History of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands in Timeline

Saipan is the largest island and capital of the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory in the western Pacific. As of 2020, its population was estimated at 43,385. Its residents are U.S. citizens since the 1980s. Saipan is a primary home for the Chamorro and Carolinian people, the indigenous groups of the Mariana Islands.

1914: Japan captures Saipan

In 1914, during World War I, the Empire of Japan captured Saipan.

1919: Japan awarded control of Saipan

In 1919, the League of Nations awarded Japan formal control of Saipan as part of its mandated territory of the South Seas Mandate.

1934: Construction of Japanese Lighthouse

In 1934, a lighthouse was built on Saipan when the Northern Marianas were under Japanese Mandate; this lighthouse is currently a cafe with island views.

October 1943: Saipan's Civilian Population

By October 1943, Saipan had a civilian population of 29,348 Japanese settlers and 3,926 Chamorro and Carolinian Islanders.

July 9, 1944: Capture of Saipan

On July 9, 1944, the United States Marine Corps and United States Army captured Saipan from the Japanese after more than three weeks in heavy fighting.

1944: Troop deployment on Saipan

In mid-1944, nearly 30,000 troops were based on Saipan by the Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy.

December 1, 1945: Captain Sakae Ōba Holds Out on Saipan

On December 1, 1945, Captain Sakae Ōba held out on Saipan until this date. A Japanese film about Captain Sakae Ōba titled "Oba: The Last Samurai" was released in 2011.

1946: End of East Field Airbase Military Use

In 1946, the military use of East Field airbase ended.

1960: Release of the Movie "Hell to Eternity"

In 1960, the movie "Hell to Eternity" was released. It tells the true story of GI Guy Gabaldon, who convinced 800 Japanese soldiers to surrender during the WWII Battle of Saipan.

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1962: Naval Advance Base Saipan

From 1962 to 1986, the Naval Advance Base Saipan was the headquarters for the U.N. Trusteeship.

1975: Northern Mariana islanders voted to join the United States

In 1975, the Northern Mariana islanders voted to join the United States.

1978: Saipan becomes a municipality

In 1978, Saipan became a municipality of the newly-formed Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

1978: Saipan joins the United States

In 1978, Saipan formally joined the United States as part of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

November 5, 1983: Establishment of Japanese Community School of Saipan

On November 5, 1983, the Japanese Community School of Saipan (Saipan Nihonjin Hoshūkō) was established. It's operated by the Japanese Society of the Northern Marianas and provides supplementary Japanese education.

November 4, 1986: Islanders become US citizens

On November 4, 1986, the islanders of the Northern Marianas, including Saipan, became United States citizens, and the Northern Marianas formally became a part of the United States of America.

1986: Naval Advance Base Saipan

From 1962 to 1986, the Naval Advance Base Saipan was the headquarters for the U.N. Trusteeship.

1991: Levi Strauss labor scandal

In 1991, Levi Strauss & Co. faced a scandal involving "slavelike" conditions in six subsidiary factories run by Tan Holdings Corporation on Saipan, with Chinese laborers enduring sub-minimal wages, long hours, poor living conditions, and other indignities.

1995: Abramoff and law firm paid by CNMI

From 1995 to 2001, Jack Abramoff and his law firm were paid at least $6.7 million by the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) to influence Congressional action.

1998: Garment industry exports

By 1998, Saipan's garment industry exported close to $1 billion worth of apparel products to the mainland U.S.

1999: Class-action lawsuits filed

In 1999, multiple organizations and garment workers filed three separate class-action suits on behalf of roughly 30,000 garment workers in Saipan against U.S. retailers and Saipan garment factories.

2000: United States Census

According to the 2000 United States census, the population on Saipan was higher than it was in 2010. The 2010 United States census showed Saipan's population decreased by 22.7% from the 2000 US Census.

2001: Abramoff and law firm paid by CNMI

From 1995 to 2001, Jack Abramoff and his law firm were paid at least $6.7 million by the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) to influence Congressional action.

2002: "The Saipan Incident" during the 2002 FIFA World Cup

In 2002, Saipan was the site of the Republic of Ireland national football team's training camp prior to the FIFA World Cup. An argument between Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy led to Keane's dismissal, an event known as "the Saipan incident."

2002: Release of the film "Windtalkers"

In 2002, the film "Windtalkers" was released. Much of the action takes place during the invasion of Saipan during World War II.

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2004: Settlement in garment worker lawsuit

By 2004, a 20 million dollar settlement was reached against all but one of the defendants in lawsuits filed on behalf of garment workers in Saipan. Levi Strauss & Co. won their case in 2004.

2005: Expiration of GATT

In 2005, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) expired, eliminating quotas on textile exports to the United States, which led to the closure of garment factories in Saipan.

2005: Saipan labor practices brought up

In 2005–2006, the issue of immigration and labor practices on Saipan was brought up during the American political scandals of Congressman Tom DeLay and lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who visited the island on numerous occasions.

2006: Saipan labor practices brought up

2006: Stillwell bribery

In 2006, Roger Stillwell, a Department of the Interior official, pleaded guilty to accepting gifts from Jack Abramoff.

February 8, 2007: Senate Committee testimony

On February 8, 2007, the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources received testimony about federalizing CNMI labor and immigration.

March 2007: Garment factories operating on Saipan

By March 2007, 19 companies manufactured garments on Saipan.

April 30, 2007: Human Trafficking in CNMI

During the twelve-month period ending on April 30, 2007, Guma' Esperansa, a women's shelter, admitted or served 36 female victims of human trafficking who were in the sex trade. The CNMI's local control over immigration has resulted in a proportionally greater human trafficking problem than in the rest of the U.S.

July 19, 2007: Senate testimony

On July 19, 2007, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Insular Affairs David B. Cohen testified before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Regarding S. 1634 (The Northern Mariana Islands Covenant Implementation Act).

December 7, 2007: Unity March for Labor and Immigration Reform

On December 7, 2007, worker groups organized a successful Unity march as part of a movement to federalize labor and immigration in the Northern Marianas Islands.

2007: Publication of "Nobodies: Modern American Slave Labor and the Dark Side of the New Global Economy"

In 2007, John Bowe's book "Nobodies: Modern American Slave Labor and the Dark Side of the New Global Economy" focused on Saipan, detailing the exploitative garment industry, corruption, and poverty issues on the island.

May 8, 2008: President Bush Signs PL 110-229 into Law

On May 8, 2008, President Bush signed PL 110-229 into law, despite lobbying efforts by Governor Fitial to stop it. This law initiated the U.S. immigration takeover, which began on November 28, 2009.

January 15, 2009: Last garment factory closes

On January 15, 2009, the island's last garment factory shuttered its doors.

November 28, 2009: Federal control of immigration

On November 28, 2009, the federal government took control of immigration to the Northern Mariana Islands.

2009: Publication of "Chicken Feathers and Garlic Skin: Diary of a Chinese Garment Factory Girl on Saipan"

In 2009, Chun Yu Wang's book, "Chicken Feathers and Garlic Skin: Diary of a Chinese Garment Factory Girl on Saipan" (as told to Walt F.J. Goodridge) was published. The book provides a first-hand account of factory work conditions and life in the barracks, as well as a historical timeline of the garment factory era on Saipan, and insights from a Chinese perspective into the experience of garment factory workers.

2010: United States Census Reports Population Decrease

According to the 2010 United States census, Saipan's population was 48,220, a 22.7% decrease from the 2000 US Census. This decline is attributed to working immigrants returning home after the collapse of the garment industry or moving to other locations with better economic opportunities.

2010: Saipan Demographics According to 2010 Census

According to the 2010 United States census, the population of Saipan was 50.9% Asian, 34.9% Pacific Islander, 2.1% White and 0.2% others.

2010: Ferry service halted

In 2010, the ferry service between Saipan and Tinian was halted, reportedly for maintenance, and was never reinstated.

2011: Release of "Oba: The Last Samurai"

In 2011, the Japanese film "Oba: The Last Samurai" was released. The film is about Captain Sakae Ōba, who held out on Saipan until December 1, 1945.

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2014: Casino license granted to Imperial Pacific

In 2014, Imperial Pacific was granted a 25-year license to build and operate casinos on Saipan with an option to extend the license for another 15 years.

2015: Super Typhoon Soudelor hits Saipan

In 2015, Super Typhoon Soudelor hit Saipan, causing extensive damage to houses and commercial property.

2016: Imperial Pacific International largest taxpayer

As of 2016, Imperial Pacific International Holdings was reportedly the largest taxpayer in Saipan.

2016: Release of "Gehenna: Where Death Lives"

In 2016, the horror film "Gehenna: Where Death Lives", directed by Hiroshi Katagiri, was released on Netflix. The film follows American developers who encounter a supernatural entity in a WWII bunker while searching for land to build their resort.

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March 23, 2017: Death of Construction Worker and Subsequent Investigation

On March 23, 2017, a Chinese construction worker for Imperial Pacific died after falling off a scaffold, leading the FBI to search Imperial Pacific's offices and make an arrest.

2017: Release of Marianas music album

In 2017, 11th World Productions released Music Of The Marianas: Made In Saipan Vol.1, an album featuring 20 songs from various CNMI artists.

February 15, 2018: Bloomberg Businessweek Publishes Investigative Report

On February 15, 2018, Bloomberg Businessweek published an investigative report regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of a construction worker, leading to a lawsuit by Imperial Pacific for defamation.

August 2018: Imperial Pacific Resort completion deadline

The Imperial Pacific Resort complex was originally scheduled to be completed by August 2018.

October 18, 2018: Typhoon Yutu Makes Landfall on Saipan

On October 18, 2018, Typhoon Yutu, the second strongest typhoon to ever hit U.S. territory, made landfall on Saipan. It brought sustained winds of 130 mph and gusts up to 190 mph, causing significant damage.

2018: Super Typhoon Yutu hits Saipan

In 2018, Super Typhoon Yutu hit Saipan, causing widespread damage.

June 2019: Imperial Pacific Resort unfinished

As of June 2019, the Imperial Pacific Resort remained unfinished.

2020: Saipan population estimate

In 2020, the United States Census Bureau estimated the population of Saipan to be 43,385.

2024: Julian Assange pleads guilty in Saipan

In 2024, Julian Assange visited Saipan briefly to plead guilty in the federal courthouse of the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands, to conspiracy to obtain and disclose US national defense information.