlottesville High School and Jackson P. Burley High School reopened as Jackson P. Burley Middle School.

1974: Baptist Churches in Charlottesville

In 1974, some of the Baptist churches in Charlottesville included the Union Run Baptist Church, the South Garden Baptist Church, and the Ebenezer Baptist Church.

1976: Erection of the Church of the Incarnation

In 1976, the Church of the Incarnation was erected as a second parish for the growing Catholic population.

1982: First Night Celebration

Since 1982, a First Night celebration has been held on the Downtown Mall in Charlottesville.

1984: Anna Anderson lived in Charlottesville

Until 1984, Charlottesville was the home of Anna Anderson, best known for her claims to be Grand Duchess Anastasia.

1989: Men's soccer team shared a national title with Santa Clara

In 1989, the Men's soccer team shared a national title with Santa Clara.

1991: Virginia Women's Lacrosse team won NCAA Championship

In 1991, the Virginia Women's Lacrosse team won an NCAA Championship.

1993: Virginia Women's Lacrosse team won NCAA Championship

In 1993, the Virginia Women's Lacrosse team won an NCAA Championship.

January 19, 1994: Lowest Temperature Recorded

On January 19, 1994, the temperature dropped to -10 °F (-23 °C), one of the lowest temperatures ever recorded in Charlottesville.

1994: Men's soccer team won an unprecedented four consecutive NCAA Division I Championships

In 1994, the Men's soccer team won an unprecedented four consecutive NCAA Division I Championships (1991–1994).

2000: Amtrak and the city of Charlottesville finished refurbishing the station

Just after 2000, Amtrak and the city of Charlottesville finished refurbishing the station, upgrading the depot and adding a full-service restaurant.

2001: NAACP Branch Merger

In 2001, the Charlottesville and Albemarle branches of the NAACP merged to form the Albemarle-Charlottesville NAACP Branch.

2002: Bruce Arena coached the U.S. National Team during the World Cup

In 2002, Bruce Arena coached the U.S. National Team during the World Cup.

2004: Charlottesville High School won the VHSL Group AA boys' soccer championship

In 2004, Charlottesville High School won the VHSL Group AA boys' soccer championship.

2004: Virginia Women's Lacrosse team won NCAA Championship

In 2004, the Virginia Women's Lacrosse team won an NCAA Championship.

2006: Opening of John Paul Jones Arena

In 2006, John Paul Jones Arena, the home arena of the Cavalier basketball teams, opened.

2006: St. Anne's-Belfield School won its fourth state private-school championship in football

In 2006, St. Anne's-Belfield School won its fourth state private-school championship in ten years in football.

2006: Virginia Men's Lacrosse team won fourth national championship

In 2006, the Virginia Men's Lacrosse team won their fourth national championship and were the first team to finish undefeated in 17 games.

March 2007: Virginia men's basketball team tied with UNC for 1st in the ACC

In March 2007, the Virginia men's basketball team tied with UNC for 1st in the ACC.

2007: Monticello High School won the VHSL Group AA state football title

In 2007, Monticello High School won the VHSL Group AA state football title and The Covenant School won the state private-school title in boys' cross country.

2008: The girls' cross country team won the state title

In the 2007–2008 school year, the girls' cross country team won the state title. The Covenant School won the state private-school title in boys' cross country in the 2007–2008 school year, the second win in as many years.

2009: Virginia Men's soccer team won the NCAA Championship

In 2009, the Virginia Men's soccer team won the NCAA Championship.

2010: Census Data

As of the census of 2010, Charlottesville had a population of 43,475 people, 17,778 households and 7,518 families residing in the city.

2011: Baseball team played in the College World Series

In 2011, the Virginia baseball team played in the College World Series.

2013: Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball won the ACC outright

In the 2013-14 season, Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball won the ACC outright

2014: Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball won the ACC tournament

In 2014, Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball won the ACC tournament

2014: Virginia Men's soccer team won the NCAA Championship

In 2014, the Virginia Men's soccer team won the NCAA Championship and the baseball team finished as runners-up in the College World Series.

2015: Baseball team beat Vanderbilt for its first NCAA baseball title

In 2015, the Virginia baseball team beat Vanderbilt for its first NCAA baseball title.

2016: Petition to Remove Robert E. Lee Statue

In 2016, Zyahna Bryant, a local high school student, authored a petition calling for the removal of the Robert E. Lee statue and the renaming of the park.

2016: Charlottesville became one of the most Democratic cities in Virginia

Since 2016, Charlottesville has become one of the most Democratic out of all of Virginia's cities and counties, second only to Petersburg.

August 2017: "Unite the Right" Rally

In August 2017, white supremacist groups organized the "Unite the Right rally" to protest the removal of the Robert E. Lee statue. A car was driven into protesters, resulting in the death of Heather Heyer and injuries to 19 others.

2017: Charlottesville Tom Sox won the Valley Baseball League championship

In 2017, the Charlottesville Tom Sox of the Valley Baseball League won the league championship.

April 8, 2019: NCAA Championship Win

On April 8, 2019, the Cavaliers' men's basketball team won the NCAA championship.

2019: Charlottesville High School's boys' soccer team were state champs again

In 2019, Charlottesville High School's boys' soccer team were state champs again, when it won the VHSL Class 4A Championship.

2019: Charlottesville Tom Sox won the Valley Baseball League championship

In 2019, the Charlottesville Tom Sox of the Valley Baseball League won the league championship.

2019: NCAA Men's National Basketball Champions

In 2019, the University of Virginia's athletic teams, the Cavaliers, won the NCAA Men's National Basketball Championship.

2020: Census Data

As of the 2020 census, Charlottesville had a population of 46,553 and a median age of 29.5 years.

2020: Joe Biden won Charlottesville with the highest percentage for a Democrat since 1912

In 2020, Joe Biden won Charlottesville with the highest percentage for a Democrat since 1912.

July 10, 2021: Removal of Statues

On July 10, 2021, the city succeeded in removing the statues of Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and the statue of Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and Sacagawea of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

2021: Virginia Men's Lacrosse team won seventh National Championship

In 2021, the Virginia Men's Lacrosse team won its seventh National Championship.

May 27, 2023: Virginia Women's Lacrosse team lost in semi finals to Notre Dame

On May 27, 2023, the Virginia Women's Lacrosse team lost in the semi finals to Notre Dame by a score of 13–12 in overtime.

2024: Unemployment Rate

In 2024, Charlottesville had a 3.1% unemployment rate.

2024: Election of John McGuire

In 2024, John McGuire, a Republican, was elected to represent Charlottesville as part of Virginia's 5th congressional district.

June 2025: Charlottesville City Council approved the first use of ranked-choice voting

In June 2025, Charlottesville City Council approved the first use of ranked-choice voting for its Democratic primary election.

2025: Comprehensive Annual Financial Report

According to the city's 2025 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report the largest employers in the city are as follows:

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