It has a population of around 5 million and covers an area of 43,000 square miles (111,369km2). Located in Monrovia, the university opened in 1862. The coastal plains are about 350 miles (560 km) long and extend up to 25 miles (40 km) inland.
Monrovia | Location, History, & Facts | Britannica The colonial settlements were raided by the Kru and Grebo, from their inland chiefdoms. In 1824 the territory was named Liberia, and its main settlement was named Monrovia, which is the present-day capital. GeoNames ID. [98][99] On July 20, 2012, the Liberian senate voted unanimously to enact legislation to prohibit and criminalize same-sex marriages. On average, children attain 10 years of education (11 for boys and 8 for girls). [192] In 2007, 20.4% of children under the age of five were malnourished. [215], The Liberian government has begun transitioning away from use of United States customary units to the metric system. This triggered the First Liberian Civil War. Founding of Liberia, 1847 The founding of Liberia in the early 1800s was motivated by the domestic politics of slavery and race in the United States as well as by U.S. foreign policy interests. Like many other countries in Africa, Liberia both faces existing environmental issues, as well as sustainable development challenges. The Kpelle comprise more than 20% of the population and are the largest ethnic group in Liberia, residing mostly in Bong County and adjacent areas in central Liberia. [7] Between 1822 and the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, more than 15,000 freed and free-born African Americans, along with 3,198 Afro-Caribbeans, relocated to Liberia. [43] On November 12, 1985, a failed counter-coup was launched by Thomas Quiwonkpa, whose soldiers briefly occupied the national radio station. [117], While official commodity exports declined during the 1990s as many investors fled the civil war, Liberia's wartime economy featured the exploitation of the region's diamond wealth. Liberia is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Ivory Coast, Guinea, and Sierra Leone. Tbg and its vector Glossina palpalis gambiense are a constant presence in the rainforests here. [185] With a fertility rate of 5.9 births per woman, the maternal mortality rate stood at 990 per 100,000 births in 2010, and 1,072 per 100,000 births in 2017. [111] As a result of bilateral, multilateral and commercial debt relief from 2007 to 2010, the country's external debt fell to $222.9 million by 2011. ", "Ellen Describes Tubman University's Opening As PRS Success", "Remarks by H.E. [83] A 2004 UN report estimated that 99% of Liberians burned charcoal and fuel wood for cooking and heating, resulting in deforestation. There are several unique species of bats and birds, and scorpions, lizards, and fish are numerous. Making Liberia safe: transformation of the national security sector. Taylor resigned in August 2003 and went into exile in Nigeria. Representative of Liberia to the United Nations, 198185. [125] Palm oil companies like Sime Darby (Malaysia) and Golden Veroleum (USA) have been accused of destroying livelihoods and displacing local communities, enabled by government concessions. [197] In 2008, Liberia had only one doctor and 27 nurses per 100,000 people. This institution was founded in 1998.
Providence Island - UNESCO World Heritage Centre Liberia mountains list | peakery [76] After international protests, many of those logging permits were canceled. 6CRF9647+VR. [76], Pollution is a significant issue in Monrovia. [209] Heavy stews spiced with habanero and scotch bonnet chilies are popular and eaten with fufu. United Methodist University, a private Christian university located in Liberia, West Africa, it is commonly known amongst locals as UMU.
PDF A Brief History of Liberia - International Center for Transitional Justice Indigenous peoples comprise about 95 percent of the population. The coastal plains are around 560 km long and 40 km wide and feature sandy beaches, lagoons, mangrove swamps, and some rocky outcrops. Most of these Christian denominations were brought by African-American settlers moving from the United States into Liberia via the American Colonization Society, while some are indigenousespecially Pentecostal and evangelical Protestant ones. [149], Liberia has begun exploration for offshore oil; unproven oil reserves may be in excess of one billion barrels. [90], From 1877 to 1980, the government was dominated by the True Whig Party. [30][31][32], The leadership of the new nation consisted largely of the Americo-Liberians, who initially established political and economic dominance in the coastal areas that the ACS had purchased; they maintained relations with U.S. contacts in developing these areas and the resulting trade. [205] Moore's novella Murder in the Cassava Patch is considered Liberia's most celebrated novel. As observed on Liberia's physical map, the elevation of the land gradually increases with distance from the coast. [citation needed] On July 16, 1892, Martha Ann Erskine Ricks met Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle and presented her a handmade quilt, Liberia's first diplomatic gift. Starz University, is a private higher education institution that was established in the United States in 2007, and became incorporated in Monrovia, 2009; with the objective of addressing the Information Technology(IT) need of Liberia. [104] When dealing with public-facing government functionaries, 89% of Liberians say they have had to pay a bribe, the highest national percentage in the world according to the organization's 2010 Global Corruption Barometer. Liberia declared independence on July 26, 1847, which the U.S. did not recognize until February 5, 1862. The outline map represents the West African country of Liberia. Liberia imports 90% of its rice, a staple food, and is extremely vulnerable to food shortages.
