| Grand Bassa County | |
|---|---|
| — County — | |
| Location in Liberia | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Liberia |
| Capital | Buchanan |
| Districts | 8 |
| Established | |
| Government | |
| • Superintendent | Julia Duncan Cassell |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7,936 km2 (3,064.1 sq mi) |
| Population (2008) | |
| • Total | 224,839 |
| • Density | 28.3/km2 (73.3/sq mi) |
| Time zone | GMT (UTC+0) |
Grand Bassa is a county in the west-central portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has eight districts. Buchanan serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring 7,936 square kilometres (3,064 sq mi).[1] As of the 2008 Census, it had a population of 224,839, making it the fifth most populous county in Liberia.[1]
Grand Bassa's County Superintendent is Julia Duncan Cassell.[2] The county is bordered by Margibi County to the northwest, Bong County to the north, Nimba County to the east, and River Cess County to the south and east. The western part of Grand Bassa borders the Atlantic Ocean.
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Among the county's notable residents were Joseph James Cheeseman and Anthony Gardiner, presidents of Liberia during the 19th century. The port of Buchanan was constructed by LAMCO to serve the export of iron ore carried through the railway from Nimba. The civil war destroyed the port, railway and the township built by LAMCO. In 2005, LAMCO's facilities were taken over by Arcelor-Mittal (AM), which has begun a gradual reconstruction. The once bustling port is now a ghost town, the only ray of hope being the arrival of Arcelor-Mittal and the consequent prospects of employment. Under terms of a 2005 agreement with the national government, AM will give $1 million each year to the county for iron ore exploitation,[3] though these terms were revised in 2007.[4]
Districts of Grand Bassa County include (2008 population):[1]
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