Timeline of Panama City

The following is a timeline of the history of Panama City, Republic of Panama.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Prior to 20th century

• 1519 - Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion de Panama founded by Pedro Arias Dávila.^[1][2]
• 1539 - Royal Audiencia of Panama established.
• 1671 - Panamá Viejo sacked by privateers Henry Morgan and Robert Searle.^[2]
• 1673
  • New settlement established 5 miles southwest of Panamá Viejo.^[1]
  • City wall,^[2] Palacio de las Garzas, and Saint Dominic Convent^[3] built.
• 1737 - Fire.^[4]
• 1752 - Royal Audiencia disestablished.^[4]
• 1760 - Cathedral built.^[2]
• 1821 - City becomes part of Gran Colombia.^[1]
• 1826 - June: City hosts Panama Congress.^[2]
• 1830 - City becomes part of Republic of New Granada.^[5]
• 1849 - Panama Star English-language newspaper begins publication.^[6]
• 1853 - La Estrella de Panamá newspaper in publication.^{[citation needed]}
• 1855 - Panama Railway begins operating.^[7]
• 1856 - April 15: Watermelon Riot.
• 1878 - Fire.
• 1880 - Bishop's palace built.^[7]
• 1881 - Panama Canal construction begins.^[8]
• 1882 - L'Hospital Notre Dame de Canal established.
• 1887 - City fire department established.^[1]

20th century

• 1903 - City becomes part of independent Republic of Panama.^[5]
• 1904 - Ancon Hospital active.
• 1905 - Population: 22,000.^[1]
• 1908 - National Theatre of Panama opens.
• 1911
  • Way On Cemetery established.
  • Population: 46,500.^[1]
• 1914 - Panama Canal begins operating.
• 1916 - National Exposition of Panama held.^[9]
• 1924
  • National Archive building dedicated.^[10]
  • Hospital Santo Tomas rebuilt.
• 1925 - "Protest strike" against urban conditions.^[1]
• 1930 - Population: 74,400.^[1]
• 1935 - University of Panama established.
• 1940 - Population: 111,800.^[1]
• 1947 - December: Anti-U.S. unrest.^[1]
• 1950 - Population: 127,874.^[11]
• 1953 - Auto-Cine (drive-in cinema) opens.^[12]
• 1955 - Club Deportivo Plaza Amador (football club) formed.
• 1962 - Bridge of the Americas opens.
• 1964 - January: Anti-U.S. unrest.^[1]
• 1970 - Gimnasio Nuevo Panama (arena) opens.
• 1975 - Population: 404,190 (approximate).^[13]
• 1981 - La Prensa newspaper begins publication.
• 1985 - Parque Municipal Summit established.
• 1986 - Mossack Fonseca law firm in business.
• 1988 - Metropolitan Natural Park opens.
• 1989
  • December 20: United States invasion of Panama begins.^[1][14]
  • Guillermo Endara becomes president
  • Mayin Correa becomes mayor of Panamá District.^{[citation needed]}
• 1990 - Dictator Manuel Noriega surrenders to United States military forces on January 3.
• 1993 - Mi Pueblito created.^[15]
• 1994 - Ernesto Perez Balladares wins May 1994 elections and becomes president.
• 1995
  • Club Deportivo Policía Nacional (football club) formed.^{[citation needed]}
  • Population: 452,041 (estimate).^[16]
• 1996
  • Marine Exhibition Center of Punta Culebra established.
  • Miramar Towers built.
• 1997
  • Cines Alhambra (cinema) in business.^[12]
  • Panama Canal Museum established.
• 1999
  • Mireya Moscoso wins May 1999 elections and becomes the first female president of Panama.
  • Juan Carlos Navarro becomes mayor of Panama District.
  • Hospital Punta Pacifica founded.

21st century

• 2003 - Panama Jazz Festival begins.
• 2004 - Martin Torrijos wins May 2004 elections and becomes president.
• 2007 - Aqualina Tower built.
• 2008
  • February: Labour unrest.^[5]
  • Mormon temple and Ocean One hi-rise built.
• 2009
  • Estadio Javier Cruz (stadium) opens.
  • Cinta Costera land reclamation completed.
  • Ricardo Martinelli wins May 2009 elections and becomes president.
• 2010
  • Ocean Two hi-rise built.
  • Population: 880,691.
• 2011 - Tower Financial Center, F&F Tower, Yacht Club Tower, Megapolis Tower, The Point, and JW Marriott Panama built.
• 2012
  • Vitri Tower and Pearl Tower built.
  • Mayor Bosco Vallarino resigns;^[17] Roxana Méndez becomes mayor.
  • International Film Festival of Panama begins.^[18]
• 2014
  • Panama Metro begins operating.
  • Juan Carlos Varela wins May 2014 elections and becomes president
  • Biomuseo built.^[19]
• 2016 - Population: 472,856.^[20]