Milestones: 1830-1860 - Office of the Historian In 1980, political tensions from the rule of William R. Tolbert resulted in a military coup during which Tolbert was killed, marking the end of Americo-Liberian rule in the country and beginning over two decades of political instability. The University of Liberia is the country's largest and oldest university. The Mano and Morro rivers in the northwest and the Cavalla in the east and southeast are major rivers and form sections of Liberias boundaries. Monrovia (/ m n r o v i /) is the capital city of the West African country of Liberia.Founded in 1822, it is located on Cape Mesurado on the Atlantic coast and as of the 2008 census had 1,010,970 residents, home to 29% of Liberia's total population. Based on the political principles of the United States Constitution, it established the independent Republic of Liberia. Encounters with tribal Africans in the bush often became violent. The settlers wore top hat and tails and modeled their homes on those of Southern slaveowners. The country enjoyed relative stability until a rebellion in 1989 escalated into a destructive civil war in the 1990s that did not fully cease until 2003. [82], Slash-and-burn agriculture is one of the human activities eroding Liberia's natural forests. [105], The Central Bank of Liberia is responsible for printing and maintaining the Liberian dollar, Liberia's primary currency (the United States dollar is also legal tender in Liberia). Liberias terrain ranges from the low and sandy coastal plains to rolling hills and dissected plateau further inland. [citation needed] Today, over 20 political parties are registered in the country, based largely around personalities and ethnic groups. [1] Among the president's other duties are to sign or veto legislative bills, grant pardons, and appoint Cabinet members, judges, and other public officials. [28] The United Kingdom was the first country to recognize Liberia's independence. [68] Climate change in Liberia causes many problems as Liberia is particularly vulnerable to climate change. Liberia occupies an area of about 43,000 square miles and has a population of about 4,900,000 people. A small minority of Liberians who are White Africans of European descent reside in the country. (2007). Stella Maris Polytechnic, a post-secondary, private institution of higher learning. [77] Bushmeat is often exported to neighboring Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast, despite a ban on the cross-border sale of wild animals. [49] By July 2003, the rebels had launched an assault on Monrovia. Sapo National Park, established in 1983 in the countrys southeast, was expanded in 2003 to encompass an area of some 700 square miles (1,800 square km).
Liberia | History, Map, Flag, Population, & Facts | Britannica Liberia began in the early 19th century as a project of the American Colonization Society (ACS), which believed black people would face better chances for freedom and prosperity in Africa than in the United States. [1] An informal system of traditional courts still exists within the rural areas of the country, with trial by ordeal remaining common despite being officially outlawed. Quakers believed black people would face better chances for freedom in Africa than in the U.S.[7][19] While slaveholders opposed freedom for enslaved people, some viewed "repatriation" of free people of color as a way to avoid slave rebellions. Pages in category "Islands of Liberia" The following 2 pages are in this category, out of 2 total. [citation needed] It was made up primarily of Americo-Liberians, who maintained social, economic and political dominance well into the 20th century, repeating patterns of European colonists in other nations in Africa. It was among the few African countries to maintain its sovereignty during the Scramble for Africa. Santa Monica, CA: Rand. [110] Historically the Liberian economy has depended heavily on foreign aid, foreign direct investment and exports of natural resources such as iron ore, rubber, and timber. The population is composed . [48] A peace deal between warring parties was reached in 1995, leading to Taylor's election as president in 1997. Their passage of the 1865 Ports of Entry Act prohibited foreign commerce with the inland tribes, ostensibly to "encourage the growth of civilized values" before such trade was allowed in the region.
Liberia - Encyclopedia of the Nations [118] The country acted as a major trader in Sierra Leonian blood diamonds, exporting over US$300 million in diamonds in 1999. The dusty and dry harmattan (desert winds) blow from the Sahara to the coast in December, bringing relief from the high relative humidity. [16], This influx of these groups was compounded by the decline of the Mali Empire in 1375 and the Songhai Empire in 1591. What part of Africa is Liberia located in? Clickable Map of Africa, showing the countries, capitals and main cities. This discussion focuses on Liberia from the 19th century. Liberia's Latitude is 6.428055 and Longitude is -9.429499. The Liberian constitution exercises jus sanguinis, which means it usually restricts its citizenship to "Negroes or persons of Negro descent.
