LiberiaData

Key Historical Context from Ministry Records

The Original Counties (1839–1857)

• The 1839 Origin:
  
  Montserrado, Grand Bassa and Sinoe were recognized as the original counties and were established under the 1839 Constitution of the Commonwealth of Liberia, which predates the 1847 Declaration of Independence.
  
  
• However, Montserrado, has a rich history dating back to the early days of the Republic of Liberia in 1821, when a group of formerly enslaved African Americans settled on Providence Island along the Mesurrado River, where Monrovia, the nation’s capital, is now located. This automatically places Montserrado the first and oldest county in Liberia. This predates the 1847 declaration of independence.

Although Grand Bassa (1833) and Sinoe (1843) were settled shortly after, Montserrado was the earliest foothold. 

• 1847 Significance and Administrative Status:
  
  The 1847 date is often used for Montserrado because it marks when the settlements officially became the independent Republic of Liberia, separating from the American Colonization Society, with Montserrado serving as the seat of government. 
• Grand Cape Mount County:Established 1844 (officially as a county in 1856).
• Maryland County:Annexed as a county on March 18, 1857, after previously being an independent republic.

• The 1964 “Big Four” Shift:
  
  Before 1964, the interior of Liberia was divided into “Provinces” (Western, Central, and Eastern) rather than counties. Under the “Unification Policy” of President William V.S. Tubman, the three existing inland provinces were disestablished and reorganized into four new counties. The Ministry of Internal Affairs considers July 26, 1964, the official birth of Bong, Grand Gedeh, Lofa, and Nimba as equal political subdivisions known as the The “Unification” Counties (1964).
  
  

The “Unification” Counties (1964)

• Bong County: Created from the Central Province.
• Grand Gedeh County: Created from the Eastern Province.
• Lofa County: Created from the Western Province.
• Nimba County: Created from the Central Province.

Modern Era Counties (1984–2001) 

These counties were created by splitting larger existing counties to improve local administration. 

• Bomi County:Created  1984 (split from Montserrado).
• Grand Kru County:Created 1984 (split from Maryland and Sasstown/Kru Coast territories).
• Margibi County:Created  1985 (split from Montserrado and Grand Bassa).
• River Cess County:Created 1985 (formerly a territory within Grand Bassa).
• River Gee County:Created in 2000 (split from Grand Gedeh).
• Gbarpolu County:Created in 2003 (split from Lofa). 

Credit Sources:
Republic of Liberia – Ministry of Internal Affairs
Liberian Government Gazette (1964 Establishment Act)
National Archives of Liberia
County Administrations
Official County Publications
County Development Agenda (CDA)