September 18, 1649

King Charles II grants 5.2 million acres to seven English nobles, among them John Lord Culpeper. Within that land grant is an area which will later become Culpeper County, Virginia.

August 21, 1670

The first recorded exploration by Europeans into present day Culpeper is led by John Lederer, a German physician commissioned by Governor William Berkeley.

May, 1714

A band of German immigrants establish the first European settlement near Culpeper, not far from the confluence of the Rapidan and Rappahannock rivers. Their community comes to be known as Germanna.

May 18, 1749

An act of the Virginia General Assembly establishes Culpeper County.

July 20, 1749

George Washington, 17 years old, arrives in Culpeper to survey the new county.

February 22, 1759

An act of the General Assembly establishes the county seat, officially known as the town of "Fairfax". It is more commonly called Culpeper Court House.

April, 1759

Daniel Boone establishes a residence near present-day Stevensburg. He later explores Kentucky.

1763

Court records first mention the patrols which scoured Culpeper to halt all traveling blacks to ask them for proof of free status or a travel pass.

1765

16 of Culpeper's 20 Justices signed a petition resigning their commissions in protest of the infamous Stamp Act.

April 27, 1775

Culpeper Minutemen first take up arms in defiance of Governor Lord John Dunmore's seizure of the public powder magazine at Williamsburg.

January 1, 1795

Benjamin Shackelford becomes the county's first U.S. postmaster, presiding over a post office known as "Culpeper C.H." Mail is notoriously slow as many items are mistakenly directed to Fairfax County.

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1802

The first state-chartered school in Culpeper, Stevensburg Academy, opens under headmaster John Ogilvie.

May 16, 1827

James Caldwell of Warrenton publishes the first county newspaper, the Culpeper Gazette.

1831

Culpeper voters approve public education funds for indigent children. Fifteen school commissioners are elected. Richard J. Tutt becomes the county's first superintendent of schools.

March 10, 1832

The General Assembly licenses the state's first gold-mining company, launching a minor gold rush in Culpeper which peaks in about 1849.

1834

The General Assembly is petitioned for aid in stopping the flow of escaped slaves, citing that there are persons in Culpeper furnishing free papers stamped with genuine seals.

January, 1853

The Orange & Alexandria Railroad, working from the north, first extends railway service to the Town of Culpeper.

April 17, 1861

Responding to Virginia's vote to secede from the Union, two companies of infantry form in Culpeper. A company of cavalry, known as "The Little Fork Rangers" had already formed in the summer of 1860.

May 4, 1862

The Town of Culpeper is occupied by Union troops for the first time.

August 9, 1862

Confederate troops under General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson repel Union troops under General John Pope in the Battle of Cedar Mountain. Thousands fall.

March 17, 1863

"Gallant" John Pelham, an artillery officer for J.E.B. Stuart's Confederate cavalry, is killed in action at Kelly's Ford.

June 9, 1863

Union and Confederate troops clash in the Battle of Brandy Station, the largest engagement of cavalry troops in North America.

Sept.13, 1863

The Battle of Culpeper Court House took place on a Sunday morning with the Union army's victory in routing the Confederate hold on the train depot. Gen. George Custer was a significant factor in the battle.

Nov. 1863 - May 4. 1864

Winter occupation by the Union army, considered to be the largest occupation by either army of the entire war. Under Gen. Grant's command the Union army left Culpeper with 120,000 troops to begin the Overland Campaign.

December 21, 1865

A request for a patrol to scour Culpeper and disarm newly-freed blacks is squelched by Federal authorities. The patrols are never heard of again.

September 20, 1866

James R. Nichols receives permission to open the first school for blacks in Culpeper County.

December 15, 1870

A new charter finally gives the county seat a single, undisputed name: Culpeper. The town is also permitted to elect a mayor and council.

Autumn, 1871

Virginia establishes modern public education. 1,245 Culpeper children attend 29 one-room schoolhouses and one "graded school". First year's budget amounts to $3,927. About one-third of the county is illiterate.

March 8, 1888

A fire in downtown Culpeper destroys three wood frame buildings. Shortly thereafter, town organizes a 34-man fire department, headed by Dr. L.L. Lankford.

April 17, 1888

Town council enacts a building code for Main and Davis Streets, requiring brick or stone exterior walls, metal or slate roofs, and fire-resistant chimneys.

1894

The first private telephone line is strung 12 miles from Jackson L. Fray's downtown store to Larkin Willis' store in Locust Dale, Madison County.

August 19, 1896

The first public utility, a water system, operates in the Town of Culpeper.

 
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1901

The first public sewer system is installed in town, but the $500 hookup fee limits initial customers. The first telephone switchboard is installed this year.

March, 1902

A new state poll tax and segregation of railway cars brings Jim Crow era to Culpeper.

1903

The Culpeper Light and Ice Company begins operation. Downtown streets are lit by electricity. The "iceman" starts delivering to homes.

Autumn 1905

Culpeper Graded School adds four more grades and becomes the county's first public high school. Enrollment is 283.

July 1913

The town's first full-time theater, R. Tredway's Eclipse, opens below his billiard and bowling alley on Davis Street. It feature stage plays as well as silent movies accompanied by a piano.

March, 1916

The reformed Culpeper Minutemen, now a National Guard infantry company, are called to the Mexican border to help track Pancho Villa.

1926

The first public library opens in Culpeper.

1930

The first public high school for black Culpeper student's opens.

1941

The Rochester Corporation, one of the oldest still operating in Culpeper, begins manufacturing wire rope here.

1948

A consolidated high school opens for white county students. George Washington Carver High School opens for blacks.

1950

Virginia Baptist Home is established in Culpeper.

1952

Culpeper installs the first fluorescent lights south of the Mason-Dixon line.

1960

Culpeper Memorial Hospital opens.

1963

Culpeper County Library opens on Main and Mason Streets.

1964

The first modern shopping center opens at the town's north end.

January 1, 1968

The Town of Culpeper annexes about 6 square miles, increasing its' population from 2,400 to 5,700. Later in the year, the county airport opens.

1972

U.S. Route 29 bypass allows through motorists to skip Downtown Culpeper.

1981

Culpeper resident Phillip Ward is one of 66 hostages released by Iran. Upon his return, he is honored with a parade.

1984

Opening of the industrial park at the county airport leads to a boom in the recruitment of businesses.

1993

Bill Clinton attends church in Culpeper on his way to his inauguration in Washington.

1998

The Culpeper County Library moves to an expanded facility at Southgate Shopping Center, adding computers and internet access.

May 17, 1999

Culpeper residents celebrate the county's 250th anniversary.

 
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