Timeline of Windhoek

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The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Windhoek, Namibia.

Prior to 20th century

• 1840s - Nama Orlam chief Jonker Afrikaner names settlement "Winterhoek"^[1]
• 1880 - Nama-Herero conflict; settlement sacked.^[2]
• 1890 - German military fort construction begins.^[3]
• 1892 - Windhoek designated administrative seat of colonial German South West Africa.^[4]
• 1898 - German-language Windhoeker Anzeiger newspaper begins publication.

20th century

1900s

• 1901 - Public library founded.^[5]
• 1902 - Railway to coast begins operating.^[1]
• 1907 - Landesmuseum founded.^[6]
• 1909
  • Turnhalle built.
  • Gustav Voigts [de] becomes mayor.^{[chronology citation needed]}

1910s

• 1910
  • Church of Peace built.^[2]
  • Luisen Apotheke (pharmacy) in business.^[7]
• 1912
  • Windhoek Railway Station opens.
  • Reiterdenkmal erected (monument to Germans in the Herero and Namaqua Wars).^[2]
• 1913 - Tintenpalast (colonial government building) constructed.^[2]
• 1915 - 12 May: Town occupied by South African military during the First World War.^[3]
• 1916 - German-language Allgemeine Zeitung (newspaper) begins publication.^[8]

1920s

• 1920
  • Population: 716.^[1][9]
  • Winterhoek renamed to Windhoek.^[10]
• 1924 - Windhoek Synagogue built.
• 1926 - Roman Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Windhoek active.^[11]
• 1927 - Die Suidwes-Afrikaner newspaper begins publication.
• 1928 - Kaiser Street paved.^[7]
• 1929 - Windhoek–Gobabis Railway [de]begins operating.

1930s

• 1932 - Tintenpalast Gardens laid out.
• 1937 - Bantu Welfare Hall built.^[12]

1940s

• 1946 - Population: 14,929.^[13]

1950s

• 1951 - Population: 20,490.^[13]
• 1958 - Library/museum/archives building constructed.^[5]
• 1959 - 10 December: Ethnic unrest.^[12]

1960s

• 1960 - Population: 36,049.^[14]
• 1961 - Katutura township created.
• 1964 - Black Africa S.C. (football club) formed.
• 1965 - J. G. Strydom Airport opens.
• 1968 - Racially segregated Main Location closes.^[12]

1970s

• 1971 - Namibian general contract workers strike occurs, starting from Windhoek.^[15]
• 1975
  • September: Turnhalle Constitutional Conference begins in Windhoek.
  • Delta Secondary School Windhoek established.
• 1977 - Republikein newspaper begins publication.^[8]

1980s

• 1981 - Population 96,057^[16]

1990s

• 1990
  • 21 March: Namibian Independence Day celebrated at Windhoek stadium.
  • Kaiser Street renamed "Independence Avenue" (approximate date).^[17]
  • Wernhil Park Mall in business.
  • Sanlam Centre built.^[18]
  • National Art Gallery of Namibia and Embassy of Germany established.
• 1991 - Population: 147,056.^[19]
• 1992
  • University of Namibia established.
  • New Era newspaper begins publication.
  • Media Institute of Southern Africa headquartered in Windhoek.^[20]
• 1994
  • Polytechnic of Namibia founded.
  • National Library of Namibia headquartered in Windhoek.
• 1995
  • May: Miss Universe 1995 beauty pageant held in city.
  • Quba-Mosque (Windhoek) [de] built.
  • Windhoek Country Club Resort in business.
  • National Ministry of Prisons & Correctional Services headquartered in city.^[21]

21st century

2000s

• 2000
  • Matheus Shikongo becomes mayor.
  • National Art Gallery of Namibia established.
• 2001 - Population: 233,529.^[22]
• 2002 - Heroes' Acre (Namibia) memorial unveiled near city.
• 2005
  • Renaming of Windhoek (as "Otjomuise") proposed.^[17]
  • Sam Nujoma Stadium opens.
• 2006 - City police department established.^[23]
• 2007
  • Namibian Sun newspaper begins publication.
  • Windhoek Gymnasium Private School established.
• 2008 - January: Airplane crash occurs at Eros Airport.

2010s

• 2010 - Old Mutual Namibia building constructed.^[18]
• 2011
  • Hilltop Estate [de] construction begins in Kleine Kuppe.
  • Population: 325,858.^[22]
• 2014
  • The Grove Mall of Namibia [de] opens.
  • Muesee Kazapua becomes mayor.

See also

• Windhoek history
• List of mayors of Windhoek
• List of government ministries of Namibia [de], generally headquartered in Windhoek