Liberia is divided into fifteen first-level administrative divisions called counties, which, in turn, are subdivided into a total of 136 second-level administrative divisions called districts and further subdivided into third-level administrative divisions called clans.
After its independence in 1847, and over the course of the nineteenth century, Liberia's administrative divisions grew from the original three counties — Montserrado, Grand Bassa, and Sinoe — to the addition of Maryland and Grand Cape Mount, extending along the windward coast between Cape Mount and Cape Palmas. Under President Arthur Barclay's administration (1904–1912), a new system was established in response to British and French demands that the Liberian government effectively occupy the territory Liberia had claimed. Three inland provinces were created — Western, Central, and Eastern — and each province was divided into several districts. The administrative districts were further sub-divided into clans. The districts were administered by the newly created office of district commissioner and the clans by the newly created office of paramount chief, all appointed by the president. In 1964, under President William Tubman's 'Unification' policy, the three inland provinces were disestablished, and the inland administrative divisions were reconstituted into four new counties: Grand Gedeh, Nimba, Bong, and Lofa, administered by superintendents who were appointed by the president.
In 1984, under President Samuel Doe, Grand Kru and Bomi counties were established. In 1985, two more counties were created: Margibi and Rivercess. The last two current counties were created under President Charles Taylor: River Gee in 2000 and Gbarpolu in 2001.
Governance
The fifteen counties are administered by superintendents, and the districts by commissioners, all appointed by the president. The cabinet office with responsibility for the management of the superintendents, commissioners and chiefs is the Minister of Internal Affairs. The 1985 Constitution calls for the election of various chiefs at the county and local level. These elections have not taken place since 1985 due to war and financial constraints.
Counties
There are 15 counties in Liberia.
Map # County DateCreated Capital Area(mi2) Population(2022 Census) ParentCounty 1 Bomi1984Tubmanburg133,668 Montserrado County 2 Bong1964Gbarnga467,502 3 Gbarpolu2001Bopolu 95,995 Lofa County 4 Grand Bassa1839Buchanan293,557 Grand Bassa County 5 Grand Cape Mount1844Robertsport178,798 Grand Cape Mount County 6 Grand Gedeh1964Zwedru216,692 Grand Gedah County 7 Grand Kru1984Barclayville109,342 Maryland County 8 Lofa1964Voinjama367,376 Lofa County 9 Margibi1985Kakata304,946 Montserrado County10 Maryland1857Harper172,202 Maryland County11 Montserrado1839Bensonville1,920,914 Montserrado County12 Nimba1964Sanniquellie621,841 13 Rivercess1985River Cess90,777 Grand Bassa County14 River Gee2000Fish Town124,653 Grand Gedah County15 Sinoe1843Greenville150,358 Simoe County
Notes
Districts
Bomi County Dewoin District Klay District Suehn Mecca District Senjeh District Bong County Boinsen District Fuamah District Jorquelleh District Kokoyah District Kpaai District Panta District Salala District Sanoyeah District Suakoko District Tukpahblee District Yeallequelleh District Zota District Gbarpolu County Belleh District Bopolu District Bokomu District Gbarma District Gounwolaila District Kongba District Grand Bassa County Commonwealth District District #1 District #2 District #3 District #4 Neekreen District Owensgrove District St. John River District Grand Cape Mount County Commonwealth District Garwula District Gola Konneh District Porkpa District Tewor District Grand Gedeh County B'hai District Cavala District Gbao District Gboe-Ploe District Glio-Twarbo District Konobo District Putu District Tchien District Grand Kru County Barclayville Bleebo District Bolloh District Buah District Dorbor District Dweh District Felo-Jekwi District Fenetoe District Forpoh District Garraway District Gee District Grand Cess Wedabo District Upper Jloh District Lower Jloh District Kpi District Nrokwia-Wesldow District Penicess District Trenbo District Wlogba District
Lofa County Foya District Kolahun District Quardu Gboni District Salayea District Vahun District Voinjama District Zorzor District Margibi County Firestone District Gibi District Kakata District Mambah Kaba District Maryland County Gwelekpoken District Harper District Karluway District #1 Karluway District #2 Nyorken District Pleebo/Sodoken District Whojah District Montserrado County Commonwealth District Careysburg District Greater Monrovia District St. Paul River District Todee District Nimba County Boe & Quilla District Buu-Yao District Doe District Garr-Bain District Gbehlay-Geh District Gbi & Doru District Gbor District Kparblee District Leewehpea-Mahn District Meinpea-Mahn District Sanniquellie-Mahn District Twan River District Wee-Gbehy-Mahn District Yarmein District Yarpea-Mahn District Yarwein Mehnsonnoh District Zoe-Gbao District River Cess County Beawor District Central River Cess District Doedain District Fen River District Jo River District Norwein District Sam Gbalor District Zarflahn District River Gee Chedepo District Gbeapo District Glaro District Karforh District Nanee District Nyenawliken District Potupo District Sarbo District Tuobo District Nyenebo District Sinoe County 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 Wedjah District
Clans
The Clans of Liberia were local political units created by the central government as part of its efforts to extend its authority and influence into the interior of the country. As the tier of administrative government beneath the districts of Liberia, the clan structure only loosely corresponded to historic local political entities. Clans were legally recognized through legislation in 1905 and 1912. In a number of cases the clans, each under a chief, were combined under larger units called chiefdoms and headed by a paramount chief. Clans and chiefdoms were in some cases parts of a limited number of officially-recognized tribes. Under that system, indigenous Africans were regarded as corporate members of their respective groups rather than as individual citizens of Liberia. Clan land was owned communally and could be alienated only with the agreement of the chiefs. Over time, the units of clans and chiefdoms gradually merged into the state. The County Council, affirmed in the Budget Act of 2012, has now replaced informal town hall meetings and includes a broad representation of citizen groups, districts, chiefdoms and clans.
See also Geography of Liberia
References