# Timeline of Panama City

The following is a timeline of the history of Panama City, Republic of Panama.

## Prior to 20th century

* 1519 - Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion de Panama founded by Pedro Arias Dávila.
* 1539 - Royal Audiencia of Panama established.
* 1671 - Panamá Viejo sacked by privateers Henry Morgan and Robert Searle.
* 1673
** New settlement established 5 miles southwest of Panamá Viejo.
** City wall, Palacio de las Garzas, and Saint Dominic Convent built.
* 1737 - Fire.
* 1752 - Royal Audiencia disestablished.
* 1760 - Cathedral built.
* 1821 - City becomes part of Gran Colombia.
* 1826 - June: City hosts Panama Congress.
* 1830 - City becomes part of Republic of New Granada.
* 1849 - Panama Star English-language newspaper begins publication.
* 1853 - La Estrella de Panamá newspaper in publication.
* 1855 - Panama Railway begins operating.
* 1856 - April 15: Watermelon Riot.
* 1878 - Fire.
* 1880 - Bishop's palace built.
* 1881 - Panama Canal construction begins.
* 1882 - L'Hospital Notre Dame de Canal established.
* 1887 - City fire department established.

## 20th century

* 1903 - City becomes part of independent Republic of Panama.
* 1904 - Ancon Hospital active.
* 1905 - Population: 22,000.
* 1908 - National Theatre of Panama opens.
* 1911
** Way On Cemetery established.
** Population: 46,500.
* 1914 - Panama Canal begins operating.
* 1916 - National Exposition of Panama held.
* 1924
** National Archive building dedicated.
** Hospital Santo Tomas rebuilt.
* 1925 - "Protest strike" against urban conditions.
* 1930 - Population: 74,400.
* 1935 - University of Panama established.
* 1940 - Population: 111,800.
* 1947 - December: Anti-U.S. unrest.
* 1950 - Population: 127,874.
* 1953 - Auto-Cine (drive-in cinema) opens.
* 1955 - Club Deportivo Plaza Amador (football club) formed.
* 1962 - Bridge of the Americas opens.
* 1964 - January: Anti-U.S. unrest.
* 1970 - Gimnasio Nuevo Panama (arena) opens.
* 1975 - Population: 404,190 (approximate).
* 1981 - La Prensa newspaper begins publication.
* 1985 - Parque Municipal Summit established.
* 1986 - Mossack Fonseca law firm in business.
* 1988 - Metropolitan Natural Park opens.
* 1989
** December 20: United States invasion of Panama begins.
** Guillermo Endara becomes president
** Mayin Correa becomes mayor of Panamá District.
* 1990 - Dictator Manuel Noriega surrenders to United States military forces on January 3.
* 1993 - Mi Pueblito created.
* 1994 - Ernesto Perez Balladares wins May 1994 elections and becomes president.
* 1995
** Club Deportivo Policía Nacional (football club) formed.
** Population: 452,041 (estimate).
* 1996
** Marine Exhibition Center of Punta Culebra established.
** Miramar Towers built.
* 1997
** Cines Alhambra (cinema) in business.
** Panama Canal Museum established.
* 1999
** Mireya Moscoso wins May 1999 elections and becomes the first female president of Panama.
** Juan Carlos Navarro becomes mayor of Panama District.
** Hospital Punta Pacifica founded.

## 21st century

* 2003 - Panama Jazz Festival begins.
* 2004 - Martin Torrijos wins May 2004 elections and becomes president.
* 2007 - Aqualina Tower built.
* 2008
** February: Labour unrest.
** Mormon temple and Ocean One hi-rise built.
* 2009
** Estadio Javier Cruz (stadium) opens.
** Cinta Costera land reclamation completed.
** Ricardo Martinelli wins May 2009 elections and becomes president.
* 2010
** Ocean Two hi-rise built.
** Population: 880,691.
* 2011 - Tower Financial Center, F&F Tower, Yacht Club Tower, Megapolis Tower, The Point, and JW Marriott Panama built.
* 2012
** Vitri Tower and Pearl Tower built.
** Mayor Bosco Vallarino resigns; Roxana Méndez becomes mayor.
** International Film Festival of Panama begins.
* 2014
** Panama Metro begins operating.
** Juan Carlos Varela wins May 2014 elections and becomes president
** Biomuseo built.
* 2016 - Population: 472,856.