Bushrod Island
Encyclopedia
Bushrod Island is an island near Monrovia
, Liberia
surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean
, the Saint Paul River
and the Mesurado River
. It contains the Freeport of Monrovia
, the major national port of Liberia and a variety of businesses. It also contains numerous residential areas and government buildings. Its proximity to the capital and industrial base make it an important commercial area for the country. End Point is a geographical feature on north end of Bushrod Island.
Bushrod Island was occupied by the Dei people from the 16th century until the early 19th century. Gawulun was the chief town of the Dei on the island, and served as the capitol of the Dei when "King Peter" was selected as the chief spokesman for his fellow Dei chiefs in 1819. In the late 1820s the community of New Georgia
was established on Bushrod Island by people who had been freed from a slave ship in 1820, and kept in Georgia
in the United States until 1827. In 1878 a community of Vai people (called "Vei Town" by Williams) was located on Bushrod Island across the Mesurado River from Monrovia, while a few miles up the river on the island the community of New Georgia had about 500 residents.
Monrovia
Monrovia is the capital city of the West African nation of Liberia. Located on the Atlantic Coast at Cape Mesurado, it lies geographically within Montserrado County, but is administered separately...
, Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
, the Saint Paul River
Saint Paul River
The Saint Paul River is a river of western Africa. Its headwaters are in southeastern Guinea. Its upper portion in Guinea is known as the Diani River or Niandi River, and forms part of the boundary between Guinea and Liberia. The river then enters Liberia about north of Gbarnga and crosses...
and the Mesurado River
Mesurado River
Mesurado River is a river of Liberia. It flows through the capital of Monrovia and is crossed by the People’s Bridge, built in the 1970s..-External links:*...
. It contains the Freeport of Monrovia
Freeport of Monrovia
Freeport of Monrovia is the main commercial port facility in the West African nation of Liberia. The port was artificially created on Bushrod Island near Monrovia in 1948. The port facility contains four piers and one main wharf with four berths. The port also has tanker facilities and a fishery...
, the major national port of Liberia and a variety of businesses. It also contains numerous residential areas and government buildings. Its proximity to the capital and industrial base make it an important commercial area for the country. End Point is a geographical feature on north end of Bushrod Island.
Bushrod Island was occupied by the Dei people from the 16th century until the early 19th century. Gawulun was the chief town of the Dei on the island, and served as the capitol of the Dei when "King Peter" was selected as the chief spokesman for his fellow Dei chiefs in 1819. In the late 1820s the community of New Georgia
New Georgia, Liberia
New Georgia is a township in Montserrado County, Liberia that was first settled by Africans who had been taken from slave ships seized or wrecked near the United States and then sent to Liberia after several years had passed....
was established on Bushrod Island by people who had been freed from a slave ship in 1820, and kept in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
in the United States until 1827. In 1878 a community of Vai people (called "Vei Town" by Williams) was located on Bushrod Island across the Mesurado River from Monrovia, while a few miles up the river on the island the community of New Georgia had about 500 residents.