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.
20th century
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.
