Timeline of Gaborone
# Timeline of Gaborone

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Gaborone, Botswana.

## Prior to 20th century

* 1890 - Gaberones founded by British South Africa Company.
* 1897 - Railway station built.

## 20th century

* 1960-1966 - Gaberones becomes capital of independent Botswana
* 1963 - Town construction begins.
* 1964
   * Bechuanaland Daily News begins publication.
   * Population: 3,855.
* 1965
   * British colonial Bechuanaland Protectorate capital relocated to Gaberones from Mafeking.
   * Gaborone Secondary School built.
* 1966
   * Gaberones becomes capital of independent Botswana.
   * Botswana National Stadium opens.
   * Derek Jones becomes mayor.
* 1968 - Botswana National Museum built.
* 1969
   * Gaberones renamed "Gaborone."
   * Debswana Diamond Company Ltd headquartered in Gaborone.
* 1971 - Population: 17,718.
* 1975 - Sister city relationship established with Burbank, California.
* 1979 - Serara Ketlogetswe becomes mayor.
* 1980
   * Mosque built.
   * Southern African Development Community headquartered in Gaborone.
* 1982
   * University of Botswana established.
   * University of Botswana Stadium opens.
* 1984
   * 14 June: Raid on Gaborone.
   * Seretse Khama International Airport opens.
   * Paul Mmlotsi Rantao becomes mayor.
   * Mmegi newspaper begins publication.
* 1985 - Botswana Gazette newspaper begins publication.
* 1988 - Gaborone Broadcasting Company" established.
* 1991
   * Population: 133,468.
   * Botswana College of Agriculture established near city.
* 1993 - "The Voice Newspaper" begins publication
* 1995 - Botswana Stock Exchange and Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis headquartered in city.
* 1998 - Fictional The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency book series begins publication.
* 1999 - Nelson Ramaotwana becomes mayor.

## 21st century

* 2001 - Population: 186,007.
* 2002 - Reteng founded.
* 2003 - Uniao Flamengo Santos Football Club formed.
* 2004 - Harry Mothei becomes mayor.
* 2005 - The Voice Newspaper becomes Botswana's best selling newspaper and goes digital.
* 2005 - Population: 208,000.
* 2007 - National Botanical Garden opens.
* 2009
   * Steinmetz Gaborone Marathon begins.
   * Veronica Lesole becomes mayor.
* 2011
   * May: 2011 African Junior Athletics Championships held.
   * Haskins Nkaigwa becomes mayor.
* 2013 - De Beers rough diamond sales headquarters relocated to Gaborone from London.
* 2014 - May: 2014 African Youth Games held in Gaborone.
* 2017 - Population: 264,311 (estimate).
* 2019 - Thata Father Maphongo becomes mayor.
