# Timeline of Monrovia

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Monrovia, Liberia.

## 19th century

* 1822
** April: Settlement of Christopolis established by the American Colonization Society in Pepper Coast area.
** Providence Baptist Church founded.
* 1824 - Settlement renamed "Monrovia" named after United States president James Monroe.
* 1826 - Liberia Herald newspaper begins publication.
* 1839 - Monrovia Seminary founded.
* 1847
** June 25: Constitutional Convention held in Monrovia to discuss creation of the state of Liberia.
** July 26: Monrovia becomes part of newly formed Republic of Liberia.
** October 5: First Liberian general election held.
** Monrovia becomes seat of newly formed Montserrado County.
* 1853 - Photographer Augustus Washington in business.
* 1862 - Supreme Court building constructed.
* 1863
** Liberia College opens.
** Trinity Church consecrated.
* 1867 - Masonic Order of Liberia organized in Monrovia.
* 1872 - January 1: Inauguration of Liberian president Joseph Roberts (second term).
* 1890s - Masonic Temple (Monrovia) [de] built.
* 1892 - Arthur Barclay becomes mayor.

## 20th century

* 1904 - College of West Africa active.
* 1918 - Battle of Monrovia.
* 1920 - Population: 6,000 (estimate).
* 1940s - West Point settlement formed.
* 1940 - Population: 12,000.
* 1943 - Invincible Eleven football club formed.
* 1945 - Gbarnga-Monrovia highway constructed.
* 1947 - Centennial Pavilion [de] erected.
* 1948 - Freeport of Monrovia begins operating on nearby Bushrod Island.
* 1951
** Liberia Chamber of Commerce headquartered in city.
** University of Liberia active.
* 1954
** University's Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law opens.
** Monrovia Elementary School built.
* 1956 - Nathan C. Ross becomes mayor.
* 1958 - Capitol building constructed.
* 1960 - Ducor Hotel in business.
* 1961 - September: Labor strike held.
* 1962
** Liberian National Museum established on Providence Island [sv].
** Population: 80,992.
* 1964
** Executive Mansion (presidential residence) built.
** National Cultural Centre created in nearby Kendeja, Paynesville.
* 1965 - Temple of Justice built.
* 1970s - Saint Paul Bridge (Monrovia) [de] built over Saint Paul River.
* 1970 - Population: 96,226.
* 1971 - John F. Kennedy Medical Center opens.
* 1974 - Seat of Montserrado County moved from Monrovia to Bensonville.
* 1976 - People's Bridge built over Mesurado River.
* 1977 - Liberian Center for National Documents and Records headquartered in Monrovia.
* 1979
** July: Organisation of African Unity meeting held at Hotel Africa in nearby Virginia.
** "Civil unrest."
* 1980
** April 12: 1980 Liberian coup d'état; president Tolbert assassinated in the Presidential Palace. Subsequent unrest occurs.
** Monrovia Black Star FC (football club) formed.
* 1981 - Liberian Observer newspaper begins publication.
* 1984 - Population: 421,053.
* 1986 - Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex opens.
* 1990
** May 13: Barclay Training Center [de] besieged on Capitol Hill during the First Liberian Civil War.
** July: Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia "seized control in part of the capital."
** July: Massacre [de] at St. Peter's Lutheran church in Sinkor.
** August 24: Peacekeeping forces of Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group begin operating.
** September 9: Assassination of president Doe.
* 1997 - STAR radio begins broadcasting.
* 1998 - 1998 Monrovia clashes.
* 1999 - Red Cross Monument (Monrovia) [de] erected on Broad Street.
* 2000 - Daily Talk news chalkboard launched.

## 21st century

* 2001 - Ophelia Hoff Saytumah becomes mayor.
* 2003
** April: Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace begins demonstrating.
** July 18–August 14: Siege of Monrovia occurs during the Second Liberian Civil War.
* 2004 - October: "Riots in Monrovia."
* 2006 - July: Government "switches on generator-powered street lights in the capital, which has been without electricity for 15 years."
* 2008 - Population: 970,824 urban agglomeration.
* 2009 - Mary Broh becomes mayor.
* 2011 - Zolu-Duma-Bridge [de] built.
* 2012 - Coconut Plantation settlement razed.
* 2013 - Henry Reed Cooper becomes mayor.
* 2014
** Ebola virus epidemic in Liberia occurs.
** Clara Doe-Mvogo becomes mayor.
* 2015 - George M. Weah becomes Senator of Montserrado County.
* 2017 - George M. Weah elected president.
* 2018 - First Presidential transition occurred since 1944.