Grand Bassa County
Encyclopedia
Grand Bassa is a county
in the west-central portion of the West Africa
n nation of Liberia
. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division
in the nation, it has eight districts
. Buchanan
serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring 7936 square kilometres (3,064.1 sq mi). As of the 2008 Census, it had a population of 224,839, making it the fifth most populous county in Liberia.
Grand Bassa's County Superintendent is Julia Duncan Cassell. The county is bordered by Margibi County
to the northwest, Bong County
to the north, Nimba County
to the east, and River Cess County
to the south and east. The western part of Grand Bassa borders the Atlantic Ocean
.
and Anthony Gardiner, presidents of Liberia during the 19th century. The port of Buchanan was constructed by LAMCO
to serve the export of iron ore carried through the railway from Nimba
. The civil war
destroyed the port, railway and the township built by LAMCO. In 2005, LAMCO's facilities were taken over by Arcelor-Mittal
(AM), which has begun a gradual reconstruction. The once bustling port is now a ghost town
, the only ray of hope being the arrival of Arcelor-Mittal and the consequent prospects of employment. Under terms of a 2005 agreement with the national government, AM will give $1 million each year to the county for iron ore exploitation, though these terms were revised in 2007.
of Grand Bassa County include (2008 population):
Counties of Liberia
||There are 15 counties in Liberia, as of 2008.-External links:** Comprehensive resource about counties and districts of Liberia....
in the west-central portion of the West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
n nation of 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...
. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division
Administrative division
An administrative division, subnational entity, or country subdivision is a portion of a country or other political division, established for the purpose of government. Administrative divisions are each granted a certain degree of autonomy, and are required to manage themselves through their own...
in the nation, it has eight districts
Districts of Liberia
The counties of Liberia are subdivided into districts.*Bomi County**Dewoin District**Klay District**Mecca District**Senjeh District*Bong County**Fuamah District**Jorquelleh District**Kokoyah District**Panta-Kpa District**Salala District...
. Buchanan
Buchanan, Liberia
Buchanan is the third largest city in Liberia, lying on Waterhouse Bay, part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is referred to as Gbezohn in the local Bassa language. As of the 2008 census, Buchanan has a population of 34,270. Of this, 16,984 were male and 17,286 female....
serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring 7936 square kilometres (3,064.1 sq mi). As of the 2008 Census, it had a population of 224,839, making it the fifth most populous county in Liberia.
Grand Bassa's County Superintendent is Julia Duncan Cassell. The county is bordered by Margibi County
Margibi County
Margibi is a county on the north to central coast 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. Kakata serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring...
to the northwest, Bong County
Bong County
Bong is a county in the north-central 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 twelve districts. Gbarnga serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring...
to the north, Nimba County
Nimba County
Nimba is a county in the north-central 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 six districts. Sanniquellie serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring , the largest in the nation...
to the east, and River Cess County
River Cess County
River Cess is a county in the south-central 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 six districts. Cesstos City serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring...
to the south and east. The western part of Grand Bassa borders 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...
.
History
Among the county's notable residents were Joseph James CheesemanJoseph James Cheeseman
Joseph James Cheeseman was the 12th President of Liberia. He was born in Edina, Grand Bassa County, Liberia and was elected three times on the True Whig ticket...
and Anthony Gardiner, presidents of Liberia during the 19th century. The port of Buchanan was constructed by LAMCO
Lamco
The Liberian-American-Swedish Minerals Company is a defunct Liberian corporation that mined for iron ore in the Nimba range in Liberia. Founded in 1955 by American and Swedish investors, the company established the first large-scale mining operation in Liberia following the discovery of the Nimba...
to serve the export of iron ore carried through the railway from Nimba
Nimba
Nimba is a name with several meanings:* Nimba Creations, a UK special effects company* Mount Nimba, a mountain along the border of Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea in West Africa* The Neem tree is sometimes called Nimba* Nimba County in Liberia...
. The civil war
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
destroyed the port, railway and the township built by LAMCO. In 2005, LAMCO's facilities were taken over by Arcelor-Mittal
Arcelor-Mittal
ArcelorMittal S.A. is a global steel company headquartered in Avenue de la Liberté, Luxembourg, Luxembourg. It is the largest steel producing company in the world and is the market leader in steel for use in automotive, construction, household appliances and packaging. It holds sizeable captive...
(AM), which has begun a gradual reconstruction. The once bustling port is now a ghost town
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
, the only ray of hope being the arrival of Arcelor-Mittal and the consequent prospects of employment. Under terms of a 2005 agreement with the national government, AM will give $1 million each year to the county for iron ore exploitation, though these terms were revised in 2007.
Districts
DistrictsDistricts of Liberia
The counties of Liberia are subdivided into districts.*Bomi County**Dewoin District**Klay District**Mecca District**Senjeh District*Bong County**Fuamah District**Jorquelleh District**Kokoyah District**Panta-Kpa District**Salala District...
of Grand Bassa County include (2008 population):
- Commonwealth District (34,270)
- District #1District 1, Grand Bassa CountyDistrict #1 is one of six districts located in Grand Bassa County, Liberia....
(25,180) - District #2District 2, Grand Bassa CountyDistrict #2 is one of six districts located in Grand Bassa County, Liberia....
(28,469) - District #3District 3, Grand Bassa CountyDistrict #3 is one of six districts located in Grand Bassa County, Liberia. The city of Buchanan, capital of Grand Bassa County, is located in the district....
(47,721) - District #4District 4, Grand Bassa CountyDistrict #4 is one of six districts located in Grand Bassa County, Liberia....
(33,180) - Neekreen District (32,058)
- Owensgrove DistrictOwensgrove DistrictOwensgrove is one of six districts located in Grand Bassa County, Liberia....
(13,687) - St. John River DistrictSt. John River DistrictSt. John River District is one of six districts located in Grand Bassa County, Liberia. The name derives from the Saint John River....
(10,274)