title: Timeline of Gaborone
text: # 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.
  