Nkayi
Encyclopedia
Nkayi is a town and a commune
in the Bouenza Department of the Republic of the Congo
. It is the country's fourth largest city with a population of 56,700 (2005 census).
Nkayi is a major sugar production centre in the country.
on the national railway network, the Congo-Ocean Railway
. It is home to the Nkayi Airport (NKY).
valley, the town was named Jacob in 1887. That was the name of the French engineer who led the first mission to select the best route for the Congo-Ocean Railway
. Then the city began growing thanks to the thriving sugar cane plantations led by important agroindustries. In 1975, Jacob had a population of 25,000, and its name was changed to the native one of Nkayi.
The city is the fourth largest town in the Republic of the Congo since 1980.
Since 2004, Nkayi has got the status of commune and is divided in two urban districts (arrondissements):
Communes of the Republic of the Congo
|The Republic of the Congo includes seven communes, divided in urban districts . Two of these communes, Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, are also a department:*Bouenza: Nkayi*Brazzaville: Brazzaville*Cuvette : Owando*Cuvette-Ouest: none...
in the Bouenza Department of the Republic of the Congo
Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo , sometimes known locally as Congo-Brazzaville, is a state in Central Africa. It is bordered by Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the Angolan exclave province of Cabinda, and the Gulf of Guinea.The region was dominated by...
. It is the country's fourth largest city with a population of 56,700 (2005 census).
Nkayi is a major sugar production centre in the country.
Transport
The city is served by a stationTrain station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
on the national railway network, the Congo-Ocean Railway
Congo-Ocean Railway
The Congo–Ocean Railway links the Atlantic port of Pointe-Noire with Brazzaville, a distance of 502 kilometres...
. It is home to the Nkayi Airport (NKY).
History
Situated in the fertile NiariKouilou-Niari River
The Kouilou-Niari River — also spelled Kwilu, Kwila, or Kwil — is the main drainage path for the coastal basin of the Republic of the Congo. The river is called the Kouilou River along most of its length, but its center section, in the Niari region of The Congo, is called the Niari River...
valley, the town was named Jacob in 1887. That was the name of the French engineer who led the first mission to select the best route for the Congo-Ocean Railway
Congo-Ocean Railway
The Congo–Ocean Railway links the Atlantic port of Pointe-Noire with Brazzaville, a distance of 502 kilometres...
. Then the city began growing thanks to the thriving sugar cane plantations led by important agroindustries. In 1975, Jacob had a population of 25,000, and its name was changed to the native one of Nkayi.
The city is the fourth largest town in the Republic of the Congo since 1980.
Since 2004, Nkayi has got the status of commune and is divided in two urban districts (arrondissements):
- 1st Mouana Nto
- 2nd Soulaka