Counties in the senate | Nimba

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Prince Johnson (MDR)

Hometown: n/a

Nya D. Twayen Jr.  (UP)

Hometown: n/a

Nimba County

Overview

Nimba County is a county in northeastern Liberia that shares borders with the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire in the East and the Republic of Guinea in the Northwest. Its capital city is Sanniquellie and its most populous city is Ganta. With the county’s area measuring 11,551 square miles (29,920 km2), Nimba is the largest of Liberia’s 15 counties.[2] The county has six statutory districts. As of the 2022 Census, it had a population of 621,841, making it the second most populous county in Liberia.[2][3]

Named after Mount Nimba (Neinbaa Tohn in the Mahn (or Mano) language), which demarcates part of the Guinea-Côte d’Ivoire border, Nimba is also bordered by Bong and Grand Bassa counties to the west, Rivercess County to the southwest, and Grand Gedeh County to the southeast. The northern and northeastern parts of Nimba border the nation of Republic of Guinea, while the northeast lies along the border of Côte d’Ivoire.

History

From 1822 until the Liberian Declaration of Independence from the American Colonization Society on July 26, 1847, some 3,198 freed people of color from the United States and the Lesser Antilles came to Liberia with the help and support from the American Colonization Society and other organizations. The first settlers who left the Caribbean islands were from Barbados. The second set of 345 settlers who came from the Caribbean were from Trinidad and Tobago, followed by 620 from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, another 350 from Saint Kitts and Nevis, and two groups from Grenada. The last group of settlers to arrive were from Saint Lucia.[citation needed]

Bomi County, formerly known as Bomi Territory, was first part of Montserrado County. The military regime of Samuel Doe established Bomi County in 1983. A legislative act later confirmed the County as being a separate entity. Bomi means “LIGHT” in the Gola language, recognizing the County’s status as the first site for iron ore mining in Liberia.

The Liberia Mining Company extracted iron ore in the territory during the 1950s and 1960s. The company closed its operations in 1979.

Geography

Nimba County is one of fifteen counties of Liberia. During the nearly three-decade administration of William V.S. Tubman (1944–1971), the region now called Nimba County was one of three of Liberia’s provinces: Western Province, Eastern Province, and Central Province. In the sixties, Tubman reorganized these provinces into counties. Central Province became what is known as Nimba County.

Before the First Liberian Civil War broke out in 1989, the county had a population of over 310,000 people. The top executive in the counties is a County Superintendent, appointed by the president of the county. The current County Superintendent, D. Dorr Cooper, who is the chief administrative officer,[4] was appointed by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in 2017. He was re-appointed in 2018 by President George Weah after a change in administrations.

Demographics

The main ethnic groups in Nimba County are the Dan, also known as Gio and the Mano. The Dan, commonly known as the Gio, live closer to the Côte d’Ivoire border. In that French-speaking country, they are known as the Yacouba. The Mano live closer to the Guinea border.

There are also indigenous minority groups, such as Krahn, Gbi, and Doru. Small Kpelle and Bassa settlements are located near the borders of Bong County and Grand Bassa County, respectively. These are the historical indigenous peoples of Nimba County who have settled in towns and villages.

Various ethnic groups from other parts of Liberia, such as the Mandingo people, have also settled here. They are indigenous people of Lofa County, Guinea, and the Côte d’Ivoire. Other tribal peoples include the Lorma from Lofa. Since the early 20th century, people from all parts of West Africa have settled in Nimba.

The ethnic Dan (Gio) owns and lives in these areas: Gbehlay-Geh Statutory District, Zoe-Geh Statutory District, and Tappita Statutory District. The main towns are Karnplay City, Bahn City, Tappitta City, Baylehglay, Buutuo, Garplay, Toweh Town, Graie, Gbloulay, et cetera.

The Man (or Mano) ethnic groups own and live in the Sanniquellie Mah Statutory District, the Saclepea Mah Statutory District, and the Yahwin-Mehnsonnoh Statutory District. The main towns are Sanniquellie City, Ganta City, Saclepea City, Flumpa, Zekepa, Kanwin, Yekepa, and others.

The ethnic Krahn live along the Ivory Coast border in Kpeahbleee District. The main towns are Zoudru, Behwoaloa, Yourpea Old Town, Yourpea New Town, et cetera. The other ethnic indigenous groups, the Gbi and Doru, live along the border of Grand Bassa and Rivercess counties. Their main towns are Glann Town, Camp One, Kidka’s Town, and Torkpor’s Town.

The Gio and the Mano ethnic group together are referred to as the Dan and are closely related tribes.

The Dan people also live in Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea. The Dan language is related to the Mande group of African languages.

Ganta has become the second-largest city in the country. Its population has grown as has its business class.

Resources and Economics

Bomi County’s resources include diamond, rubber, timber, iron ore, gold, water, stone, sand, and fertile agricultural land. Seventy percent of the population engages in agricultural activities, including the production or exploitation of rice (the staple food), cassava, sweet potatoes, eddoes, plantains, vegetables, rubber, palm oil, and livestock or in fisheries. 20% participate in business and trading. Local governments employ 10%. The Sime Darby rubber plantation, the second largest in Liberia, is located within the county.

Administrative Districts

The 17 Administrative Districts in Nimba County have the following populations:[2]

Boe & Quilla District (18,262)
Buu-Yao District (40,007)
Doe District (35,918)
Garr Bain District (61,225)
Gbehlay-Geh District (32,176)
Gbi & Doru District (8,131)
Gbor District (10,875)
Kparblee District (11,424)
Leewehpea-Mahn District (24,747)
Meinpea-Mahn District (24,157)
Sanniquellie-Mah District (25,370)
Twah River District (37,479)
Garr Bain District (37,479)
Wee-Gbehy-Mahn District (32,934)
Yarmein District (22,718)
Yarpea Mahn District (21,647)
Yarwein Mehnsonnoh District (25,584)
Zoe-Gbao District (29,372)