Monrovia is the
capital cityCapital City was a television show produced by Euston Films which focused on the lives of investment bankers in London living and working on the corporate trading floor for the fictional international bank Shane-Longman....
of the
West AfricaWest Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries distributed over an area of approximately 5 million square km:*Benin...
n nation of
LiberiaLiberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the west coast of Africa, bordered by Sierra Leone, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, and the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2008 Census, the nation is home to 3,476,608 people and covers ....
. Located on the
Atlantic CoastThe Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about 106.4 million square kilometres , it covers approximately one-fifth of the Earth's surface and about one-quarter of its water surface area. The first part of its name refers to the Atlas of Greek...
at
Cape MesuradoCape Mesurado is a headland on the coast of Liberia near the capital Monrovia and the mouth of the Saint Paul River. It was named Cape Mesurado by Portuguese sailors in the 1560s...
, it lies within
Montserrado CountyMontserrado County is a county in the northwestern portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has four districts. Bensonville serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring , the smallest...
, 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 MonroeJames Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . His administration was marked by the acquisition of Florida ; the Missouri Compromise , in which Missouri was declared a slave state; the admission of Maine in 1820 as a free state; and the profession of the Monroe Doctrine , declaring U.S...
, a prominent supporter of the colonization of Liberia. Monrovia was founded thirty years after Freetown, Sierra Leone, the first permanent African American settlement in Africa. The city's economy is dominated by its
harborA harbor or harbour , or haven, is a place where ships may shelter from the weather or are stored. Harbors can be man-made or natural. A man-made harbor will have sea walls or breakwaters and may require dredging. A natural harbor is surrounded on most sides by land.Harbors and ports are often...
, and government offices. Monrovia's harbor was significantly expanded by
U.S.The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
forces during the Second World War and the main exports include
latexLatex refers generically to a stable dispersion of polymer microparticles in an aqueous medium. Latexes may be natural or synthetic. Latex as found in nature is a milky sap-like fluid within many plants that coagulates on exposure to air. It is a complex emulsion in which proteins, alkaloids,...
and
iron oreIron ores are rocks and minerals from which metallic iron can be economically extracted. The ores are usually rich in iron oxides and vary in color from dark grey, bright yellow, deep purple, to rusty red. The iron itself is usually found in the form of magnetite , hematite , goethite, limonite or...
. Materials are also manufactured on-site, such as
cementIn the most general sense of the word, a cement is a binder, a substance which sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together. The word "cement" traces to the Romans, who used the term "opus caementicium" to describe masonry which resembled concrete and was made from crushed...
, refined
petroleumPetroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid found in rock formations in the Earth consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights, plus other organic compounds.The term "petroleum" was first used in the treatise De Natura Fossilium, published in...
, food products,
brickA brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using mortar.-History:The oldest shaped bricks found date back to 7,500 B.C. They have been found in Çayönü, in the upper Tigris region, and in south east Anatolia close to Diyarbakir. Other more recent findings,...
s and
tileA tile is a manufactured piece of hard-wearing material such as ceramic, stone, metal, or even glass. Tiles are generally used for covering roofs, floors, and walls, showers, or other objects such as tabletops...
s,
furnitureFurniture is the mass noun for the movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating and sleeping in beds, to hold objects at a convenient height for work using horizontal surfaces above the ground, or to store things...
and
chemicalsThe chemical industry comprises the companies that produce industrial chemicals. It is central to modern world economy, converting raw materials into more than 70,000 different products.-Products:...
. Located near the confluence of the
MesuradoMesurado 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:*...
and
Saint PaulThe 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 or Niandi River, and forms part of the boundary between Guinea and Liberia. The river then enters Liberia about 50 km north of Gbarnga and crosses...
rivers, the harbor also has facilities for storing and repairing vessels.
History
The area was already inhabited when it was named
Cape MesuradoCape Mesurado is a headland on the coast of Liberia near the capital Monrovia and the mouth of the Saint Paul River. It was named Cape Mesurado by Portuguese sailors in the 1560s...
by
PortuguesePortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic , is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of mainland Europe and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south and by Spain to the north and east...
sailorA sailor or mariner is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses...
s 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
FreetownFreetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country and with a population of 1,070,200. The city is the economic and financial center of Sierra Leone...
