Timeline of Fogo, Cape Verde

Prehistoric era

Around 24 to 22 million years ago - The seamount that gave rise to Fogo began to form.

Around 4.5 million years ago - A volcanic eruption raised the seamount above sea level forming the island now called Fogo.

Around 1 million years ago: The Monte Amarelo and Monte Barro rock formations formed

Around 73,000 years ago - The eastern portion of the island–a volume of approximately 100 cubic kilometres (24 cu mi) of rock–collapsed into the ocean generating a 170-metre (560 ft) high megatsunami. The surge inundated the western part of Santiago, running up to heights of 270 metres (890 ft) and carrying large boulders onto a plateau at an elevation of 200 metres (660 ft). The island size before the eruption was approximately 800–900 square kilometres (310–350 sq mi). Also that time, the Bordeira formation was formed

Around 40,000 BC - As sea levels were 100–130 meters (330–430 ft) lower, the island's area was approximately 500 square kilometres (190 sq mi).

Around 3,000 BC - The sea level rose nearly to its current level and the size was roughly 450 square kilometres (170 sq mi), similar to the present-day island.

1153 BC - June 6 - A total solar eclipse took place in the island

748 BC - August 27: An annular solar eclipse took place in late morning in the island

734 BC - November 19: An annular solar eclipse took place at sunrise and started in the area of the island

477 BC - August 1: A total solar eclipse took place late morning in the south of the island

386 BC - September 14: An annular solar eclipse took place in the mid to late afternoon hours in the island

191 BC: September 18: An annular solar eclipse took place on the island

86 BC - July 30: An annular solar eclipse took place in the island

592 - March 23: A total solar eclipse started around the island (probably present day São Filipe), the remainder was visibly partial

751 - August 25: An annular solar eclipse took place in the island

1000 - October 7: An annular solar eclipse took place in most of the island, the remainder was visibly partial

1112 - April 7: A total solar eclipse took place in the island

1260 - October 15: A total solar eclipse took place in the island

Colonial era

1456 - The island was first sighted in 1456 by Vicente Dias along with Alvise Cadamosto and Antoniotto Usodimare, at the time, it was likely the only island in Cape Verde sighted at the time

1460 - The island was fully discovered and charted by António da Noli on behalf of Henry the Navigator, the island was originally São Filipe.

1500 - São Filipe, the first settlement established

1528

João de Meneses Vasconcellos, conde de Penela was the first captain of the island

April 20: Afonso de Meneses, conde de Penela was the second and last captain of the island for a few years

1580 - Population: around 1,200

1650 - Population: around 2,500

1655 - São Filipe destroyed by Flemish pirates

1667 - Fortim Carlota built to prevent further pirate attacks

1675 - The last eruption on the main cone that would later create a larger eruption

1680 - A major eruption took place in Pico do Fogo and devastated much of the island, many inhabitants fled the island, several would settle in nearby Brava, the eruption continued for a few years, it would receive the island name Fogo (Portuguese for fire).

1720 - Population: around 5,000

1747 - The first famine struck Fogo (see Famine in Cape Verde)

1752 - May 13: A total solar eclipse took place before sunset and the umbral part included the island, probably all of the island while the remainder was partial

1769 - Pico do Fogo erupted, the last time it erupted from the top

1774

Population: around 5,700

Another famine struck Fogo

1777 - Population: around 4,200

1780 - Population: around 5,000

1785

Pico do Fogo erupted, the following eruptions would occur in the lower parts

Start of emigration on the island which would continue for decades and even in the 20th century.

The first ships from the United States visited any of the islands in Cape Verde, it arrived on Fogo primarily for whaling but took some residents to be the first Cape Verdeans to immigrate into the United States.

1799 - The area around Pico do Fogo erupted

1800 - Population: around 8,000

1828 - The town's merchant house built, it is now known as Casa da Memória is at Praça and is today a museum

1832

Population: around 10,000

Famine struck the island

1847 - An eruption struck the area of Pico do Fogo, earthquakes killed several people

1850 - Second wave of emigration began, people immigrated to the United States, much of it to the state of Massachusetts

1852 - February 19: The lower part of Pico do Fogo erupted and continued for about a month

1854 - São Filipe became the seat of Fogo including only the island after Brava separated, its first president was El-Rei Márcio Cardoso, later he was succeeded by his brother El-Rei Carlos Cardoso III (The Strong).

