Sinoe County

Sinoe County
County

Flag

Location in Liberia
Coordinates: 5°20′N 8°40′W / 5.333°N 8.667°W / 5.333; -8.667Coordinates: 5°20′N 8°40′W / 5.333°N 8.667°W / 5.333; -8.667
Country  Liberia
Capital Greenville
Districts 17
Colony of Mississippi-in-Africa 1835-1842
Annexed by Liberia 1842
Established as a County 1847
Government
 • Superintendent Milton Teajay
Area
 • Total 10,137 km2 (3,914 sq mi)
  Ranked 3rd in Liberia
Population (2008)
 • Total 104,932
 • Density 10.4/km2 (27/sq mi)
  Total population rank: 10th in Liberia
Time zone GMT (UTC+0)
ISO 3166 code SI

Sinoe is one of Liberia's 15 counties and it has 17 districts. Greenville is the county's capital. As of the 2008 Census, it had a population of 104,932, making it one of the least populous counties in Liberia.[1] Sinoe has the third-largest area of all Liberia's counties; it has the second least-dense population after Gbarpolu County. The County was originally a colony in the name Mississippi-in-Africa, under auspices of a chapter of the American Colonization Society as it was created with slaves from Missisipi to Liberia.

There are seventeen districts in the county and it has lower tropical forests which has mid size hills composed of various valleys and water courses. Sapo National Park (180,436 ha (445,870 acres), a National protected area, Sankwehn Proposed Reserve, occupying an area of 80,348 ha (198,540 acres), a National proposed reserve and LTPC Reforestation Project with an area of 154.2 ha (381 acres)) are the major plantation areas in the county.

History

Long settled by indigenous peoples, this area became colonized by more than 300 freed African-American slaves from Prospect Hill Plantation, Mississippi in 1845. The colony was called Mississippi-in-Africa, under auspices of a chapter of the American Colonization Society. Originally it was to be a colony off the cost off Atlantic Ocean, but was renamed to Sinoe County. Greeneville was named after Judge James Green and was established with the freed Black Americans of the society in 1838. The judge was instrumental in bringing a group of slaves from Mississipi Delta to Liberia. The town was a prominent exporter of rubber, lumber and agricultural products, but was demolished during the Civil War. There is boat connectivity from the town to Monrovia and Harper.[2]

Geography

The county has lower tropical forests which has mid size hills composed of various valleys and water courses. These forests receive a very high rainfall ranging from 3,000 mm (120 in) to 4,100 mm (160 in) per year in two distinct seasons. It has evergreen forests. While in the uplands it is conducive for rice cultivation, the low lying areas are conducive for yam, cocoa, plantains, potatoes, vegetables, rubber, coffee and sugarcane.[3] Sinoe County has two community forest : Nitrian with an area of 958 ha (2,370 acres) and Nimopho with an area of 7,320 ha (18,100 acres). It has the Sapo National Park (180,436 ha (445,870 acres), a National protected area. Sankwehn Proposed Reserve, occupying an area of 80,348 ha (198,540 acres) is a National proposed reserve, while LTPC Reforestation Project with an area of 154.2 ha (381 acres)) is a National plantation area.[4]

Demographics

As of 2008 the county had a population of 102,391. With 54,767 males and 47,624 females, the sex ratio was 1.15:1, a marked increase from the 1.03:1 found at the 1994 census.[5] The number of households during 2008 was 14,533 and the average size of the households was 6.4.[6] The population was 3.10 per cent of the total population, while it was 2.90 per cent in 1994. The county had an area of 3,770 sq mi and the density per sq.mi was 27. The density during the 1984 census stood at 17.[1] Liberia experienced civil war during various times and the total number of people displaced on account of wars as of 2008 in the county was 15,289.[7] The number of people residing in urban areas was 17,519, with 9,053 males and 8,466 females. The total number of people in rural areas was 49,270, with 25,810 males and 23,460 females. The total fraction of people residing in urban areas was 17.11 per cent, while the remaining 048 per cent were living in rural areas. The number of people resettled as of 2008 was 32,832 while the number of people who were not resettled was 485.[8] The number of literates above the age of ten as of 2008 was 23,907 while the number of illiterates was 34,812 making the literacy rate to 40.71. The total number of literate males was 15,558 while the total number of literate females was 8,349.[6]

Economy

As of 2011, the area of rice plantation was 8,300 ha (21,000 acres), which was 3.476 per cent of the total area of rice planted in the country. The total production stood at 8000 metric tonnes. As of 2011, the number of Cassava plantation was 6080, which was 5 per cent of the total area of Cassava planted in the country. The total production stood at 680 metric tonnes. The number of Cocoa plantation was 680, which was 1.8 per cent of the total area of Cassava planted in the country. The number of rubber plantation was 440, which was 0.7 per cent of the total area of Cassava planted in the country. The number of Coffee plantation was 110, which was 0.5 per cent of the total area of Cassava planted in the country.[9] As of 2008, the county had 2,761 paid employees, 18,650 self-employed people, 8,661 family workers, 5,162 people looking for work, 8,419 not working people, 9,030 people working in households, 22,388 students, 185 retired people, 901 incapacitated people, 1,329 part-time workers and 5,374 others, making the total working population of 82,860.[10]

Districts

Ebola treatment mission in Greeneville

The districts of Sinoe County are: Bodae District, Bokon District, Butaw District, Dugbe River District, Greenville District, Jaedae District, Jaedepo District, Juarzon District, Kpayan District, Kulu Shaw Boe District, Plahn Nyarn District, Pynes Town District, Sanquin District 1, Sanquin District 2, Sanquin District 3, Seekon District and Wedjah District[1] The Legislature of Liberia was modeled based on the Legislature of United States. It is bicameral in nature with a Senate and the House of Representatives. There are 13 counties in the country and based on the population, each county is defined to have at least two members, while the total number of members to the house including the Speaker being 64. Each member represents an electoral district and elected to a six year term based on popular vote.[11] There were 26 senators, two each for the 13 counties and they serve a nine year term (30 senators, 15 counties and nine years from 2011). Senators are also elected based on plurality of votes. The Vice-President is the head of the Senate and he also acts as President in his absence.[11]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 2008 Population and Housing census, p. 10
  2. ↑ Sherman, Frank (2010). Liberia: The Land, Its People, History and Culture. New Africa Press. p. 147. ISBN 9789987160259.
  3. ↑ "Liberia - Country pastures and forage resource profile". Food and Agricultural Organization. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  4. ↑ National Forests Classification, Acreages, Location And Utilization Index Division Of Scientific Research (PDF) (Report). Forest Research and Development (R&D). Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  5. ↑ 2008 Population and Housing census, p. A12 - 16
  6. 1 2 2008 Population and Housing census, pp. A47-51
  7. ↑ 2008 Population and Housing census, pp. A21-31
  8. ↑ 2008 Population and Housing census, pp. A26-31
  9. ↑ "Plantation statistics of Liberia". Liberia Institute of Statistics & Geo-Information Services. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  10. ↑ 2008 Population and Housing census, p. 154
  11. 1 2 "About The Republic Of Liberia – Politics". Ministry of Information, Government of Liberia. 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2016.

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/22/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.