, the first settlers from the United States under the auspices of the
American Colonization SocietyThe American Colonization Society was the primary vehicle for proposals to return black Americans to greater freedom in Africa, and helped to found the colony of Liberia in 1821–22, as a place to send people who were formerly enslaved. Liberia is situated on the coast of West Africa...
arrived in Africa in 1821. They landed at
Sherbro IslandSherbro Island, is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, located in Bonthe District off the Southern Province of Sierra Leone. The Sherbro make up by far the largest ethnic group in the island....
in present-day
Sierra LeoneSierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea in the north, Liberia in the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean in the southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has a population estimated at 6.4 million...
. The undertaking was a shambles and many settlers died. In 1822, a second ship rescued the settlers and took them to
Cape MesuradoCape Mesurado is a headland on the coast of Liberia near the capital Monrovia and the mouth of the Saint Paul River. It was named Cape Mesurado by Portuguese sailors in the 1560s...
, establishing the settlement of
Christopolis. In 1824, the city was renamed to
Monrovia after
James MonroeJames Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . His administration was marked by the acquisition of Florida ; the Missouri Compromise , in which Missouri was declared a slave state; the admission of Maine in 1820 as a free state; and the profession of the Monroe Doctrine , declaring U.S...
, then
President of the United StatesThe President of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in the United States by influence and recognition...
, and a prominent supporter of the colony in sending freed African-American slaves to Liberia, saw it as preferable than
emancipationEmancipation means the act of setting an individual or social group free or making equal to citizens in a political society.Emancipation may also refer to:* Emancipation , a 1996 music album by Prince...
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-LiberianAmerico-Liberians are a Liberian ethnicity of African American descent. The sister ethnic group of Americo Liberians are the Sierra Leone Creole people who are of African American, West Indian, and liberated African descent...
population resided and was reminiscent of the
Southern United StatesThe Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, Down South, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive region in the southeastern and south-central United States...
in architecture; and (2) Krutown, which was mainly inhabited by ethnic
KruThe Kru are an ethnic group who live in interior of Liberia. Their history is one marked by a strong sense of ethnicity and resistance to occupation. In 1856 when part of Liberia was still known as the independent Republic of Maryland, the Kru along with the Grebo resisted Maryland settlers'...
s but also
BassaBassa may refer to:*Three unrelated ethnic groups of West Africa:** Bassa ** Bassa *** Bassa language is a member of the Kru languages family.** Bassa *Places**Bassa, Kogi State, Nigeria**Bassa, Plateau State, Nigeria...
s,
GreboGrebo was a United Kingdom subculture of the late 1980s and early 1990s, largely based in the English Midlands.Influential bands in the scene were Pop Will Eat Itself , The Wonder Stuff, Ned's Atomic Dustbin and Leicester bands Crazyhead, The Bomb Party, The Hunters Club, Scum Pups and Gaye Bykers...
s 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.
In 1979, the
Organisation of African UnityThe Organisation of African Unity or Organisation de l'Unité Africaine was established on 25 May 1963. It was disbanded on 9 July 2002 by its last chairperson, South African President Thabo Mbeki, and replaced by the African Union .-Aims:The OAU had two primary aims:* To promote the unity and...
held their conference in the Monrovia area, with then president William R. Tolbert as chairman. During his term, Tolbert improved
public housingPublic housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority, which may be central or local. Social housing is an umbrella term referring to rental housing which may be owned and managed by the state, by not-for-profit organizations, or by a combination of...
in Monrovia and decreased by 50% the tuition fees at the
University of LiberiaThe University of Liberia is a publicly funded institution of higher learning located in Monrovia, Liberia. Authorized by the national government in 1851, the school opened in 1863 as Liberia College and became a university in 1951. The school is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning...
