Timeline of Bilbao

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Bilbao in the Biscay province of Spain.

Prior to 19th century

 * 1300 – Bilbao founded by Diego López V de Haro.
 * 1397 – Santiago Cathedral built (approximate date).
 * 1510 – Church of San Antón built.
 * 1511
 * Consulado established.
 * Basilica of Begoña construction begins.
 * 1795 – July: Town occupied by French forces.

19th century

 * 1804 – conflict.
 * 1808 – French occupation begins.
 * 1813 – French occupation ends.
 * 1833 – Biscay Province established.
 * 1836 – December: Battle of Luchana.
 * 1845 – Arenal Bridge constructed.
 * 1846 – Fabrica de Nuestra Senora de la Merced (steel mill) in business near town.
 * 1855 – Fabrica de Nuestra Senora del Carmen in business.
 * 1857 – Bank established.
 * 1859 – British Protestant Cemetery established.
 * 1863 – Tudela-Bilbao railway begins operating.
 * 1870 – Population: 17,649.
 * 1874 – February–May: Town besieged by Carlist forces.
 * 1877 – San Antón Bridge built.
 * 1882 – Bilbao-Atxuri Station built.
 * 1886
 * Orfeón Bilbaíno (choir) founded.
 * University of Deusto opened.
 * 1887 – Population: 50,772.
 * 1890
 * Stock Exchange founded.
 * Teatro Arriaga built.
 * May: Ironworkers strike.
 * 1892 – Bilbao City Hall built.
 * 1893 – Vizcaya Bridge built.
 * 1894 – Chavarri Palace built.
 * 1895 – Gaceta del Norte newspaper begins publication.
 * 1896 – Dry dock built.
 * 1897 - Population: 74,076.
 * 1898 – Athletic Club (football club) formed.
 * 1900
 * Biscay Foral Delegation Palace built.
 * Population: 83,306.

20th century

 * 1905 – A second dry dock built.
 * 1906 – August: General strike.
 * 1907 – Doña Casilda Iturrizar park created.
 * 1913
 * San Mamés Stadium opens.
 * Euzkadi newspaper begins publication.
 * 1914 – Bilbao Fine Arts Museum established.
 * 1922 – Bilbao Orkestra Sinfonikoa founded.
 * 1924 – Museum of Modern Art established.
 * 1937 – 19 June: "Nationalists capture Bilbao."
 * 1940 – Population: 195,186.
 * 1950 – Bilbao Airport in operation.
 * 1960 – Population: 297,942.
 * 1968 – University of Bilbao established.
 * 1970 – Population: 410,490.
 * 1978 – Great Week of Bilbao begins.
 * 1979 – City becomes part of the Basque Country (autonomous community) of Spain.
 * 1980 – University of the Basque Country established.
 * 1983 – In region near Bilbao, construction of Lemoniz Nuclear Power Plant ceases.
 * 1991 – Population: 372,054.
 * 1995 – Metro Bilbao begins operating.
 * 1997 – Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and Zubizuri footbridge open.
 * 1999
 * Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria established.
 * Euskalduna Conference Centre and Concert Hall opens.
 * Iñaki Azkuna becomes mayor.

21st century

 * 2004 – Bilbao Exhibition Centre opens in Barakaldo.
 * 2006 – Bilbao Live Festival begins.
 * 2010 – Alhóndiga Bilbao opens.
 * 2011 – Iberdrola Tower built.
 * 2013 – Population: 351,629.
 * 2014 – 11 January: Pro-ETA demonstration.
 * 2018 – 10 June: Pro-independence, 202 kilometer human chain formed between cities of Bilbao, San Sebastián, and Vitoria-Gasteiz.