What are the six major rivers of Liberia and their location? The area includes Liberia's highest mountain, Mount Wuteve (Wutuwi) at 1,447 m, as well as several other peaks, including Mount Balagizi (1,100 m). A striking feature of the mountainous northern highlands along the Guinea frontier is Mount Nimba. [68], Tropical rainforests cover the hills, while elephant grass and semi-deciduous forests make up the dominant vegetation in the northern sections. Americo-Liberians formed into a small elite that held disproportionate political power; indigenous Africans were excluded from birthright citizenship in their own land until 1904.[11][12]. Colonial settlements were raided by the Kru and Grebo from their inland chiefdoms. With an area of 11,551 sq. It hosts FIFA World Cup qualifying matches in addition to international concerts and national political events. European traders would barter commodities and goods with local people. [76] In September 2014, Liberia and Norway struck an agreement whereby Liberia ceased all logging in exchange for $150 million in development aid. In a conscious effort to emulate the American South, the Americo-Liberian settlers adopted clothing such as hoop skirts and tailcoats, and excluded natives from economic opportunities, including creating plantations on which natives were forced to work as slaves. [76] In 2012, President Sirleaf granted licenses to companies to cut down 58% of all the primary rainforest left in Liberia. During World War II, Liberia supported the United States war effort against Germany, and in turn received considerable American investment in infrastructure, which aided the country's wealth and development. [173], In 2009, Tubman University in Harper, Maryland County was established as the second public university in Liberia. It is a region suitable for agriculture and forestry. It contains the Freeport of Monrovia, the major national port of Liberia and a variety of businesses. Located on Capitol Hill, the school has approximately 2,000 students. Additional rivers of note are the Lofa, St. Paul, St. John and Cestos River, all of which flow into theAtlantic. [38] As a result of the report, President Charles D. B. [40], After the war, President William Tubman encouraged foreign investment, with Liberia achieving the second-highest rate of economic growth in the world during the 1950s. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}630N 930W / 6.500N 9.500W / 6.500; -9.500. [217][218] In 2018, the Liberian Commerce and Industry Minister announced that the Liberian government is committed to adopting the metric system.[219]. [29] The United States did not recognize Liberia until 1862, after the Southern states, which had strong political power in the American government, declared their secession and the formation of the Confederacy. [76], Endangered species are hunted for human consumption as bushmeat in Liberia. August 9, 2012. Liberia Bordering Countries: [159] Nimba County is the next most populous county, with 462,026 residents. Many treessuch as red ironwood, camwood, whismore, teak, and mahoganyare valuable, but occur with other species, preventing easy harvest. Between 1461 and the late 17th century, Portuguese, Dutch, and British traders had contacts and trading posts in the region. President William Tubman encouraged economic and political changes that heightened the country's prosperity and international profile; Liberia was a founding member of the League of Nations, United Nations, and the Organisation of African Unity. [165] Liberians also speak a variety of creolized dialects collectively known as Liberian English. [26][27] On August 24, Liberia adopted its 11-striped national flag. [198] As of November17, 2014[update], there were 2,812 confirmed deaths from the ongoing outbreak. Omissions? [37] (The loser actually received around 60% of the eligible vote. Hospitals in Liberia include the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Monrovia and several others. Liberia has one of the highest incidences of sexual violence against women in the world. [170] In some areas primary and secondary education is free and compulsory from the ages of 6 to 16, though enforcement of attendance is lax. Liberian Muslims are divided between Sunnis, Shias, Ahmadiyyas, Sufis, and non-denominational Muslims.[169]. [168], Muslims comprised 12.2% of the population in 2008, largely represented by the Mandingo and Vai ethnic groups. [42], On April 12, 1980, a military coup led by Master Sergeant Samuel Doe of the Krahn ethnic group overthrew and killed President William R. Tolbert Jr. Doe and the other plotters later executed a majority of Tolbert's cabinet and other Americo-Liberian government officials and True Whig Party members. Adolescent girls are the most frequently assaulted, and almost 40% of perpetrators are adult men known to victims. [168] While separation of church and state is mandated by the Constitution, Liberia is considered a Christian state in practice. [citation needed], Liberia has a rich history in textile arts and quilting, as the settlers brought with them their sewing and quilting skills. (Nelson) See the Map of Liberia with Monrovia. [140], There are six major newspapers in Liberia, and 65% of the population has a mobile phone service. [62] In November 2011, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was re-elected for a second six-year term. Both Sierra Leone and the Ivory Coast annexed territories. [199] In early August 2014 Guinea closed its borders to Liberia to help contain the spread of the virus, as more new cases were being reported in Liberia than in Guinea. [57] Public schools offer biblical studies, though parents may opt their children out. The country's capital and largest city is Monrovia. Liberias rainforest used to abound with animals such as monkeys, chimpanzees, small antelopes, pygmy hippopotamuses, and anteaters. Please read the. The lowest point of the country is the Atlantic Ocean at 0m. They intermarried largely within the colonial community, developing an ethnic group that had a cultural tradition infused with American notions of political republicanism and Protestant Christianity. Nimba is the largest of the counties in size at 11,551km2 (4,460sqmi), while Montserrado is the smallest at 737.069sqmi (1,909.00km2).