. A military coup led by
Samuel DoeSamuel Kanyon Doe was the President of Liberia from 1980 to 1990. His regime was characterized by ethnically-based dictatorship and the suppression of political opposition....
ousted the Tolbert government in 1980, with many members being executed.
The city was severely damaged in the
Liberian Civil War-Background:Samuel Doe, the President of Liberia, had taken power in a popular coup of 1980 but opposition from abroad to his undemocratic regime led to economic collapse...
, notably during the
siege of MonroviaThe Siege of Monrovia, which occurred in Monrovia, Liberia between July 18 and August 14 2003, was a major military confrontation between the Armed Forces of Liberia and LURD rebels during the Second Liberian Civil War. The shelling of the city resulted in the deaths of some 1,000 civilians....
, with many buildings damaged and nearly all the infrastructure destroyed. Major battles occurred between Samuel Doe's government and
Prince JohnsonPrince Yormie Johnson is a Liberian political and former military figure. He was elected to serve as a Senator in the Liberian congress in the historic 2005 election. "Prince" is a common given name for males in Liberia, rather than a royal title.Johnson was born in Nimba County, in the...
's forces in 1990 and with the NPFL's assault on the city in 1992. A legacy of the war is a large population of homeless children and youths, either having been involved in the fighting or denied an education by it.
Economy
The city's economy is dominated by its harbour. Monrovia is Liberia's
financial centreA financial centre is a global city that is a company and business hub, as well as being home to many world famous banks and/or stock exchanges....
. The
Central Bank of LiberiaThe Central Bank of Liberia is Liberia's central bank. Its current executive governor is Mr J Mills Jones.The offices of the bank are located in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia.-History:...
is based in Monrovia.
Government
The city is home to the Monrovia City Corporation, which runs many services inside the city.
Geography
Monrovia lies on a
peninsulaA peninsula is a piece of land that is nearly surrounded by water but connected to mainland via an isthmus. Word origin: Latin paenīnsula : paene, almost + īnsula, island.A peninsula can also be a headland, cape, island promontory, bill, point, or spit....
, between the
Atlantic OceanThe Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about 106.4 million square kilometres , it covers approximately one-fifth of the Earth's surface and about one-quarter of its water surface area. The first part of its name refers to the Atlas of Greek...
and the
Mesurado RiverMesurado 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:*...
and is a major
port||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-|}A port is a facility for receiving ships and/or transferring cargo. It is usually found at the edge of an ocean, sea, river, or lake. The best ports have deep water in channels or berths, and protection from the wind and waves...
. The
Saint Paul RiverThe 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 or Niandi River, and forms part of the boundary between Guinea and Liberia. The river then enters Liberia about 50 km north of Gbarnga and crosses...
lies directly North of the city. Monrovia is located at . Monrovia is Liberia's largest city and its administrative, commercial and financial centre.
The city is located in
Montserrado CountyMontserrado County is a county in the northwestern portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has four districts. Bensonville serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring , the smallest...
however the small town of
BensonvilleBensonville is the capital city of Montserrado County, Liberia. The capital of Liberia, Monrovia, is also located in Montserrado County. Bensonville is located 20 miles from Monrovia. It is a commercial center for the surrounding agricultural area....
is actually the capital of Montserrado County.
Climate
Under the
Koppen climate classificationThe Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by the Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself notably in 1918 and 1936...
, Monrovia features a
Tropical monsoon climateTropical monsoon climate, occasionally also known as a tropical wet climate or tropical monsoon and trade-wind littoral climate, is a relatively rare type of climate that corresponds to the category Am under the Köppen climate classification...
. 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 seasonThe wet season, or rainy season, is the time of year, covering one or more months, when most of the average annual rainfall in a region falls. The term green season is also sometimes used as a euphemism by tourist authorities. Areas with wet seasons are dispersed across portions of the tropics...
and a
dry seasonThe dry season is a term commonly used when describing the weather in the tropics. The weather in the tropics is dominated by the tropical rain belt, which oscillates from the northern to the southern tropics over the course of the year...
