Timeline of Cotonou

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Cotonou, Benin.

Prior to 20th century

 * 1830 - Cotonou founded as a "slaving port."
 * 1878 - Cotonou "ceded to France."
 * 1883 - French occupation.
 * 1899 - Wharf built.

20th century

 * 1904 - Cotonou becomes part of colonial French Dahomey.
 * 1908 - Deepwater harbor opens.
 * 1912 - Cotonou becomes a "commune mixte."
 * 1920s - Population: 8,500.
 * 1928 - Ancien Pont (bridge) built.
 * 1955 - Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cotonou established.
 * 1957 - January: Pan-African General Union of Negro African Workers founded at a conference in Cotonou.
 * 1960s - Tomety photo studio in operation.
 * 1963
 * Dantokpa Market established.
 * Presidential Palace built.
 * 1964
 * L'action populaire newspaper begins publication.
 * Nigerian Yoruba Community-Cotonou organization formed.
 * 1965 - Port constructed.
 * 1967 - Les Muses theatre troupe formed.
 * 1968 - Orchestre Poly Rythmo de Cotonou (musical group) and Société Béninoise de Textiles established in Cotonou.
 * 1970 - Université du Dahomey founded.
 * 1975 - City becomes part of the People's Republic of Benin.
 * 1980 - Association des écrivains et critiques littéraires du Bénin founded.
 * 1981 - Population: 383,250 (estimate).
 * 1982 - Stade de l'Amitié (stadium) opens.
 * 1988 - opens.
 * 1986 - Sister city relationship established with Salvador, Brazil.
 * 1990 - February: Benin constitutional conference held.
 * 1992 - Population: 536,827.
 * 1995
 * Centre de conferences international opens.
 * December: Meeting of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie held in city.
 * 1996 - University of Science and Technology of Benin established.

21st century



 * 2001 - L'Informateur newspaper begins publication.
 * 2002 - Maison des Médias du Bénin founded.
 * 2003
 * 25 December: Airplane crash.
 * Nicéphore Soglo becomes mayor.
 * 2005 - (museum) opens.
 * 2009 - Population: 815,041.
 * 2011 - Population: 924,000.
 * 2013 - Population: 679,012.