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Created in 1833, Grand Bassa County, located in Liberia, is a first-level administrative division with its capital is Buchanan.

Background and Introduction

Spanning 3,382 square miles, Grand Bassa is one of Liberia’s 15 counties situated in the western region of Liberia and bordered by Margibi on the Northwest, Bong on the North, Nimba on the East, and River Cess on the Southeast. There are 5 Electoral Districts (ED) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5; and 9 Administrative Districts (District 1 (Dianblae), District 2 (Glarkon), St. John River City, Neekreen, Commonwealth, District Number 3 (Wee), District Number 4 (Kpaoegbarn), Owensgrove), comprising 18 Chiefdoms and 45 Clans. County leadership is headed by a superintendent, while districts, townships, and boroughs are governed by representatives and senators, commissioners, and governors  respectively.

According to the 2022 census by the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS), the population stands at 293,689 made up of 150,280 males and 143,409 females representing 51.2% and 48.8.% respectively and 5.59% of the national population figure of 5,250,187.

Grand Bassa County flag consists of a royal blue cloth with the Liberian flag inserted in the upper left corner and two red and two white stripes in the lower right. The dark blue stands for loyalty, while the stripes represent the four Grand Bassa delegates who signed Liberia’s Declaration of Independence on 26 July 1847, namely Anthony Gardner, John Day, Ephraim Titler, and Amos Herring.

Bassa-speaking people are in the majority, making up 94% of the County’s population. Other ethnic groups in the County include the Kpelle (5%), and the Kissi (1%), and small numbers of other groups. The Kru, often originating from neighboring Sinoe County, and Fanti fishermen and traders are also a part of the population.

History

Grand Bassa County is one of the three original counties, along with Montserrado and Sinoe, that first formed the Republic of Liberia. It was established in 1833 and its capital is Buchanan City, named for Thomas Buchanan, an American who served as the first Governor of the Commonwealth of Liberia. The County’s flag is a royal blue cloth with the Liberian flag inserted in the upper left corner and two red and two white stripes in the lower right. The dark blue stands for loyalty, while the stripes represent the four Grand Bassa delegates who signed Liberia’s Declaration of Independence on 26 July 1847, namely Anthony Gardner, John Day, Ephraim Titler, and Amos Herring.

The County went through a series of political and territorial metamorphoses over the years until, on 18 April 1985, during the administration of Samuel Doe, the part of the County known as River Cess was promoted to status as a County, thus splitting the region away from Grand Bassa.

In October 2003, a few days before the end of the mandate of the 51st national Legislature, the County’s previous four districts (District #1, #2, #3, and #4) were divided into its current five statutory districts, nine administrative districts, eleven townships, three cities (Buchanan, Edina, and St. John River City) and forty-five clans. This most recent restructuring has resulted in confusion for many citizens, who still tend to use the names of the previous denominations. Many organizations continue to organize their activities and collect data according to the old structure, contributing to the confusion.

Climate

The climate is tropical, hot and humid; Bassa is among the wettest counties of Liberia with an annual average rainfall of about 400 mm per year. Based on the prevailing precipitation, two seasons are differentiated – rainy and dry. The rainy season lasts from late April to October. The dry season begins in November and ends in April.

Topography

Grand Bassa has a flat coastline. A narrow coastal plain extends inland from the seashore, and the land gradually rises to the hilly hinterland of the County. High elevation regions have forest of evergreen and deciduous trees, including ironwood and mahogany.

The County has several major rivers. These are St. John, Farmingtohn, Merchin, New Cess, Ilor, Timbo, and Benson River. Consequently, the shore is broken by estuaries, tidal creeks, and rocky capes. The coastal region does not rise more than 60 to 70 meters, excepting occasional small hills. This situation makes several settlements near the sea—including Buchanan City—vulnerable to inundation and erosion.

Moreover, Benson River and Merclin River overflow the banks in some areas during the rainy season. As a result, many villages remain inaccessible during certain periods of the year due to the deteriorated roads.

Geology

The County’s soils can be categorized as laterite (55%), which is leached out, alluvial (19%) and sandy and loamy (26%). Alluvial soil is prevalent in the leeward districts. Two onshore sediment-filled basins are located along the coastline: Roberts Basin, which is filled with sediments of the Farmington River formation and Paynesville sandstone; and the Bassa Basin, which is filled with material from the St. John River formation.

Vegetation

Grand Bassa is generally covered by green forest, but there is also savanna. The territory not covered by the forest is used for farming using traditional methods. Rubber trees and palms are also planted in the concession areas and on small private farms.