# Timeline of Kingston, Jamaica

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Kingston, Jamaica.

## Prior to 19th century

* 1692 – 7 June: The Jamaica earthquake destroys Port Royal due to heavy liquefaction and a tsunami; around 5,000 are killed there. Residents resettle nearby thus establishing Kingston.
* 1690s – Parish Church built (approximate date).
* 1703 - Port Royal laid waste by fire.
* 1712 – Hurricane.
* 1720 – Pirate Calico Jack hanged.
* 1722
** Hurricane.
** Weekly Jamaica Courant newspaper in publication.
* 1729 – Wolmers's School founded.
* 1740 – "Twelve Apostles" battery constructed.
* 1746 – Theatre opens in Harbour Street.
* 1750 – Sephardic synagogue built.
* 1755
** House of Assembly (legislature of British Jamaica) relocated to Kingston from Spanish Town.
** Population: 10,000 (approximate).
* 1771 – 3 September: An earthquake causes moderate damage in Port Royal and Kingston.
* 1775 – American Company of Comedians in performance.
* 1780 - Fire.
* 1783 – Kingston Race Course laid out.
* 1788 – Population: 26,478 (of which 16,659 were slaves).
* 1794 – Kingston Medical Society founded.

## 19th century

* 1802 – Kingston incorporated.
* 1807 – Slave trade officially abolished per Slave Trade Act.
* 1823 – Population: 33,000 (approximate).
* 1824 – Jamaica Journal and Kingston Chronicle newspaper begins publication.
* 1825 – Jamaica Horticultural Society founded.
* 1834
** Slavery officially abolished per Slavery Abolition Act.
** Jamaica Gleaner newspaper begins publication.
** Mico College founded.
* 1843
** 26 August: Fire.
** Agricultural Society founded.
* 1845 – Spanish Town-Kingston railway (Jamaica Railway Company) begins operating and Kingston railway station opens.
* 1862 - Fire.
* 1870 – Legislative Council of British Jamaica moves to Headquarters House.
* 1872
** Capital of British Jamaica relocated to Kingston from Spanish Town.
** Victoria Market built on site of "Sunday/Negro market."
** Jamaica Club founded.
* 1879 – Institute of Jamaica and Sugar Wharf established.
* 1881
** Population: 36,846.
** Devon House (residence) built.
* 1882 – 11 December: Fire.
* 1885 – Shaare Shalom Synagogue built.
* 1887 – Jubilee Market dedicated.
* 1890 – Chinese Benevolent Society founded.
* 1891
** Constant Spring Hotel in business (approximate date).
** Population: 46,542.
** Jamaica International Exhibition held.
* 1892 - Electricity came to Jamaica.
* 1894 – Montego Bay-Kingston railway begins operating.
* 1897 – Victoria Park opens (approximate date).
* 1898 – Adrian Robinson becomes mayor.
* 1899 – Electric tram begins operating.

## 20th century
### 1900s–1950s

* 1907 – 14 January: The 6.5 M$_w$ Kingston earthquake causes 800–1,000 deaths and flooding from a moderate tsunami.
* 1908 – King's House, Jamaica built.
* 1910 – Alpha Boys Band active.
* 1912
** Ward Theatre established.
** Hubert A. L. Simpson becomes mayor.
* 1914 – Population: 57,379.
* 1918 – Myrtle Bank Hotel rebuilt.
* 1923 – Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (city government) formed.
* 1927
** December: Marcus Garvey returns to Kingston.
** Heritage Dam built.
* 1929
** Blackman newspaper begins publication.
** August: Universal Negro Improvement Association Convention held.
* 1930 – Sabina Park (cricket ground) established.
* 1935 – King of Kings Ethiopian Mission founded (approximate date).
* 1938 – Carib Theatre opens.
* 1947 – Alexander Bustamante elected mayor.
* 1948
** Kingston Air Traffic Control Centre and Palisadoes Airport established.
** University College of the West Indies established near city.
* 1951 – August: Hurricane Charlie.
* 1956 – Catholic Diocese of Kingston formed.
* 1957 – Earthquake.
* 1958 – Iris King becomes mayor.

### 1960s–1990s

* 1960
** Parliament of Jamaica moves to Gordon House.
** Population: 123,403 city; 376,520 urban agglomeration.
* 1962
** 6 August: City becomes part of independent Jamaica.
** Independence Park (sports complex) opens.
** 15–28 August: 1962 Central American and Caribbean Games held.
** Tivoli Gardens housing complex in Back O'Wall built.
* 1963
** Studio One (record label) in business.
** McIntyre Land Citizens' Association formed.
* 1964 – 11 November: Burial of Marcus Garvey in King George VI Memorial Park.
* 1965 – Ethnic unrest.
* 1966
** 21 April: Haile Selassie visits Jamaica.
** August: 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games held.
* 1968 – Jamaica Stock Exchange founded.
* 1970
** Tuff Gong record label founded.
** Population: 111,879 city; 475,548 urban agglomeration.
* 1972 – Ralph Eugene Brown PNP general-secretary becomes mayor.
* 1973 – Jamaica Pegasus Hotel built.
* 1979 – National Library of Jamaica headquartered in city.
* 1982 – Population: 104,041 city; 524,638 urban agglomeration.
* 1987 – Bob Marley Museum opens.
* 1989 – Marie Atkins becomes mayor.
* 1990 – African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica / Jamaica Memory Bank headquartered in Kingston.
* 1991 – Population: 103,962 city.
* 1993 – The Jamaica Observer newspaper begins publication.

## 21st century

* 2001 – Population: 579,137.
* 2002 – Emancipation Park opens in Kingston.
* 2003
** Passa Passa begins.
** Desmond McKenzie becomes mayor.
* 2008 – Monument "In Memory of Children Killed" unveiled.
* 2010 – May–June: 2010 Kingston unrest.
* 2011 – Population: 937,700.
* 2012 – Angela Brown-Burke becomes mayor.