Counties and Districts
Liberia is divided into 15 counties, which are subdivided into districts, and further subdivided into clans. The oldest counties are Grand Bassa and Montserrado, both founded in 1839 prior to Liberian independence. Gbarpolu is the newest county, created in 2001. Nimba is the largest of the counties in size at 4,460 square miles (11,551 km2), while Montserrado is the smallest at 737 square miles (1,909 km2). Montserrado is also the most populous county with 1,144,806 residents as of the 2008 census.
The fifteen counties are administered by superintendents appointed by the president. The Constitution calls for the election of various chiefs at the county and local level, but these elections have not taken place since 1985 due to war and financial constraints.
| map# | County | Capital | Population (2008) | Area | Created |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bomi | Tubmanburg | 82,036 | 750 sq mi (1,942 km2) | 1984 |
| 2 | Bong | Gbarnga | 328,919 | 3,387 sq mi (8,772 km2) | 1964 |
| 3 | Gbarpolu | Bopulu | 83,758 | 3,741 sq mi (9,689 km2) | 2001 |
| 4 | Grand Bassa | Buchanan | 224,839 | 3,064 sq mi (7,936 km2) | 1839 |
| 5 | Grand Cape Mount | Robertsport | 129,055 | 1,993 sq mi (5,162 km2) | 1844 |
| 6 | Grand Gedeh | Zwedru | 126,146 | 4,048 sq mi (10,484 km2) | 1964 |
| 7 | Grand Kru | Barclayville | 57,106 | 1,504 sq mi (3,895 km2) | 1984 |
| 8 | Lofa | Voinjama | 270,114 | 3,854 sq mi (9,982 km2) | 1964 |
| 9 | Margibi | Kakata | 199,689 | 1,010 sq mi (2,616 km2) | 1985 |
| 10 | Maryland | Harper | 136,404 | 887 sq mi (2,297 km2) | 1857 |
| 11 | Montserrado | Bensonville | 1,144,806 | 737 sq mi (1,909 km2) | 1839 |
| 12 | Nimba | Sanniquellie | 468,088 | 4,460 sq mi (11,551 km2) | 1964 |
| 13 | Rivercess | Rivercess | 65,862 | 2,160 sq mi (5,594 km2) | 1985 |
| 14 | River Gee | Fish Town | 67,318 | 1,974 sq mi (5,113 km2) | 2000 |
| 15 | Sinoe | Greenville | 104,932 | 3,914 sq mi (10,137 km2) | 1843 |
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