Timeline of Dakar

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Dakar, capital of present-day Senegal. For more on this, see the History of Senegal, Senegambia, and Timeline of Serer history.

Prior to 20th century

• 1857
• Gorée merchants settle in Dakar.
• French build fort on Dakar Point.
• 1862 – "Master plan for Dakar is drafted by Émile Pinet-Laprade."
• 1863
• Streets named.
• Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Senegambia established.
• 1867 - Port was opened for commerce.
• 1872 – Town becomes part of the commune of Gorée.
• 1878 – Population: 1,600.
• 1885
• Rue Blanchot mosque built (approximate date).
• Opening of the Dakar–Saint-Louis railway (163 miles long).
• 1887
• Dakar commune formed.
• Jean Alexandre becomes mayor.
• 1891 – Population: 8,737.
• 1900 – "Military seaport" built.

20th century

1900s–1950s

• 1902 – Capital of French West Africa moved to Dakar from Saint-Louis.
• 1903 – created.
• 1904
• Avenue Gambetta, Avenue de la Liberté, and Boulevard de la République open.
• Population: 18,447.
• 1905 – Brest-Dakar telegraph in operation.
• 1907
• built.
• L'A.O.F. newspaper begins publication.
• 1908 – Harbor constructed.
• 1913
• Democratie du Senegal newspaper begins publication.
• National Archives of Senegal formed.
• 1914
• Train station opens.
• Bubonic plague epidemic.
• 1918
• French West Africa School of Medicine established.
• Population: 25,468.
• 1920 – Blaise Diagne becomes mayor.
• 1921 – Population: 32,440.
• 1924 – Dakar–Niger Railway begins operating.
• 1926 – Population: 33,679.
• 1929
• Gorée annexed to Dakar.
• formed.
• 1933
• Paris-Dakar newspaper begins publication.
• Foyer France Sénégal football club formed.
• 1934 – Armand-Pierre Angrand becomes mayor.
• 1936 – Catholic Cathédrale du Souvenir africain de Dakar inaugurated.
• 1938 - Institut Français d’Afrique Noire and museum founded.
• 1940 - Battle of Dakar.
• 1940s – photo studio in business.
• 1944 – Thiaroye Massacre.
• 1950 – Cours Sainte Marie de Hann founded.
• 1957 – University of Dakar established.
• 1959
• City becomes capital of Mali Federation.
• French Cultural Centre created.

1960s–1990s

• 1960 – movement active.
• 1961
• ' newspaper begins publication.
• Population: 374,700 urban agglomeration.
• 1962 – House of Slaves (Gorée) museum opens.
• 1963
• December: Political demonstration; crackdown.
• Borom Sarret film released (set in Dakar).
• 1964 - Dakar Grand Mosque built.
• 1966
• Daniel Sorano Theatre opens (approximate date).
• Amity Stadium opens (approximate date).
• World Festival of Black Arts held.
• 1969 – Population: 581,000 urban agglomeration.
• 1970
• Le Soleil newspaper begins publication.
• Club Baobab opens.
• 1972 – Enda Third World and Centre Culturel Régional Blaise Senghor established.
• 1973 – Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa headquartered in Dakar.
• 1974 – Laboratoire Agit'Art (art group) formed.
• 1975 – Association Nationale des Bibliothécaires, Archivistes et Documentalistes Senegalais headquartered in city.
• 1978 – Dakar Rally motor vehicle race begins.
• 1984
• Mamadou Diop becomes mayor.
• WalFadjri newspaper begins publication.
• 1989
• May: Meeting of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie held in city.
• opens.
• Ethnic violence.
• 1990
• Dakar Biennale begins.
• Public library established.
• art movement develops.
• Population: 1,405,000 (urban agglomeration).
• 1993
• Sud Quotidien begins publication.
• West African Research Center established.
• 1994
• Henriette-Bathily Women's Museum opens.
• Kermel market burns down.
• 1995 – Population: 1,688,000 (urban agglomeration).
• 1996
• Municipal administration divided into 19 communes d'arrondissement: Biscuiterie, Cambérène, Dieuppeul-Derklé, Fann-Point E-Amitié, Gueule Tapée-Fass-Colobane, Gorée, Grand Yoff, Grand Dakar, Hann Bel-Air, HLM, Médina, Mermoz-Sacré-Cœur, Ngor, Ouakam, Parcelles Assainies, Patte d'Oie, Dakar-Plateau, Sicap-Liberté, and Yoff.⁽⁾
• City becomes part of Dakar Department, Dakar Region.
• Musée des Forces Armées Senegalaise established.
• 1997
• Media Centre de Dakar in operation.
• Mosquée de la Divinité built.
• 1998 – Doole community exchange system established.
• 1999 – begins.
• 2000 – Population: 2,029,000 (urban agglomeration).