, 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 MuseumThe National Museum of Liberia is a national museum in Monrovia, Liberia. Initially housed in the First Executive Mansion on Ashmond Street of the city which is now used as a library, it was established by an Act of the National Legislature in 1958 under the administration of Liberia's 18th...
, the now ruined Masonic Temple, the Waterside Market (currently closed), cultural centre on Providence Island and several
beachA beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of a body of water. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles, or cobblestones...
es. It is also home to a
zooA zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred....
. The city also houses
Antoinette Tubman StadiumAntoinette Tubman Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Monrovia, Liberia. It is used mostly for football matches. It has a capacity of 10,000 people...
and the
National ComplexSamuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex is a multi-purpose stadium in Paynesville, Liberia built in 1986. It is used mostly for football matches and it also has an athletics track. Spectator capacity is 30,000 people. In September 2005 a 7.6 million dollars renovation project began...
sports stadiums. The National Complex is one of the largest stadiums in Africa, with
seatsStadium seating is a technique used in performing-arts venues, educational facilities, religious institutions , and movie theaters to allow more guests to see an event with less blockage than traditional seating...
for 40,000.
Numerous
tabloidA tabloid is an industry term for a smaller newspaper format per spread; to a weekly or semi-weekly alternative newspaper that focuses on local-interest stories and entertainment, often distributed free of charge ; or to a newspaper that tends to sensationalize and emphasize or exaggerate or...
style newspapers are printed on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, most of which are no more than 20 pages. Radio and TV stations are available, with radio being a more prominent source of news as problems with the
electric gridAn electrical grid is an interconnected network for delivering electricity from suppliers to consumers.-Overview:When referring to the power industry, "grid" is a term used for an electricity network which may support all or some of the following three distinct operations:#Electricity...
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 2/3rds of the population.
STAR radioSTAR radio is a FM radio station in the West African nation of Liberia. Founded in 1997, it is independent of the country’s government. Headquartered in Monrovia, it broadcasts at the 104 FM frequency and via shortwave radio.-History:...
broadcasts at 104 FM.
The Daily Talk is a compilation of news items and Bible quotations written up daily on a roadside
blackboardBlackboard may refer to:* Chalkboard, a reusable writing surface* Blackboard system, an area of shared memory, or workspace, in Computer Science* Blackboard bold, a style of typeface often used for certain symbols in mathematics and physics texts...
in the
SinkorSinkor is a section of the Monrovia metropolitan area in Liberia. It is the location of the Spriggs Payne Airport. United Nations Mission in Liberia has its headquarters in Sinkor...
region of Monrovia.
Education
Monrovia is home to the
University of LiberiaThe University of Liberia is a publicly funded institution of higher learning located in Monrovia, Liberia. Authorized by the national government in 1851, the school opened in 1863 as Liberia College and became a university in 1951. The school is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning...
, along with
Cuttington College and Divinity SchoolCuttington University is a private university in Suacoco, Liberia. Founded in 1889 as Cuttington College by Episcopal Church of the United States , it is the oldest private, coeducational, four-year, degree-granting institution in sub-Saharan Africa.-History:In 1887, Robert Fulton Cutting,...
and many public and private schools.
Infrastructure
Boats link the city's
Freeport of MonroviaFreeport 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, with three of the four berths in operation. A...
, the country's busiest port, with
GreenvilleGreenville, also known as Sinoe, is the capital of Sinoe County in southeastern Liberia and lies on a lagoon near the Sinoe River and the Atlantic Ocean...
and
HarperHarper, situated on Cape Palmas, is the capital of Maryland County in Liberia. It is a coastal town situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Hoffman River. Harper is Liberia's 11th largest town, with a population of 17,837....
. The nearest airport is
Roberts International AirportRoberts International Airport is an airport in the West African nation of Liberia. Located near the town of Harbel, the single runway airport is about 35 miles outside of the nation's capital of Monrovia, and as an origin and destination point is referred to as "Monrovia" in popular usage...
