Concord University - History

History

Year — Selected events

• 1872 — West Virginia State Legislature establishes the name of Concord for the new school
• 1875 — Classes start with 70 students
• 1887 — State funds provide for a new brick building on the site of the present Athens Middle School
• 1896 — Another post office in Hampshire County (WV) was called Concord; therefore, the town's name is changed to "Athens" after the Greek city and a center of learning
• 1910 — Fire destroys the original brick building and the campus is moved to its present site
• 1912 — A new building erected, called Old Main, which is currently known as Marsh Hall
• 1918 — Start of expansion with new residence halls, gymnasium, as well as academic programs
• 1931 — Name changed to "Concord State Teachers College"
• 1943 — Name changed to "Concord College" and the United States Army Air Corps 15th College Training Detachment uses the campus
• 1945 — Start of postwar enrollment growth and expansion of physical plant, including a new Science Building
• 1959 – Expansion of campus continues (College Center, student and faculty housing) as well as of the curriculum emphasizing quality and a cosmopolitan faculty
• 1973 – West Virginia Board of Regents and the State Legislature propose to merge Concord and Bluefield State colleges
• 1976 – The administrative merger is abandoned and Concord's enrollment increases with new academic programs
• 2004 – Name changed to "Concord University"