# Timeline of Dakar

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Dakar, capital of present-day Senegal. For more on this, see the History of Senegal, Senegambia, and Timeline of Serer history.

## Prior to 20th century

* 1857
** Gorée merchants settle in Dakar.
** French build fort on Dakar Point.
* 1862 – "Master plan for Dakar is drafted by Émile Pinet-Laprade."
* 1863
** Streets named.
** Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Senegambia established.
* 1867 - Port was opened for commerce.
* 1872 – Town becomes part of the commune of Gorée.
* 1878 – Population: 1,600.
* 1885
** Rue Blanchot mosque built (approximate date).
** Opening of the Dakar–Saint-Louis railway (163 miles long).
* 1887
** Dakar commune formed.
** Jean Alexandre becomes mayor.
* 1891 – Population: 8,737.
* 1900 – "Military seaport" built.

## 20th century
### 1900s–1950s

* 1902 – Capital of French West Africa moved to Dakar from Saint-Louis.
* 1903 – Hann Park [fr] created.
* 1904
** Avenue Gambetta, Avenue de la Liberté, and Boulevard de la République open.
** Population: 18,447.
* 1905 – Brest-Dakar telegraph in operation.
* 1907
** Government Palace [fr] built.
** L'A.O.F. newspaper begins publication.
* 1908 – Harbor constructed.
* 1913
** Democratie du Senegal newspaper begins publication.
** National Archives of Senegal formed.
* 1914
** Train station opens.
** Bubonic plague epidemic.
* 1918
** French West Africa School of Medicine established.
** Population: 25,468.
* 1920 – Blaise Diagne becomes mayor.
* 1921 – Population: 32,440.
* 1924 – Dakar–Niger Railway begins operating.
* 1926 – Population: 33,679.
* 1929
** Gorée annexed to Dakar.
** Société des brasseries de l'Ouest africain [fr] formed.
* 1933
** Paris-Dakar newspaper begins publication.
** Foyer France Sénégal football club formed.
* 1934 – Armand-Pierre Angrand becomes mayor.
* 1936 – Catholic Cathédrale du Souvenir africain de Dakar inaugurated.
* 1938 - Institut Français d’Afrique Noire and museum founded.
* 1940 - Battle of Dakar.
* 1940s – Mama Casset [fr] photo studio in business.
* 1944 – Thiaroye Massacre.
* 1950 – Cours Sainte Marie de Hann founded.
* 1957 – University of Dakar established.
* 1959
** City becomes capital of Mali Federation.
** French Cultural Centre created.

### 1960s–1990s

* 1960 – École de Dakar (art) [fr] movement active.
* 1961
** Dakar-Matin [fr] newspaper begins publication.
** Population: 374,700 urban agglomeration.
* 1962 – House of Slaves (Gorée) museum opens.
* 1963
** December: Political demonstration; crackdown.
** Borom Sarret film released (set in Dakar).
* 1964 - Dakar Grand Mosque built.
* 1966
** Daniel Sorano Theatre opens (approximate date).
** Amity Stadium opens (approximate date).
** World Festival of Black Arts held.
* 1969 – Population: 581,000 urban agglomeration.
* 1970
** Le Soleil newspaper begins publication.
** Club Baobab opens.
* 1972 – Enda Third World and Centre Culturel Régional Blaise Senghor established.
* 1973 – Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa headquartered in Dakar.
* 1974 – Laboratoire Agit'Art (art group) formed.
* 1975 – Association Nationale des Bibliothécaires, Archivistes et Documentalistes Senegalais headquartered in city.
* 1978 – Dakar Rally motor vehicle race begins.
* 1984
** Mamadou Diop becomes mayor.
** WalFadjri newspaper begins publication.
* 1989
** May: Meeting of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie held in city.
** Musée historique du Sénégal à Gorée [fr] opens.
** Ethnic violence.
* 1990
** Dakar Biennale begins.
** Public library established.
** Sét Sétal [it] art movement develops.
** Population: 1,405,000 (urban agglomeration).
* 1993
** Sud Quotidien begins publication.
** West African Research Center established.
* 1994
** Henriette-Bathily Women's Museum opens.
** Kermel market burns down.
* 1995 – Population: 1,688,000 (urban agglomeration).
* 1996
** Municipal administration divided into 19 communes d'arrondissement: Biscuiterie, Cambérène, Dieuppeul-Derklé, Fann-Point E-Amitié, Gueule Tapée-Fass-Colobane, Gorée, Grand Yoff, Grand Dakar, Hann Bel-Air, HLM, Médina, Mermoz-Sacré-Cœur, Ngor, Ouakam, Parcelles Assainies, Patte d'Oie, Dakar-Plateau, Sicap-Liberté, and Yoff.
** City becomes part of Dakar Department, Dakar Region.
** Musée des Forces Armées Senegalaise established.
* 1997
** Media Centre de Dakar in operation.
** Mosquée de la Divinité built.
* 1998 – Doole community exchange system established.
* 1999 – Festival international du film de quartier de Dakar [fr] begins.
* 2000 – Population: 2,029,000 (urban agglomeration).

## 21st century

* 2001 – Student protests.
* 2002 – Pape Diop becomes mayor.
* 2003
** Le Quotidien newspaper begins publication.
** West Africa Democracy Radio begins broadcasting.
** Meeting of the Association Internationale des Maires Francophones held in city.
** Closure of the Dakar–Saint-Louis railway, (approx date)
* 2005 – Population: 2,434,000 (urban agglomeration), 1,030,594 (city).
* 2006 – City hosts African Swimming Championships.
* 2007 – June: Economic protest.
* 2008 - Raw Material Company (art space) founded.
* 2009
** City website online (approximate date).
** Khalifa Sall becomes mayor.
* 2010 – African Renaissance Monument dedicated.
* 2011
** City hosts World Social Forum and ICANN conference.
** Google office in business.
** Population: 3,035,000.
* 2013
** June: U.S. President Obama visits city.
** Air pollution in Dakar reaches annual mean of 34 PM2.5 and 141 PM10, much higher than recommended.
* 2014
** November: Meeting of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie held in city.
** Statue of Léopold Sédar Senghor [fr] installed.