This is a timeline of the history of Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, Nigeria.
19th century 1869 – A civil war in the Bonny Kingdom splits the polity into rival houses; Jaja leads the Opobo (Opubo) group to found Opobo at the Imo River estuary, reshaping trade routes across the Bonny–Imo river corridor near the future Port Harcourt area. 1884–1885 – Britain proclaims the Oil Rivers Protectorate over the Niger Delta (confirmed in the wake of the Berlin Conference), extending consular jurisdiction over the Bonny River approaches and adjacent creeks. 1893 – The Oil Rivers Protectorate is renamed the Niger Coast Protectorate, consolidating British administration across the eastern Niger Delta prior to amalgamation into Southern Nigeria in 1900.
20th century
1925 – Braithwaite Memorial Hospital (now Rivers State University Teaching Hospital) begins operating. 1961 – Roman Catholic Diocese of Port Harcourt established. 1965 – Port Harcourt Refining Company founded at Alesa-Eleme. 1971 – Newspaper The Tide begins publication. 1972 Rivers State College of Science and Technology opens (later Rivers State University). Sharks F.C. formed in Port Harcourt. 1975 University College, Port Harcourt created (later the University of Port Harcourt). Port Harcourt Zoo established. 1977 – University College gains university status and becomes the University of Port Harcourt. 1980 Rivers State University of Science and Technology replaces Rivers State College of Science and Technology (now Rivers State University). University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital begins operation. 1981 – Radio Rivers begins broadcasting. 1984 – Rivers State School of Basic Studies commences in Port Harcourt. 1985 – Rivers State Television (RSTV) inaugurated. 1988 – Dolphins football club founded. 1993 – Sister-city relationship with Kansas City formed. 1995 – Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni Nine are buried in Port Harcourt Cemetery. 1996 – Meridian Hospital begins operating. 1999 – Rivers State School of Basic Studies is revamped and renamed Rivers State College of Arts and Science.
21st century 2001 – Liberation Stadium (now Yakubu Gowon Stadium) opens.
2004 National Network newspaper begins publication.
2005 – Sosoliso Airlines Flight 1145 crashes.
2006 Port Harcourt International Airport stops operations for maintenance.
2008 Garden City Literary Festival begins (later renamed Port Harcourt Book Festival). Street Rhymes Studios opens for business.
2009 – Port Harcourt International Airport named Nigeria's third-busiest airport.
2010 – Bus electrocutions accident occurs in the region.
2011 – 91.7 FM begins broadcasting.
2012 Port Harcourt selected 2014 World Book Capital. Massacre of four Uniport students (Aluu killings).
2013 Kelsey Harrison Hospital and Rivers State Dental and Maxillofacial Hospital begin operations. I'm on Fire becomes a successful Port Harcourt–based mixtape release. Port Harcourt International Fashion Week begins. Garden City Literary Festival is renamed the Port Harcourt Book Festival.
2014 – Port Harcourt hosts the World Book Capital programme events.
See also Timelines of other cities in Nigeria: Ibadan, Kano, Lagos
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