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Created in 1964, Grand Gedeh County, located in Liberia, is a first-level administrative division with its capital is Zwedru.

Background and Introduction

Spanning 10,480 square kilometers (km²), Grand Gedeh is one of Liberia’s 15 counties situated in the southeastern corner of Liberia and bounded on the Northwest through the North by Nimba, on the Northwest through the East by the Cavalla River forming the boundary with Cote d’Ivoire, on the South by River Gee County, and on the Southwest by Sinoe County.

There are 3 Electoral Districts (ED) 1, 2, and 3; and 8 Administrative Districts (Gbao, Gboe-Ploe, Konobo, Tchien,Glio-Twarbo, Putu, B’hai and Cavala), comprising 16 Chiefdom and 32 Clans. County leadership is headed by a superintendent, while districts, townships, and boroughs are governed by representatives and senators, commissioners, and governors   respectively. See the Table below.

According to the 2022 census by the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS), the population stands at 216,692 made up of 115,295 males and 101,397 females representing 53.2% and 46.8.% respectively. See the Table below.

According to the 2022 census by the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS), the population stands at 216,692 made up of 115,295 males and 101,397 females representing 53.2% and 46.8.% respectively and 4.13% of the national population figure of 5,250,187. See the Table below.

The Kranh-speaking people are in the vast majority, making up 96% of the County’s population. Other groups in the County include the Sapo (1%), the Bassa (1%) and the Kpelle (2%), though it is thought that all of Liberia’s 16 tribes are represented at least in small numbers.

History

Grand Gedeh is one of the few leeward counties created in the 1960s. It was established in 1964. Grand Gedeh was formerly known as the Eastern Province under
the 1847 Constitution of Liberia. Its original capital was Tchien, now known as Zwedru.
The then Eastern Province comprised two districts, Webbo (now part of River Gee County) and Tchien.

Today Grand Gedeh County is subdivided into 2 Statutory districts, eight 8 Administrative districts, 16 Chiefdoms, 32 Clans, 3 Cities, and 236 Towns. The County is noted for its rich iron ore reserves and vast forest, which are depicted in the flag of the County.

Flag

The flag of Grand Gedeh has symbolizes mineral richness, forests and highland, peace and unity identity.

Technical Description

The flag features four colors: blue, white, green and orange, the rising sun and a mountain landscape with the Liberian flag in the canton and the county emblem displayed on the field.

Design Elements and Symbolism

Green Mountain – Represents the rich forest and highlands.
White and Blue – Depict peace and unity.
Orange Sun – Represents the new era of development.

Climate

The climate of Grand Gedeh County, like many parts of Liberia, is determined by the Country’s geographic position near the equator and Atlantic Ocean. Temperatures are warm throughout the year with extremely high humidity. The climate is characterized by little seasonal change of temperature and humidity, but by changes between day and night. There are basically two seasons, rainy and dry, which are marked by variation in precipitation. These seasonal patterns result from the movement of high and low pressure belts caused by the changing angle of the sun.

The rainy season runs from April to October, while the dry season runs from October to April. The average annual rainfall of Grand Gedeh County ranges from 76 inches in the upper or northern part to 107 inches in the lower or southern part. Average temperature is 77.5º F (25.5ºC).

Topography

Grand Gedeh is categorized under the highlands of Liberia, which is generally characterized by plateau and mountain ranges up to 1,000 ft (300 M). Important mountain ranges are the Puto and Tiempo. The hilly terrain is an impediment to road construction; gradients are steep and irregular, and the river valleys are V-shaped and narrow in their upper reaches.

Geology

The soils are not unlike those of the rest of the country, generally amenable to a variety of agricultural uses. The rock of the County forms part of the West African croton, recognized by its stability and general absence of tectonic activity during the last 2,500 million years.

Vegetation

The vegetation of Grand Gedeh County is typical of the tropical rain forest, characterized by evergreen and semi-deciduous forest.

Credit Sources:
Republic of Liberia – Ministry of Internal Affairs
Liberian Government Gazette (1964 Establishment Act)
National Archives of Liberia
Grand Gedeh County Administration
Official County Publications
County Development Agenda (CDA)
2022 Housing and Population Census: Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS)
National Elections Commission (NEC), Republic of Liberia
Senate.gov.lr