# Timeline of San Salvador

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of San Salvador, El Salvador.

## Prior to 20th century

* 1525 – San Salvador founded by Spaniard Gonzalo de Alvarado.
* 1526 – "Settlement destroyed by natives."
* 1528 – San Salvador refounded by Spaniard Diego de Alvarado [es].
* 1823 - San Salvador is occupied by Mexican imperial forces
* 1831 – San Salvador becomes capital of the Central American Union.
* 1840 – San Salvador becomes capital of El Salvador.
* 1841 – University of El Salvador founded.
* 1842 – Catholic Diocese of San Salvador established.
* 1849 – Cementerio de Los Ilustres [es] (cemetery) established.
* 1854 – April 16: Earthquake.
* 1870 – National Palace built.
* 1890 – Siglo XX newspaper begins publication.

## 20th century
### 1900s–1960s

* 1911
** Liberty Monument erected in Duenas Park.
** National Palace rebuilt.
* 1917
** Earthquake.
** National Theatre of El Salvador opens.
* 1920 – Population: 80,100.
* 1921
** Siman (shop) in business.
** Casa Presidencial (government residence) built.
* 1923 – Ilopango military airfield begins operating.
* 1932 – Estadio Jorge "Mágico" González (stadium) built.
* 1934 – Flood.
* 1935 – Parque Cuscatlán [es] (park) established.
* 1936 – El Diario de Hoy newspaper headquartered in San Salvador.
* 1949 – Tribuna Libre newspaper begins publication.
* 1950
** Club Deportivo Atlético Marte formed.
** Population: 161,951.
* 1951
** Cathedral burns down.
** Organization of Central American States headquartered in city.
* 1953 – Iglesia de María Auxiliadora (El Salvador) [es] (church) built.
* 1955 – Cine Avenida (cinema) opens (approximate date).
* 1956 – Metropolitan Cathedral of San Salvador construction begins.
* 1958 – El Salvador Amateur Radio Club headquartered in city.
* 1960 – Alianza Fútbol Club active.
* 1964
** José Napoleón Duarte becomes mayor.
** Biblioteca Nacional Francisco Gavidia [es] (library) building constructed.
* 1965 – Jesuit Central American University founded.
* 1969 – "Metroplan 80" (city plan) created.

### 1970s–1990s

* 1970
** Metrocentro shopping mall in business.
** Carlos Antonio Herrera Rebollo becomes mayor.
* 1971
** Teatro Presidente [es] opens.
** Population: 337,171.
* 1972 – Wester Hotel [es] in business.
* 1974 – José Antonio Morales Ehrlich becomes mayor.
* 1975 – International Trade and Convention Center [es] opens.
* 1976
** Estadio Cuscatlán (stadium) opens.
** José Napoleón Gómez becomes mayor.
* 1977 – February 28: Political demonstration; crackdown.
* 1978 – Hugo Guerra becomes mayor.
* 1979 – Julio Adolfo Rey Prendes becomes mayor.
* 1980
** March 24: Archbishop Óscar Romero assassinated.
** El Salvador International Airport opens.
* 1981 – October 24: Bombing.
* 1982 – Alejandro Duarte becomes mayor.
* 1985 – José Antonio Morales Ehrlich becomes mayor again.
* 1986 – October 10: 1986 San Salvador earthquake.
* 1988
** December: Car bombing.
** Armando Calderón Sol becomes mayor.
* 1989
** November 11: FMLN attacks.
** November 16: Murder of six Jesuits
** Diario Co Latino newspaper in publication.
* 1992 – Population: 415,346.
* 1994 – Mario Valiente becomes mayor.
* 1995 – Centro Comercial Galerias shopping mall in business.
* 1996 – Homies Unidos (community group) founded.
* 1997
** Hilton Hotel in business.
** Héctor Silva becomes mayor.
* 1999 – Museo de la Palabra y la Imagen opens.

## 21st century

* 2002
** RN-5 highway opens.
** San Salvador Fútbol Club formed.
* 2003
** Teatro Luis Poma [es] and Museo de Arte de El Salvador building open.
** Carlos Rivas Zamora becomes mayor.
* 2005 – Sister city relationship established with Los Angeles, USA.
* 2006 – Violeta Menjívar becomes mayor.
* 2007 – Population: 316,090.
* 2009
** World Trade Center San Salvador built.
** Norman Quijano becomes mayor.
** RN-21 highway opens.
* 2010
** June: Bus attacks.
** Torre El Pedregal built.
* 2011 – Parque del Bicentenario [es] (park) established.
* 2014 – Air pollution in San Salvador reaches annual mean of 42 PM2.5 and 77 PM10, more than recommended.