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History Timeline

Discover Charlotte

On December 3, 1968, the City of Charlotte began a year-long celebration of the 200th anniversary of its chartering by the colonial assembly of North Carolina. As part of that celebration, the Chamber of Commerce sponsored a promotional film entitled "Discover Charlotte." The film featured the narration of CBS News correspondent and Charlotte native, Charles Kuralt, and music by local composer, Loonis McGlohon.

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Revolutionary War Veterans

In 1841, the Federal Government published A Census of Pensioners for Revolutionary or Military Services, giving the names, ages, and places of residence of persons entitled to pensions on the basis of their service in the Revolutionary War or other conflicts. The list included 22 names for Mecklenburg County. (Mecklenburg in 1841 still included the territory that in 1842 would become part of Union County.) The names are given below:

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1993 - Hornets in Playoffs

The Charlotte Hornets have a great season and go the NBA playoff games. Devoted fans are overjoyed, especially for Tyrone Muggsy Bogues. At 5'3, he is the shortest player in the NBA.Muggsy Bogues

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1993 - NFL Comes to Charlotte

October 26, 1993 - The National Football League plans to create two new teams. Charlotte has promised to do whatever it takes to win an NFL franchise. Tonight, thousands of sports fans hold their breath. The announcement is made. Charlotte will be the home of the Carolina Panthers! NFL Celebration

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1969 - Judge's Decision

April 23, 1969 - There is a new judge presiding over the Swann case, the legal action that tests whether integration can actually work in schools. Judge James B. McMillan orders schools to be racially balanced, even if it means children ride buses to schools far away from their own neighborhoods. In Charlotte-Mecklenburg, 20,000 parents sign petitions against Judge McMillan.

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1987 - Down becomes up

February 14, 1987 - No longer will the Charlotte Observer refer in print to the center city as downtown. From now on, the largest daily newspaper in the Carolinas will use the term uptown as a way to help civic leaders promote the upbeat, positive attitude of the Queen City. 

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1991 - NationsBank Soars

July 22, 1991 - NationsBank is announced as a new institution, created by the joining, or merging, of Charlotte-based North Carolina National Bank and Atlanta's C&S Sovran. The new bank will be based in Charlotte and will be headed by powerful civic leader Hugh McColl, Jr. Hugh McColl, Jr. & Bennett Brown

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1974 - Airport Tragedy

September 11, 1974 - On approach to landing, Eastern Airlines flight 212 from Charleston, South Carolina, crashes into farmland three miles short of the runway at Charlotte-Douglas Airport. Most on board, 72 people, are killed. Only 10 people survive. Pilot error is blamed for the crash of the DC-9. It is not the last time such a tragedy will strike Charlotte. Rescuers at site of crash

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1987 - Habitat for Humanity

In July, President Jimmy Carter arrives in Charlotte. He and his team of volunteers are determined. They plan to construct 14 houses in five days for Habitat for Humanity, an organization that builds affordable housing for low-income families around the world. The work is back-breaking, but when it is done, the Optimist Park neighborhood has an entire block of new homes. The attention the project draws to Charlotte inspires donors to contribute $1.5 million to build more houses.Jimmy Carter works on Habitat

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