# Timeline of Mérida, Mexico

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico.

## Prehistory

* 66 million years ago – The ground beneath Mérida forms part of the impact crater of the meteorite linked to the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, centred offshore to the North of the city.

## Prior to 20th century

* 1542 – Mérida founded by Francisco de Montejo the Younger on site of former city T'ho.
* 1547 – Franciscan convent active.
* 1549 – Montejo's residence.
* 1561 – Mérida Cathedral construction begins.
* 1598 – Mérida Cathedral construction completed.
* 1618 – School of Mérida opens.
* 1624 – Real y Pontificia Universidad de Mérida [es] established.
* 1648 – Yellow fever epidemic.
* 1823 – Yucatán becomes part of Mexico.
* 1847 – Caste War of Yucatán begins.
* 1869 – Revista de Mérida [es] newspaper begins publication.
* 1888 - Paseo de Montejo opened.
* 1892 – Government Palace (Palacio de Gobierno) built.
* 1900 – Population: 43,630.

## 20th century

* 1908 - Museum of the City of Merida initiated.
* 1910 – Parque Zoológico del Centenario [es] founded.
* 1922 – Universidad Nacional del Sureste established.
* 1925 – Diario de Yucatán newspaper begins publication.
* 1929 – Airport begins operating.
* 1949 – Cine Teatro Mérida opens.
* 1950 – Population: 144,793.
* 1957 – Monumento a la Patria erected on the Paseo Montejo.
* 1962 – Instituto Tecnológico de Mérida established.
* 1978 – Pacheco murals in the Palacio de Gobierno completed.
* 1983 – Jardin Botanico Regional del CICY (garden) established in Chuburná de Hidalgo [es].
* 1988 – The city is hit by Hurricane Gilbert.
* 1993 – Catholic Pope John Paul II visits city.
* 1999 – Bill Clinton visits the city in a binational meeting.
* 2000 – The city is designated as the 1st American Capital of Culture.

## 21st century

* 2001 -
** Yucatan Symphony Orchestra founded.
** Ana Rosa Payán becomes as the 29th mayor for a second period.
* 2002 – The city is hit by Hurricane Isidore.
* 2003 – C.F. Mérida football club formed.
* 2004 – Manuel Fuentes Alcocer becomes the 30th mayor.
* 2005 – The city held the International Mathematical Olympiad.
* 2006 – Mérida host the 18th International Olympiad in Informatics.
* 2007 -
** George W. Bush is received in Mérida, here he signs the Mérida Initiative.
** César Bojórquez Zapata becomes the 31st mayor.
* 2009 – The city held the 40th International Physics Olympiad.
* 2010
** Angélica Araujo Lara becomes the 32nd mayor.
** Population: 777,615; Metropolitan Area 973,046.
* 2011
** The International Committee of the Banner of Peace titled Merida as "City of Peace".
** The city held the II Alianza del Pacífico summit.
* 2012 – Alvaro Lara Pacheco becomes acting mayor, few months later Renán Barrera Concha wins the local election and he becomes the 34th mayor.
* 2014 – Mérida hosted the VI Summit of Association of Caribbean States, more than 25 Heads of State members came to the city.
* 2015
** Mauricio Vila Dosal becomes the 35th mayor.
** Raúl Castro, President of Cuba is received by President Enrique Peña Nieto in his first visit as President, to Mexico. Here he announced his retirement on 2018.
* 2018
** María Dolores Fritz Sierra becomes the 36th mayor, as acting mayor in office.
** The 3rd presidential debate of the 2018 general elections is hosted at the Mayan Museum of Merida
** Renán Barrera Concha becomes the 37th mayor. First constitutionally re-elected after the 2015 constitutional reform.
* 2019
** The city hosted the 17th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates, receiving more than 30 of them.