Timeline of Libreville

The following is a of the history of the city of Libreville, Gabon.

19th century

• 1843 - Fort and trading post established by French.
• 1849
• Libreville founded by French military official Édouard Bouët-Willaumez. Freed slaves were resettled in the new village.
• M. Mountier, a resettled former slave, becomes mayor (approximate date).
• 1860 - Town becomes administrative seat of colonial "French territories in the Gulf of Guinea" (approximate date).
• 1865 - Church of the Immaculate Conception built.
• 1888 - Libreville becomes administrative seat of colonial French Congo.

20th century

• 1904 - Administrative seat of colonial Congo Gabon moves from Libreville to Brazzaville.
• 1909 - Urban perimeter established.
• 1910 - Libreville becomes part of colonial French Equatorial Africa.
• 1940 - Roads built to Kango, Lambarene, and Owendo (approximate date).
• 1946 - Lumber processing factory built.
• 1955
• Libreville attains status.
• Roman Catholic diocese of Libreville established.
• 1956 - Léon M'ba becomes mayor.
• 1958 - built.
• 1959 - Radiodiffusion-Télévision Gabonaise headquartered in city.
• 1960 - City becomes capital of the Republic of Gabon.
• 1964
• March: 1964 United States Embassy in Libreville bombings occur.
• Deepwater port opens in Owendo.
• Population: 45,909 urban agglomeration.
• 1968 - Leon Mebiame Mba becomes mayor.
• 1970 - National University of Gabon established.
• 1974 - ' newspaper begins publication.
• 1976
• June–July: Central African Games held in city.
• Ntoutoume Obame appointed mayor.
• 1977 - July: Organisation of African Unity meeting held in Libreville.
• 1980 - Population: 185,000.
• 1981 - December: Anti-government protest.
• 1983
• Centre International des Civilisations Bantu headquartered in city.
• Jean Aveno Davin appointed mayor.
• 1989
• Cleaude Damas Ozimo appointed mayor.
• Meeting of the Association Internationale des Maires Francophones held in city.
• 1993
• 27 April: 1993 Zambia national football team plane crash occurs.
• Population: 420,000 (38% Fang, 28% Shira Punu, 12% Nzebi).
• 1994 - Centre Culturel Français opens.⁽⁾
• 1996 - Mayoral election established per Decentralisation Law.
• 1997 - Paul Mba Abessole becomes mayor.