Bonthe
| Bonthe | |||
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| Coordinates | 7 ° 32 ′ N , 12 ° 31 ′ W | ||
 Bonthe District
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| Basic data | |||
| Country | Sierra Leone | ||
| Southern Province | |||
| District | Bonthe | ||
| ISO 3166-2 | SL-S | ||
| Chiefdom | Sittia | ||
| Residents | 9740 (2004) | ||
| politics | |||
| mayor | Layemin Joe Sandi (2013) | ||
| Political party | SLPP | ||
Bonthe is a municipality in Sierra Leone . It is the capital of the Bonthe district and is located in the Chiefdom Sittia in the southern province . The city is located in the east of the island of Sherbro (Bonthe) on the Atlantic coast . It is located around 140 kilometers south-southeast of the state capital Freetown .
history
The place was founded in the 19th century by freed slaves. Before the Americans went to Monrovia in neighboring Liberia , the island of Sherbro was a possible settlement for African American returnees. To avoid trouble with the British, the idea was dropped.
At the end of December 2019, the historic clock tower was reopened after lengthy repairs.
population
Most of the population belongs to the Bullom-Sherbro people . There are also numerous Creoles . The population stagnated between 1963 and 1974 (growth from 6230 to 6398 inhabitants). It has been growing ever since. In 1985 there were 7,210 and 2004 9,740 inhabitants.
Economy and Infrastructure
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Bonthe used to be the country's most important seaport after Freetown. However, its importance has fallen sharply because the port facilities are outdated. The main export products are palm oil, ginger and coffee. The city is also the marketplace for wet rice, fish and passion fruits.
The city has a hospital and administration building for the local government and an inactive airfield on the outskirts .
Individual evidence
- ↑ President Bio unveils newly restored historic Clock Tower on Bonthe Sherbro Island. Monuments and Relics Commission, December 28, 2019.
- ↑ FINAL RESULTS 2004 POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUS. Statistics Sierra Leone, February 23, 2006, p. 4 ( memento of July 30, 2013 in the Internet Archive ), accessed on February 23, 2014