Monrovia

Monrovia
/meuhn roh"vee euh/, n.
1. a seaport in and the capital of Liberia, in W Africa. 204,000.
2. a city in SW California. 30,531.

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Port city (pop., 1999 est.: metro. area, 479,000), capital of Liberia, located on the Atlantic coast.

It was founded in 1822 by the American Colonization Society as a settlement for freed U.S. slaves and named for Pres. James Monroe. Bushrod Island contains the artificial harbour and free port of Monrovia, the only such port in West Africa. It is Liberia's largest city and its administrative and commercial centre. Many of the city's buildings were damaged during the civil war that began in 1990, and its increased population includes many formerly rural people displaced by the war. It is the seat of the University of Liberia.

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 capital, largest city, and chief Atlantic port of Liberia, on Bushrod Island and Cape Mesurado. It was founded during the administration of U.S. President James Monroe (for whom it was named) by the American Colonization Society as a settlement for freed American slaves. The first town (1822) was on Providence Island at the mouth of the Mesurado River. The population is composed of descendants of settlers from North America, most of whom arrived between 1830 and 1871, and of substantial numbers of immigrants from the interior.

      Bushrod Island contains the artificial harbour and free port of Monrovia, the only such port in West Africa. As the national centre of commerce and transportation, it attracted petroleum, paint, tuna, pharmaceutical, and cement enterprises. Prominent buildings have included the Capitol (1958), the Executive Mansion (1964), the City Hall, and the Temple of Justice. Many of these and other buildings, however, were severely damaged or destroyed during the fierce, multisided civil war beginning in 1990.

      Monrovia is the nation's educational centre, with the University of Liberia (founded by act of legislature in 1851, opened 1862, given university status 1951, established a medical school 1968), the modern Monrovia Consolidated School System complex in the Sinkor district, and several church secondary schools. Medical facilities include the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital, a government and two church hospitals, and several private clinics.

      The Monrovia Conference of 1961 served to launch the Organization of African Unity in 1963 (since 2002 the African Union). Pop. (2003 est.) 550,200; (2005 est.) urban agglom. 936,000.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Monrovia — Monrovia …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Monrovia — Monrovia, CA U.S. city in California Population (2000): 36929 Housing Units (2000): 13957 Land area (2000): 13.746069 sq. miles (35.602153 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.065354 sq. miles (0.169265 sq. km) Total area (2000): 13.811423 sq. miles… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Monrovia — ciudad de la costa atlántica de África, capital de Liberia. Se llama así en honor al presidente de EE.UU. (James Monroe) que gobernaba en el momento en que los libertos negros fueron soltados en la costa para que esclavizaran a la población… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • MONROVIA — Capitale du Liberia, Monrovia est la seule grande ville du pays. Fondée en 1822 par l’installation d’un premier groupe d’esclaves libérés, elle n’a connu qu’une croissance tardive; de 45 000 habitants en 1956 elle est passée à 100 000 en 1967 et… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Monrovia, CA — U.S. city in California Population (2000): 36929 Housing Units (2000): 13957 Land area (2000): 13.746069 sq. miles (35.602153 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.065354 sq. miles (0.169265 sq. km) Total area (2000): 13.811423 sq. miles (35.771418 sq.… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Monrovia, IN — U.S. town in Indiana Population (2000): 628 Housing Units (2000): 245 Land area (2000): 0.885653 sq. miles (2.293830 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.885653 sq. miles (2.293830 sq. km) FIPS code …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Monrovĭa — Monrovĭa, Hauptstadt der Negerrepublik Liberia (Westafrika), hoch am Cap Mesurada gelegen, bei welchem der Fluß M. mündet, gleichwohl ungesund wegen der nahen Salzsümpfe; hat einen kleinen Hafen, Lyceum, öffentliche Bibliothek, eine Zeitung… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Monrovĭa — Monrovĭa, Hauptstadt der Negerrepublik Liberia (s. d.), unter 6°19´ nördl. Br. und 10°50´ westl. L., am St. Paul River, mit (1897) 3–5000 Einw. (sehr gemischte Bevölkerung), hat ein für Europäer unzuträgliches Klima, beim Kap Mesurado einen durch …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Monrovia — Monrovĭa, Hauptstadt der Negerrepublik Liberia (Westafrika), an der Mündung des St. Pauls River, (1891) 5000 E.; Hafen am Kap Mesurado; Handel …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Monrovia — [mən rō′vē ə] seaport & capital of Liberia, on the Atlantic: pop. 425,000 …   English World dictionary

  • Monrovia — For other places with the same name, see Monrovia (disambiguation). Monrovia   City   City of Monrovia …   Wikipedia

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