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.

1900s–1950s

 * 1907 – 14 January: The 6.5 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.