Timeline of Pietermaritzburg

The following is a timeline of the history of Pietermaritzburg. It is part of the Msunduzi Local Municipality in the Umgungundlovu District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa.

19th century

 * 1839
 * Pietermaritzburg founded by Voortrekkers; named after Gerrit Maritz and Piet Retief.
 * October: Settlement becomes capital of the newly formed Natalia Republic.
 * 1840 - Voortrekker Church of the Vow consecrated.
 * 1843
 * British established.
 * Natalier newspaper begins publication.
 * Settlement becomes capital of the newly formed British Colony of Natal.
 * 1846
 * Natal Witness newspaper begins publication.
 * Book Society founded.
 * 1847 - Natal Independent newspaper begins publication.
 * 1851
 * Natal and East African Society and Agricultural Society founded.
 * In vicinity of Pietermaritzburg, development of Edendale begins.
 * 1856
 * Pietermaritzburg incorporated as a borough.
 * D. D. Buchanan becomes mayor.
 * Pietermaritzburg officials issue "ordinance permitting the establishment of African locations" (i.e. racial segregation).
 * 1862 - Prison built on Burger Street.
 * 1863 - Mr. William Calder opens High School Maritzburg, later to become Maritzburg College, or, simply "College."
 * 1868
 * William Macrorie becomes bishop of Anglican diocese of Maritzburg.
 * St Saviour's Cathedral, Pietermaritzburg opened.
 * 1874 - Botanical Garden established.
 * 1878 - February: Natal Society Museum opens.
 * 1879 - Pietermaritzburg County Football Club formed.
 * 1880 - Durban-Pietermaritzburg railway begins operating.
 * 1885 - Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Commerce active (approximate date).
 * 1888 - Alexandra Park established.
 * 1893 - 7 June: Civil rights activist Gandhi removed from train in Pietermaritzburg for defying racial segregation law.
 * 1897 - St. John's Diocesan School for Girls founded.

20th century

 * 1901 - Town Hall rebuilt.
 * 1904
 * Electric tram begins operating.
 * Natal Government Museum active.
 * Population: 31,119.
 * 1910
 * Natal University College founded.
 * Pietermaritzburg becomes part of the newly formed Union of South Africa (British dominion).
 * 1911 - Population: 30,555.
 * 1912 - Voortrekker museum founded.
 * 1919 - Fort Napier becomes a hospital.
 * 1920 - Pietermaritzburg Girls' High School founded.
 * 1921 - Comrades Marathon (Durban-Pietermaritzburg) begins.
 * 1924 - Beer hall in business on Pietermaritz Street.
 * 1925 - Shuter & Shooter Publishers in business.
 * 1927 - Afrikaansmediumskool (school) established.
 * 1929 - "Native Village at Sobantu" built.
 * 1931 - Natal Bantu Football Association formed.
 * 1934 - Nux student newspaper begins publication.
 * 1944 - Pietermaritzburg Italian P.O.W. Church built on Epworth Road.
 * 1948 - Alexandra Park Street Circuit (motor race track) opens.
 * 1951 - Dusi Canoe Marathon to Durban begins.
 * 1953 - Roy Hesketh Circuit (motor race track) opens.
 * 1954 - Edendale Hospital founded.
 * 1960 - Alexandra High School for white boys opens.
 * 1961 - Pietermaritzburg becomes part of the newly independent Republic of South Africa.
 * 1962 - Statue of Piet Retief unveiled.
 * 1972 - 6 April: "In the Natal Supreme Court in Pietermaritzburg, at the end of the longest trial of its kind in South Africa, thirteen defendants...are sentenced...for contravening the Terrorism Act."
 * 1979 - Maritzburg United F.C. (football club) formed.
 * 1976 - St Saviour's Cathedral, Pietermaritzburg deconsecrated and demolished in 1981.
 * 1981 - Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Nativity consecrated.
 * 1985 - 5 August: Treason trial begins.
 * 1987 - September: Flood.
 * 1989 - Napierville prison begins operating.
 * 1990 - March: "Seven Day War" occurs.
 * 1991 - Population: 156,473 city; 228,549 metro.
 * 1993
 * April: Unrest.
 * 6 June: Gandhi memorial unveiled.
 * 1996 - Children in Distress Network (CINDI) organized.
 * 2000
 * Pietermaritzburg becomes part of the newly formed Msunduzi Local Municipality (which includes Edendale, Imbali, etc.).
 * Hloni Glenford Zondi becomes mayor.

21st century

 * 2001 - Population: 223,519.
 * 2002 - Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Business formed.
 * 2004 - University of Natal becomes University of KwaZulu-Natal.
 * 2005 - Website Msunduzi.gov.za launched (approximate date).
 * 2006 - Zanele Hlatshwayo becomes mayor of Msunduzi.
 * 2010 - May: Mike Tarr becomes mayor of Msunduzi.
 * 2011 - Chris Ndlela becomes mayor of Msunduzi.
 * 2013 - Spring Grove Dam at Mooi River begins operating in vicinity of city.
 * 2016 - Themba Njilo becomes mayor of Msunduzi.
 * 2021 - 2021 Pietermaritzburg power outage
 * 2022 - 2022 Pietermaritzburg shooting