The Love of Liberty Brought Us Together

The Love of Liberty

Brought Us Together

Bong County

Flag_of_Bong_County

Population: ~ 467,502 (2022 Census)

Area (sq mi): ~ 3,386

Area (acres): 2,167,040

Date Created: 1964

Districts: 12

  • Capital: Gbarnga

    City Mayor: Gbarnga - Sylvester S. Wolo

  • Major Cities: Gbarnga, Salala, Phebe

  • Created in 1964, one of the counties formed in the administrative expansion into the interior. 

    Economy: heavily based on mining (especially iron ore) and agriculture. The Bong Mine was a major iron‐ore operation. 

    During the Liberian civil wars (1989‐2003), Bong was an important strategic region. Charles Taylor used Gbarnga as a base for his rebel movement early on.

    • Superintendent: Esther Walker

    • Senators:

      • Prince Y. Johnson

      • Henry Yallah

    • Representatives:

      • Thomas P. Fallah

      • J. Emmanuel Nuquay

      • Marvin Cole

Bomi

Flag of Bomi County

Population: 133,668 (2022 Census)

Area (sq mi): ~ 749

Area (acres): 479,360

Date Created: 1984

Districts: 4

  • Capital: Tubmanburg

  • Major Cities: Tubmanburg, Tellewoyan

  • A later split from Montserrado. More recent reorganization.

    • Superintendent: Samuel K. W. Moore

    • Senators:

      • Edwin Melvin Snowe

    • Representatives:

      • Clarence K. Massaquoi

Gbarpolu

Flag_of_Gbarpolu_County

Population: ~ 95,995 (2022 Census)

Area (sq mi): 3,740

Area (acres): 2,393,600

Date Created: 2001

Districts: 6

  • Bopolu

  • Kamatahun, Belleh

  • The newest. Formed from parts of Lofa (and possibly other adjacent counties). Again part of attempts to decentralize, to improve administration in the interior.

    • Superintendent: Wleh L. D. V. K. B. Gborlu

    • Senators:

      • Armah Jallah

    • Representatives:

      • M. N. T. K. Gborlu

Grand Bassa

Flag_of_Grand_Bassa_County

Population: ~ 293,557 (2022 Census)

Area (sq mi): 3,064

Area (acres): 1,960,960

Date Created: 1839

  • Capital: Buchanan

    City Mayor: Buchanan - Jeanette B. K. Siaway

    • Major Cities: Buchanan, Kakata, Barteh

  • One of original counties. Buchanan (its capital) is named for Thomas Buchanan, early ACS figure. Grand Bassa played a role in Liberia’s early colonial period. Later, parts of it (River Cess) were split off in 1985.

    • Superintendent: Janjay Baikpeh

    • Senators:

      • Nyonblee Karngar-Lawrence

      • Jonathan L. Kaipay

    • Representatives:

      • Gabriel Smith

    Adolph Lawrence

Districts: 8

Grand Cape Mount

Flag_of_Grand_Cape_Mount

Population: 178,798 (2022 Census)

Area (sq mi): 1,993

Area (acres): 1,275,520

Date Created: 1844

    • Capital: Robertsport

  • Major Cities: Robertsport, Gola Konneh

  • Originally part of Montserrado, then carved out. The name comes from the Cape and mountainous geography. Early interactions with European explorers; later settlements.

    • Superintendent: Florence L. K. Brandy

    • Senators:

      • Cllr. H. Varney G. Sherman

      • Blamo Nelson

    • Representatives:

      • Alfred W. K. J. K. Bropleh

    City Mayor: Robertsport - Daniel P. K. Johnson

Districts: 5

Grand Gedeh

Flag_of_Grand_Gedeh_County

Population: 216,692 (2022 Census)

Area (sq mi): 4,047

Area (acres): 2,590,080

Date Created: 1964

Districts: 3

    • Capital: Zwedru
      City Mayor: Zwedru - Moses G. Zaza

  • Major Cities: Zwedru, Fish Town

  • Became an official county in 1964 during the administrative division reforms. (Liberia Data)

    • Historically part of South Eastern Province before being elevated to county status. (Ministry of Internal Affairs)

    • Capital: Zwedru. (Liberia Data)

    • Geography: tropical forests, significant rainfall; lower elevation hills and valleys; natural resources include timber, rubber, etc. ()

    • Demographics: numerous indigenous groups. Mixed religious beliefs. Languages vary. The region was among those heavily impacted in war and also somewhat neglected in infrastructure investment till recent decades.

    • Superintendent: Kneh K. Y. Borbor

    • Senators:

      • Marshall Dennis

      • Alphonso Gaye

    • Representatives:

      • Zoe P. L. Konneh

Grand Kru

Population: 109,342 (2022 Census)

Area (sq mi): 1,503

Area (acres): 961,920

Date Created: 1984

Districts: 18

  • Description text goes here

  • Item description

  • Also created in 1984. Coastal and interior mix, with Kru ethnic group presence. It was part of Maryland County territory before split

  • Description text goes here

Lofa

Flag_of_Lofa_County

Population: 367,376 (2022 Census)

Area (sq mi): 3,854

Area (acres): 2,466,560

Date Created: 1964

Districts: 6

    • Capital: Voinjama

    • Major Cities: Voinjama, Foya, Kolahun

    • Also established in 1964. 