1857 - June 27: The lower part of Pico do Fogo erupted again, the eruption continued until December 15

1861 - A custom house in the port of São Filipe built by the colonial governor Januário Correia de Almeida.

1865 - October 19: an annular solar eclipse took place in the island

1870 - Foundation of the village of Chã das Caldeiras by the Count of Montrond, introduced vines to flourish the wine production, the only in Cape Verde

1890 - Population: 20,225

1910 - A civil revolution in Portugal drew aristocracy and large land-owners back to Portugal and left civilians behind

1914 - January 2: Carlos de Vasconcelos became president of the municipality of the island of Fogo

1922 - São Filipe elevated to a town.

1930 - Population: 21,563

1930s - Economic crisis started mainly after the Great Depression and famines struck the island, the population lost 10 to 15 percent as a result of it between 1940 and 1950, fourth wave of emigration began, people immigrated to the northeastern United States and western Europe

1940 - Population: 22,914

1950 - Population: 17,520

1951 - June 12: A small eruption affected the island in the area of Pico do Fogo, the next eruption in 94 years, it finished on August 2

1953 - July 18: Vulcânicos, the island's first football (soccer) club established

1955 - Francisco Craveiro Lopes visited the island, a statue would be erected in the island capital

1960 - Population: 25,457

1962 - November 18: Associação Académica do Fogo, a football (soccer) club established

mid-1960s - Fogo Island League created

1968 - July 7: Botafogo, a football (soccer) club established

1970 - Population: 29,692

1974:

April: the Carnation Revolution took place in Portugal, the Estado Novo regime collapsed, Cape Verde became an autonomous province

After independence in 1975-1999

1975 - July 5: Cape Verde declared independence from Portugal and became and independent nation

1980 - Population: 31,335

1983 - October 8: Cutelinho a football (soccer) club established

1990 - Population: 33,902

1991 - The municipality that once covered the whole island broken up into the municipalities of São Filipe and Mosteiros

1995 - April: Earthquake shook the island followed by an eruption on April 5 that affected the island in the area of Pico do Fogo and devastated parts of Chã das Caldeiras, it ended on May 26

1996 - July 22: Desportivo de Cova Figueira established

1998 - Porto Vale Cavaleiros enlarged

21st century

2000 - Population: 37,421

2001

Baxada or Baxada Fluminense football (soccer) club established

April 20: Casa da Memória in São Filipe first opened

2002 - September: Spartak d'Aguadinha, a football (soccer) club established

2004

São Filipe became associate member of UCCLA, Union of Luso-Afro-Amero-Asiatic Capital Cities

Forest fire struck the Monte Velha Forest Perimeter in the northeast of the island.

2005

Municipality of Santa Catarina do Fogo established

Fortim Carlota ceased to be a prison

2008 - December 13: São Filipe Municipal Museum opened on the old town hall of São Filipe

2009 - Valência football (soccer) club established

2010

Population: 37,046

Cova Figueira elevated to a city.

2011

April 23: Another forest fire but smaller than the last burnt Monte Velha Forest Perimeter.

May: The runway of São Filipe Airport was extended to 1,500 meters by 30 meters wide from the previous length of 1,197 meters by 20 meters wide

June 11: Project for adding electricity for the hamlets of Bangaeira and Portela in Chã das Caldeoras began

August 9: Replanting went under way at Monte Velha Forest Preserve

2012 - Vinha Maria Chaves wine created

2013 - April 30: During the festivities, the "Adega de Monte Barro" was inaugurated and the new wines were presented to the President, the prime minister and other officials of Cape Verde.

2014

November 15-23: Earthquakes rocked the island and later caused a volcanic eruption on November 23 that would continue up to February 8 the following year, it caused the cancellation of the Regional Football (Soccer) Competition for nearly four weeks. The volcano erupted for 77 days.

November 23: Plans for introducing electricity to Chã das Caldeiras abandoned

November 24: First destruction of Chã das Caldeiras by lava flows

December 23: Lava flow reached the west of Bordeira

After December 17: Volcanic activity on Pico do Fogo became less active

2015 - February 7: Volcanic eruption ended leaving just a few buildings south of the center undamaged, buildings in the north were mostly damaged but still stands

2016 - Electricity would have be introduced in the hamlets of Bangaeira and Portela in Chã das Caldeiras, one of the last parts of the island not receiving electricity