Grand Cape Mount County

Grand Cape Mount County
County

Flag

Location in Liberia
Coordinates: 7°10′N 11°0′W / 7.167°N 11.000°W / 7.167; -11.000
Country  Liberia
Capital Robertsport
Districts 5
Established 1856
Government
 • Superintendent Ms. Tenneh Simpson Kpadebah
Area
 • Total 5,162 km2 (1,993 sq mi)
Population (2008)
 • Total 129,055
 • Density 25/km2 (60/sq mi)
Time zone GMT (UTC+0)

Grand Cape Mount 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 five districts. Robertsport serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring 5,162 square kilometres (1,993 sq mi).[1] As of the 2008 Census, it had a population of 129,055, making it the eighth most populous county in Liberia. [1] The county is bordered by Gbarpolu County to the northeast and Bomi County to the southeast. The northern part of Grand Cape Mount borders the nation of Sierra Leone, while to the west lies the Atlantic Ocean.

The name of the county comes from Cape du Mont, a Portuguese word meaning the Cape of the Mount. In 1461, Pedro de Sintra, a Portuguese explorer charting the West Coast of Africa, saw the prominent feature of the cape and chose its name. [2]

History

In 1847, Liberia became independent with three counties: Montserrado, Grand Bassa and Sinoe. The area now known as Grand Cape Mount became the territory of Grand Cape Mount under Montserrado County.[2] In 1856, Cape Mount was carved out of Montserrado by a legislative act and became the fifth County in Liberia. [2]

From January 7,1822 until the Liberian Declaration of Independence from the American Colonization Society on July 26,1847 some 3,198 ex-Caribbean slaves settlers from the Lesser Antilles, who had escape from their slaveholder or born free left the Caribbean islands and came to Liberia with the help and support from the American Colonization Society and other organizations establishment. The ex-Caribbean slaves came to Liberia to life a better life, be free and self governance. The first ex-Caribbean slaves who left the Caribbean islands was from Barbados, Some 500-1,000 ex-Caribbean slaves arrived to Liberia. The second settlers who came from the Caribbean islands was from Trinidad and Tobago some 345 ex-Caribbean slaves, followed by some 620 ex-Caribbean slaves from saint Vincent and the Grenadines, another settlers was from Saint Kitts and Nevis some 350 ex-Caribbean slaves, the last two settlers who left the Caribbean islands was from Grenada some 483 ex-Caribbean slaves, the last group of settlers came from saint Lucia some 400 ex-Caribbean slaves. As job opportunities and development growth increase the ex-Caribbean slaves move through Grand Cape Mount, Bomi County, Montserrado County Margibi County and other regions of Liberia to seek jobs and other opportunities.

Demographics

An estimated 60% of the population speak the Vai language and 70% are Muslim. [2]

Government

As of 2015, Grand Cape Mount's County Superintendent is Tenneh Simpson Kpadebah.[3]

Districts

Its five districts are (2008 population):[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "2008 National Population and Housing Census: Preliminary Results" (PDF). Government of the Republic of Liberia. 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-14.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Grand Cape Mount County Development Agenda" (PDF). County Development Committee. 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  3. ↑ "Liberia: Cabinet Ends Retreat in Grand Cape Mount, Returns to Monrovia". Liberia Government (allAfrica.com). 21 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-12.

External links

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