    • Capital: Voinjama. 

    • Indigenous groups: multiple ethnic groups including Kpelleh, Lorma, Mandingo, Kissi, Gbandi, among others.

    • It is agriculturally productive (“breadbasket” type potential), with rice, coffee, cocoa, etc.

    • Severely affected by civil war. Many people displaced; refugee flows to neighboring Guinea and Sierra Leone.

    • Also rich in forested areas, conservation interest, and has notable topography (e.g. Mount Wuteve is in Lofa).

    • Superintendent: William T. Kamba

    • Senators:

      • George T. Weah (President of Liberia)

      • Stephen Zargo

    • Representatives:

      • Clarence S. Massaquoi

    J. Nyumah Dorko

Margibi

Flag_of_Margibi_County

Population: 304,946 (2022 Census)

Area (sq mi): 1,010

Area (acres): 646,400

Date Created: 1985

Districts: 4

    • Capital: Kakata

    • City Mayor: Kakata - Amos K. D. Sannoh

  • Major Cities: Kakata, Bassa Town

  • Created under President Samuel Doe’s administration, from parts of Montserrado. Rapid growth because of proximity to capital and infrastructure.

    • Superintendent: Jerry Varnie

    • Senators:

      • Oscar A. Cooper

      • Jim W. G. McClain

    • Representatives:

      • Tibelrosa S. Tarponweh

    M. P. K. Weah

Maryland

Flag_of_Maryland_County

Population: 172,202 (2022 Census)

Area (sq mi): 886

Area (acres): 567,040

Date Created: 1857

Districts: 2

    • Capital: Harper

  • Major Cities: Harper, Fish Town

    • Originally founded by the Maryland State Colonization Society (USA) in 1834 as a colony for freed African‑American slaves from the U.S. state of Maryland.

    • Became independent as the Republic of Maryland in 1854.

    • In 1857 it joined Liberia, becoming Maryland County. ()

    • Capital: Harper. ()

    • Notable events: the Liberian–Grebo War (1875‑1876) between the Republic of Maryland (later the county) and local Grebo (indigenous) people. ()

    • Also in the 1970s, the county saw a notorious series of ritual killings that gained national attention, involving high-profile figures. ()

    • Economy: agriculture dominated (rice, cassava), fishing, rubber; reliant on natural resources and coastal trade.

    • Superintendent: Darlington T. N. Dahn

    • Senators:

      • J. Gbleh-bo Brown

      • H. Dan Morais

    • Representatives:

      • Isaac W. Johnson

Montserrado

Flag_of_Montserrado_County

Population: 1,920,914 (2022 Census)

Area (sq mi): 737

Area (acres): 471,680

Date Created: 1839

Districts: 17

  • Description text goes here

  • Item description

  • Probably the single most historically important: includes Monrovia (capital), was first focal settlement by the ACS. Many freed slaves/people of color settled here. Over time other counties were split from Montserrado (e.g. Margibi, Bomi) as territory administration expanded.

  • Description text goes here

Nimba

Flag_of_Nimba_County

Population: 621,841 (2022 Census)

Area (sq mi): 4,459

Area (acres): 2,853760

Date Created: 1964

Districts: 6

  • Capital: Sanniquellie

  • Major Cities: Sanniquellie, Ganta, Tappita

  • The largest county by area. Important for mining (iron ore, etc.), especially the LAMCO enterprise in the 1950s & ‘60s. Its border position adjacent to Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire gives it strategic importance.

    • Superintendent: Nelson J. N. R. S. K. Lister

    • Senators:

      • Prince Johnson

      • Thomas S. Grupee

    • Representatives:

      • Worlea Saywah Dunah

Rivercess

Flag_of_Rivercess_County

Population: 90,777 (2022 Census)

Area (sq mi): 2,159

Area (acres): 1,381,760

Date Created: 1985

Districts: 7

    • Capital: Cesu

    • Major Cities: Cesu, Doe

  • Carved out from Grand Bassa in 1985. Less densely populated, more rural.

    • Superintendent: Alice Nyenswah

    • Senators:

      • Milton T. Teahjay

    • Representatives:

    Francis S. Dopoe

River Gee

Population: 124,653 (2022 Census)

Area (sq mi): 1,974

Area (acres): 1,263,360

Date Created: 2000

Districts: 6

    • Capital: Fish Town

    • Major Cities: Fish Town, Zwedru

  • One of the newest counties. Originally part of Grand Gedeh. Created to bring administrative governance closer to people, especially in more remote areas.

    • Superintendent: Samuel N. T. F. Karnga

    • Senators:

      • Conmany Wesseh

      • Cllr. Doris D. Williams

    • Representatives:

      • Alex J. J. G. Gbieh

Sinoe

Flag_of_Sinoe_County

Population: 150,358 (2022 Census)

Area (sq mi): 3,913

Area (acres): 2,504,320

Date Created: 1843

Districts: 17

  • Greenville

  • Greenville, Butaw

  • Another of the original coastal counties. Early settlement by ACS and other freed people along the coast. Its interior regions later connected with missionary, trading, and rubber/timber economies.

    • Superintendent: Lee T. G. V. L. V. F. R. N. Goffa

    • Senators:

      • J. Milton Teahjay

    • Representatives:

      • Bill Teahjay