A European Informational Website
learn more
Monrovia, population 572,000 (2003 census), is the capital city of Liberia. The city's economy is dominated by its harbor, which was significantly expanded by U.S. forces during the second World War. Main exports include latex and iron ore. Materials are also manufactured on-site, such as cement, refined petroleum, food products, bricks and tiles, furniture and chemicals. The harbor also has a large amount of storage and facilities for repairing ships.
The area was already inhabited when it was named Cape Mesurado by Portuguese sailors in the 1560s. The first settlers from the United States under the auspices of the American Colonization Society arrived in Africa in 1821, they landed at Sherbro Island in present-day Sierra Leone. The landing was not very successful and many settlers died. In 1822, a second ship rescued the settlers and took them to Cape Mesurado, establishing the settlement of Christopolis. In 1824, the city was renamed to Monrovia after James Monroe, then President of the United States. It is the only non-American capital city named after a U.S. President.
In 1845, Monrovia was the site of the constitutional convention held by the American Colonization Society which drafted the constitution that would two years later be the constitution of an independent and sovereign Republic of Liberia [1].
In 1979, the Organisation of African Unity held their conference in Monrovia, with then president William R. Tolbert as chairman. During his term, Tolbert improved public housing in Monrovia and decreased by 50% the tuition fees at the University of Liberia. A military coup led by Samuel Doe ousted the Tolbert government in 1980, with many members being executed.
The city was severely damaged in the Liberian Civil War, notably during the siege of Monrovia, with many buildings damaged and nearly all the infrastructure destroyed. Major battles occurred between Samuel Doe's government and Prince Johnson's forces in 1990 and with the NPFL's assault on the city in 1992. A legacy of the war is a large population of homeless children and youths, either having been involved in the fighting or denied an education by it.
The city's economy is dominated by its harbor. Monrovia is Liberia's financial center. The Central Bank of Liberia is based in Monrovia.
The city is home to the Monrovia City Corporation, which runs many services inside the city.
Monrovia lies on a peninsula, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mesurado River and is a major port. The city is almost completely surrounded by the St. Paul River. Monrovia is located at . Monrovia is Liberia's largest city and its administrative, commercial, and financial center.
The city is located in Montserrado County; it is not the capital of Montserrado County.
Attractions in Monrovia include the Liberian National Museum, the now ruined Masonic Temple, the Waterside Market, (currently closed) cultural centre on Providence Island and several beaches. It is also home to a zoo. The city also houses one of the biggest sports stadiums in Africa, with seats for 40,000.
Numerous Tabloid style newspapers are printed on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, most of which are no more than 20 pages. Radio and TV stations are available, with radio being a more prominent source of news as problems with electricity supply make watching television more difficult. UNMIL Radio has been broadcasting since October 1, 2003. It is the first radio station in Liberia to broadcast 24hrs a day, and covers an estimated 2/3rds of the population.[2]
The Daily Talk is a compilation of news written up daily on a roadside blackboard in the Sinkor region of Monrovia. In addition to news items, it prominently features quotations from the Bible.
Monrovia is home to the University of Liberia, along with Cuttington College and Divinity School and many public and private schools.
Boats link the city with Greenville and Harper, and the nearest airport is Roberts International Airport, 60 km (40 mi) away at Robertsfield. The city is connected with the rest of the country via a network of roads and railways. Monrovia is listed as the home port by between ten and fifteen percent of the world's merchant shipping, registered in Liberia under Flag of Convenience arrangements. Both private taxis and minibuses run in the city, and are supplemented by larger buses run by the Monrovia Transit Authority.