(the only international airport in Liberia), 60 km (40 mi) away at Robertsfield. The city is connected with the rest of the country via a network of roads and railways. Monrovia is listed as the home port by between ten and fifteen percent of the world's merchant shipping, registered in Liberia under
Flag of ConvenienceA ship is said to be flying a flag of convenience if it is registered in a foreign country "for purposes of reducing operating costs or avoiding government regulations"....
arrangements. Both private taxis and minibuses run in the city, and are supplemented by larger buses run by the
Monrovia Transit AuthorityThe Monrovia Transit Authority is a publicly owned company started in Monrovia, Liberia, to provide timetabled bus services in the capital city. Operations ceased prior to the war. The Authority owns and runs a depot outside of Monrovia in Gardnersville. The general manager of the MTA is Obedia...
. Prior to the wars, the
Mount Coffee Hydropower ProjectThe Mount Coffee Hydropower Project is a hydroelectric project in the West African nation of Liberia on the Saint Paul River. Built in 1966 with additional phases completed later, the project had a maximum generating capacity of 64 MW. The Walter F...
provided electricity and drinking water to the city.
Neighborhoods
Over twenty neighborhoods crisscross Monrovia, home to not only Monrovians but residents from all fifteen counties. Several poor neighborhoods on Bushrod Island and Red Light Junction were developed as a direct consequences of
Liberian Civil War-Background:Samuel Doe, the President of Liberia, had taken power in a popular coup of 1980 but opposition from abroad to his undemocratic regime led to economic collapse...
. Reconstruction of roads, buildings and bridges have occurred in several neighborhoods in post war years. Newer neighborhoods several suburban towns and townships that have helped to alleviate large population within the original city limits. Today, many of these neighborhoods have been incorporated into the larger Monrovia metropolitan area.
- Sinkor
Sinkor is a section of the Monrovia metropolitan area in Liberia. It is the location of the Spriggs Payne Airport. United Nations Mission in Liberia has its headquarters in Sinkor...
- Paynesville
Paynesville may refer to:Australia*Paynesville, VictoriaLiberia*Paynesville, LiberiaUnited States*Paynesville, California*Paynesville, Indiana*Paynesville, Minnesota*Paynesville, Missouri*Paynesville Township, Minnesota...
- Banjoa
- Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" because it is the birthplace of eight U.S. presidents. The geography and climate of the state are shaped by the Blue...
- Congo Town
Congo Town is a town located in South Andros, part of Andros Island in the Bahamas.-See also:* List of cities in the Bahamas* Districts of the Bahamas* Islands of the Bahamas...
- Jocab Town
- Toe Town
- Kru Town
- Vai Town
- Red Light
Red Light is a 1949 crime film, considered film noir, shot on location in California. This unusual revenge film has an overtly religious theme.-Plot:...
- Waterside
-Places:In the United Kingdom:*Waterside, Aberdeen*Waterside, Ayr*Waterside, Buckinghamshire*Waterside, Cumbria*Waterside, Derry*Waterside, East Dunbartonshire*Waterside, Lancashire*Waterside, Renfrew...
- Mamba Point
- Clara Town
Clara Town is a suburb of Monrovia, located on Bushrod Island in Liberia. It is mainly known as the birthplace of soccer star George Weah.- References :...
- Logan Town
- Doin Town
- New Georgia
New Georgia is the largest island of the Western Province of the Solomon Islands. It is in the New Georgia Group, an archipelago including most of the other larger islands in the province...
- Gardnersville
- Fanti Town
- Dwahn Town
- Westpoint
- Topoe Village
- Bakoi
- Mateley
- Jatuja
- Tomo
Tomo may refer to:*TomoTherapy, a manufacturer of medical equipment*Yeshiva Toras Moshe, a yeshiva in Israel often called To-MoIn fiction:*Tomo, a character from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace...
- Barekling
- Barnersville
- Dixville
- Crown Hill
Crown Hill may refer to:*Crown Hill, Indianapolis**Crown Hill Cemetery, in Indianapolis*Crown Hill, Ontario*Crown Hill, Seattle, Washington*Crown Hill Park in Colorado...
External links