Timeline of Gaborone

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Gaborone, Botswana.

Prior to 20th century

 * 1890 - Gaberones founded by British South Africa Company.
 * 1897 - Railway station built.

20th century

 * 1960-1966 - Gaberones becomes capital of independent Botswana
 * 1963 - Town construction begins.
 * 1964
 * Bechuanaland Daily News begins publication.
 * Population: 3,855.
 * 1965
 * British colonial Bechuanaland Protectorate capital relocated to Gaberones from Mafeking.
 * Gaborone Secondary School built.
 * 1966
 * Gaberones becomes capital of independent Botswana.
 * Botswana National Stadium opens.
 * Derek Jones becomes mayor.
 * 1968 - Botswana National Museum built.
 * 1969
 * Gaberones renamed "Gaborone."
 * Debswana Diamond Company Ltd headquartered in Gaborone.
 * 1971 - Population: 17,718.
 * 1975 - Sister city relationship established with Burbank, California.
 * 1979 - Serara Ketlogetswe becomes mayor.
 * 1980
 * Mosque built.
 * Southern African Development Community headquartered in Gaborone.
 * 1982
 * University of Botswana established.
 * University of Botswana Stadium opens.
 * 1984
 * 14 June: Raid on Gaborone.
 * Seretse Khama International Airport opens.
 * Paul Mmlotsi Rantao becomes mayor.
 * Mmegi newspaper begins publication.
 * 1985 - Botswana Gazette newspaper begins publication.
 * 1988 - Gaborone Broadcasting Company established.
 * 1991
 * Population: 133,468.
 * Botswana College of Agriculture established near city.
 * 1993 - "The Voice Newspaper" begins publication
 * 1995 - Botswana Stock Exchange and Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis headquartered in city.
 * 1998 - Fictional The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency book series begins publication.
 * 1999 - Nelson Ramaotwana becomes mayor.

21st century



 * 2001 - Population: 186,007.
 * 2002 - Reteng founded.
 * 2003 - Uniao Flamengo Santos Football Club formed.
 * 2004 - Harry Mothei becomes mayor.
 * 2005 - The Voice Newspaper becomes Botswana's best selling newspaper and goes digital.
 * 2005 - Population: 208,000.
 * 2007 - National Botanical Garden opens.
 * 2009
 * Steinmetz Gaborone Marathon begins.
 * Veronica Lesole becomes mayor.
 * 2011
 * May: 2011 African Junior Athletics Championships held.
 * Haskins Nkaigwa becomes mayor.
 * 2013 - De Beers rough diamond sales headquarters relocated to Gaborone from London.
 * 2014 - May: 2014 African Youth Games held in Gaborone.
 * 2017 - Population: 264,311 (estimate).
 * 2019 - Thata Father Maphongo becomes mayor.