Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Timeline of Kingston, Jamaica

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Kingston, Jamaica.

Contents

Prior to 19th century

  • 1692 – 7 June: Earthquake destroys Port Royal; residents resettle nearby thus establishing Kingston.
  • 1690s – Parish Church built (approximate date).
  • 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 – September: Earthquake.
  • 1775 – American Company of Comedians in performance.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Exhibition held.
  • 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: Earthquake.
  • 1908 – King's House, Jamaica built.
  • 1910 – Alpha Boys Band active.
  • 1912
  • Ward Theatre established.
  • Hubert 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: 339,676.
  • 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.
  • 1967 – Population: 421,581.
  • 1968 – Jamaica Stock Exchange founded.
  • 1970 – Tuff Gong record label founded.
  • 1972 – Ralph Eugene Brown PNP general-secretary becomes mayor.
  • 1973 – Jamaica Pegasus Hotel built.
  • 1979 – National Library of Jamaica headquartered in city.
  • 1987 – Bob Marley Museum opens.
  • 1989 – Marie Atkins becomes mayor.
  • 1990 – African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica / Jamaica Memory Bank headquartered in Kingston.
  • 1993 – The Jamaica Observer newspaper begins publication.

    • 21st century

  • 2001 – Population: 579,137.
  • 2002 – Emancipation Park established.
  • 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.

    • References

    Timeline of Kingston, Jamaica Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA