Monrovia

:For alternate meanings, see Monrovia (disambiguation).

Name	Monrovia
Official name	City of Monrovia
Native name
Settlement type	City
Total type
Dot x	|dot_y =
Pushpin map	Liberia
Pushpin label position
Pushpin map caption	Location within Liberia, West Africa
Coordinates region	LR
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name
Subdivision type1	County
Subdivision name1	Montserrado County
Subdivision type2	District
Parts style
Parts
P2
Leader title	Mayor
Leader name	Mary Broh
Leader title1
Established title	Established
Established date	April 25, 1822
Named for	James Monroe -U.S. President
Unit pref	Imperial
Area total km2
Area land km2
Elevation footnotes
Population as of	2008
Population metro	1,010,970
Timezone	GMT
Utc offset	+0
Coor type
Postal code type

Monrovia is the capital city of the West African nation of Liberia. Located on the Atlantic Coast at Cape Mesurado, it lies within Montserrado County, the most populous county in Liberia. The metropolitan area, with a population of 1,010,970 in the Greater Monrovia District as of the 2008 census, contains 29% of the total population of Liberia and is the country's most populous city. Monrovia is the cultural, political and financial hub for the entire country.

Founded in 1822, Monrovia is named in honor of U.S. President James Monroe, a prominent supporter of the colonization of Liberia. Along with Washington, D.C., it is the only other national capital to be named after a U.S. President. Monrovia was founded thirty years after Freetown, Sierra Leone, the first permanent Black American settlement in Africa. The city's economy is dominated by its harbor, and government offices. Monrovia's harbor was significantly expanded by U.S. forces during the Second World War and the main exports include latex and iron ore. Materials are also manufactured on-site, such as cement, refined petroleum, food products, bricks and tiles, furniture and chemicals. Located near the confluence of the Mesurado and Saint Paul rivers, the harbor also has facilities for storing and repairing vessels.

History

The area was already inhabited when it was named Cape Mesurado by Portuguese sailors in the 1560s. With the aim of establishing a self-sufficient colony for emancipated American survivors of slavery, something that had already been accomplished in Freetown, the first settlers from the United States under the auspices of the American Colonization Society arrived in Africa in 1821. They landed at Sherbro Island in present-day Sierra Leone. The undertaking was a shambles and many settlers died. In 1822, a second ship rescued the settlers and took them to Cape Mesurado, establishing the settlement of Christopolis. In 1824, the city was renamed to Monrovia after James Monroe, then President of the United States, and a prominent supporter of the colony in sending freed Black slaves to Liberia, saw it as preferable than emancipation in America. It is the only non-American capital city named after a U.S. President.

In 1845, Monrovia was the site of the constitutional convention held by the American Colonization Society which drafted the constitution that would two years later be the constitution of an independent and sovereign Republic of Liberia.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Monrovia was divided into two parts: (1) Monrovia proper, where the city's Americo-Liberian population resided and was reminiscent of the Southern United States in architecture; and (2) Krutown, which was mainly inhabited by ethnic Krus but also Bassas, Grebos and other tribes. Of the 4,000 residents, 2,500 were Americo-Liberian. By 1926, ethnic groups from Liberia's interior began migrating to Monrovia in search of jobs. This movement helped bring an end to the Second Liberian Civil War in 2003 and the election of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in Liberia, the first African nation with a female president.

Economy

The city's economy is dominated by its harbour, the Freeport of Monrovia. Monrovia is Liberia's financial centre. The Central Bank of Liberia is based in Monrovia.

Government

The city is home to the Monrovia City Corporation, which runs many services inside the city.

Former mayors include: W. F. Nelson, 1870s C. T. O. King, 1880s and served three terms H. A. Williams, 1890s Gabriel M. Johnson, 1920s Nathan C. Ross, 1956-1969 Ellen A. Sandimanie, 1970s and first woman to hold the position

Ophelia Hoff Saytumah, 2001–2009

Geography

Monrovia lies along the Cape Mesurado peninsula, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mesurado River, whose mouth forms a large natural harbor. The Saint Paul River lies directly north of the city and forms the northern boundary of Bushrod Island, which is reached by crossing the "New Bridge" from downtown Monrovia. Monrovia is located at . Monrovia is Liberia's largest city and its administrative, commercial and financial center.

The city is located in Montserrado County however the small town of Bensonville is actually the capital of Montserrado County.

Climate

Under the Köppen climate classification, Monrovia features a tropical monsoon climate. During the course of the year Monrovia sees a copious amount of precipitation. Monrovia averages 5,140 mm (202.3 in.) of rain per year. The climate features a wet season and a dry season, but precipitation is seen even during the dry season. Temperatures remain constant throughout the year averaging around 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit).

Culture and media

Attractions in Monrovia include the Liberian National Museum, the Masonic Temple, the Waterside Market, and several beaches. The city also houses Antoinette Tubman Stadium and the Samuel K. Doe Sports Complex sports stadiums. The arena at Samuel K. Doe is one of the largest stadiums in Africa, with seats for 40,000.

The newspaper industry in Monrovia extends back to the 1820s, when the Liberia Herald opened as one of the first newspapers published in Africa. Today, numerous tabloid style newspapers are printed on daily or bi-weekly basis, most of which are no more than 20 pages. The Daily Talk is a compilation of news items and Bible quotations written up daily on a roadside blackboard in the Sinkor section of Monrovia.

Radio and TV stations are available, with radio being a more prominent source of news as problems with the electric grid make watching television more difficult. UNMIL Radio has been broadcasting since October 1, 2003. It is the first radio station in Liberia to broadcast 24 hours a day, and reaches an estimated of the population. The state-owned Liberia Broadcasting System broadcasts nationwide from its headquarters in Monrovia. STAR radio broadcasts at 104 FM.

Education

Monrovia is home to the University of Liberia, along with Cuttington College and Divinity School and many public and private schools. Medical education is offered at the A.M. Dogliotti College of Medicine, and there is a nursing and paramedical school at the Tubman National Institute of Medical Arts.

K-12 education is provided by the Monrovia Consolidated School System, which serves the Greater Monrovia area. Schools include Monrovia Central High School, Bostwain High School, D. Twe High School, G. W. Gibson High School and William V. S. Tubman High School.

Infrastructure

Boats link the city's Freeport of Monrovia, the country's busiest port, with Greenville and Harper. The nearest airport is Spriggs Payne Airport, located less than four miles from the city center. Roberts International Airport, the largest international airport in Liberia, is 60 km (40 mi) away in Harbel.

Neighborhoods

The city of Monrovia consists of several districts, spread across the Mesurado peninsula, with the greater Metropolitan area encircling the marshy Mesurado river's mouth. The historic downtown, centered around Broad Street, is at the very end of the peninsula, with the major market district, Waterside, immediately to the north, facing the city's large natural harbor. Northwest of Waterside is the large, low-income West Point community. To the west/southwest of downtown lies Mamba Point, traditionally the city's principal diplomatic quarter, and home to the Embassies of the United States and United Kingdom as well as the European Union Delegation. South of the city center is Capitol Hill, where the major institutions of national government, including the Temple of Justice and the Executive Mansion, are located. Further east down the peninsula is the Sinkor section of Monrovia. Originally a suburban residential district, today Sinkor acts as Monrovia's bustling mid-town, hosting many diplomatic missions, as well as major hotels, businesses, as well as several residential neighborhoods, including informal communities such as Plumkor, Jorkpentown, Lakpazee and Fiamah. Sinkor is also home to the city's secondary airport, Spriggs-Payne, and the area immediately nearby, called Airfield, is a major nightlife district for the whole city. Further east of the Airfield is the Old Road section of Sinkor, which is predominantly residential, including informal settlements like Chugbor and Gaye Town. At the southeasterly base of the peninsula is the independent township of Congo Town, and to its east is the large suburb of Paynesville. Other suburbs such as Barnersville and New Georgia lie to the north, across the river.

Bakoi

Banjoa

Barekling

Barnersville

Bassa Community

Buzzi Quarters

Clara Town

Congo Town

Crown Hill

Dixville

Doin Town

Dwahn Town

Fanti Town

Fiahmah

Gardnersville

Georkpantown

Jatuja

Jacob Town

Jallah Town

Larkpasie

Logan Town

Mamba Point

Mateley

New Georgia

New Kru Town

Old Road

Paynesville

Plunkor

Point Four

Red Light

Sinkor

Slipway

Snapper Hill

South Beach

Toe Town

Tomo

Topoe Village

Vai Town

Virginia

Waterside

Westpoint

See also

History of Liberia

References

External links

Photos of Monrovia

MSN Map

City Map

Category:African American establishments Category:Capitals in Africa Category:James Monroe Category:Mesurado River Category:Montserrado County Category:Populated places established in the 1820s Category:Populated places in Liberia Category:Port cities in Africa Category:Saint Paul River