The following is a timeline of the history of Pietermaritzburg. It is part of the Msunduzi Local Municipality in the Umgungundlovu District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa.

19th century

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Historical states in present-day South Africa
before 1600 Kingdom of Mapungubwe (1050–1270) Kingdom of Mutapa (1430–1760)
1600–1700 Dutch Cape Colony (1652–1795)
1700–1800 Mthethwa Paramountcy (c.1780–1817) Ndwandwe (c.1780–1817) Swellendam (1795) Graaff-Reinet (1795–1796) Cape Colony (1795–1802)
1800–1850 Dutch Cape Colony (1802–1806) Cape Colony (1806–1910) Waterboer's Land (1813–1871) Zulu Kingdom (1818–1897) Adam Kok's Land (1825–1861) Winburg (1836–1844) Potchefstroom (1837–1848) Natalia Republic (1839–1843)
1850–1875 South African Republic (1852–1902) Orange Free State (1854–1902) Republic of Utrecht (1854–1858) Lydenburg Republic (1856–1860) Griqualand East (1861–1879) Griqualand West (1870–1880) Diggers' Republic (1870–1871)
1875–1900 Stellaland (1882–1885) Goshen (1882–1883) Nieuw Republiek (1884–1888) Klein Vrystaat (1886–1891)
1900–present Cape Colony (1806–1910) Union of South Africa (1910–1961) Transkei (1976–1994) Bophuthatswana (1977–1994) Venda (1979–1994) Ciskei (1981–1994) Republic of South Africa (1961–present)
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• 1839
  • Pietermaritzburg founded by Voortrekkers; named after Gerrit Maritz and Piet Retief.^[1]
  • October: Settlement becomes capital of the newly formed Natalia Republic.
• 1840 - Voortrekker Church of the Vow consecrated.^[2]
• 1843
  • British Fort Napier [af] established.^[3][4]
  • Natalier newspaper begins publication.^[5]
  • Settlement becomes capital of the newly formed British Colony of Natal.
• 1846
  • Natal Witness newspaper begins publication.
  • Book Society founded.^[6]
• 1847 - Natal Independent newspaper begins publication.^[7]
• 1851
  • Natal and East African Society and Agricultural Society founded.^[6]
  • In vicinity of Pietermaritzburg, development of Edendale begins.^[8]
• 1856
  • Pietermaritzburg incorporated as a borough.^[9][1]
  • D. D. Buchanan becomes mayor.^[9]
  • Pietermaritzburg officials issue "ordinance permitting the establishment of African locations" (i.e. racial segregation).^[10]
• 1862 - Prison built on Burger Street.^[11]
• 1863 - Mr. William Calder opens High School Maritzburg, later to become Maritzburg College, or, simply "College."^[12]
• 1868
  • William Macrorie becomes bishop of Anglican diocese of Maritzburg.
  • St Saviour's Cathedral, Pietermaritzburg opened.^[1]
• 1874 - Botanical Garden established.
• 1878 - February: Natal Society Museum opens.^[6]
• 1879 - Pietermaritzburg County Football Club formed.^[13]
• 1880 - Durban-Pietermaritzburg railway begins operating.^[2][1]
• 1885 - Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Commerce active (approximate date).^{[chronology citation needed][14]}
• 1888 - Alexandra Park established.
• 1893 - 7 June: Civil rights activist Gandhi removed from train in Pietermaritzburg for defying racial segregation law.^[2]
• 1897 - St. John's Diocesan School for Girls founded.

20th century

• 1901 - Town Hall rebuilt.^[1]
• 1904
  • Electric tram begins operating.
  • Natal Government Museum active.^[15]
  • Population: 31,119.^[1]
• 1910
  • Natal University College founded.[1]
  • Pietermaritzburg becomes part of the newly formed Union of South Africa (British dominion).
• 1911 - Population: 30,555.^[16]
• 1912 - Voortrekker museum founded.[2]
• 1919 - Fort Napier becomes a hospital.^{[chronology citation needed]}
• 1920 - Pietermaritzburg Girls' High School founded.
• 1921 - Comrades Marathon (Durban-Pietermaritzburg) begins.
• 1924 - Beer hall in business on Pietermaritz Street.^[17]
• 1925 - Shuter & Shooter Publishers in business.
• 1927 - Afrikaansmediumskool (school) established.
• 1929 - "Native Village at Sobantu" built.^[17]
• 1931 - Natal Bantu Football Association formed.^[13]
• 1934 - Nux student newspaper begins publication.
• 1944 - Pietermaritzburg Italian P.O.W. Church built on Epworth Road.
• 1948 - Alexandra Park Street Circuit (motor race track) opens.
• 1951 - Dusi Canoe Marathon to Durban begins.
• 1953 - Roy Hesketh Circuit (motor race track) opens.
• 1954 - Edendale Hospital founded.
• 1960 - Alexandra High School for white boys opens.
• 1961 - Pietermaritzburg becomes part of the newly independent Republic of South Africa.
• 1962 - Statue of Piet Retief unveiled.
• 1972 - 6 April: "In the Natal Supreme Court in Pietermaritzburg, at the end of the longest trial of its kind in South Africa, thirteen defendants...are sentenced...for contravening the Terrorism Act."^[2]
• 1979 - Maritzburg United F.C. (football club) formed.
• 1976 - St Saviour's Cathedral, Pietermaritzburg deconsecrated and demolished in 1981.
• 1981 - Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Nativity consecrated.
• 1985 - 5 August: Treason trial begins.^[18]
• 1987 - September: Flood.^[19]
• 1989 - Napierville prison begins operating.^[11]
• 1990 - March: "Seven Day War" occurs.^[2]
• 1991 - Population: 156,473 city; 228,549 metro.^[20]
• 1993
  • April: Unrest.^[21]
  • 6 June: Gandhi memorial unveiled.^[2]
• 1996 - Children in Distress Network (CINDI) organized.^[22]
• 2000
  • Pietermaritzburg becomes part of the newly formed Msunduzi Local Municipality (which includes Edendale, Imbali, etc.).
  • Hloni Glenford Zondi becomes mayor.

21st century

• 2001 - Population: 223,519.
• 2002 - Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Business formed.^[23]
• 2004 - University of Natal becomes University of KwaZulu-Natal.
• 2005 - Website Msunduzi.gov.za launched (approximate date).^[24]
• 2006 - Zanele Hlatshwayo becomes mayor of Msunduzi.^[25]
• 2010 - May: Mike Tarr becomes mayor of Msunduzi.^[26]
• 2011 - Chris Ndlela becomes mayor of Msunduzi.^[27]
• 2013 - Spring Grove Dam at Mooi River begins operating in vicinity of city.^[28]
• 2016 - Themba Njilo becomes mayor of Msunduzi.^[29][30]
• 2021 - 2021 Pietermaritzburg power outage
• 2022 - 2022 Pietermaritzburg shooting