Monrovia

Monrovia is the capital city of the West African country of Liberia. Located on the Atlantic Coast at Cape Mesurado, Monrovia had a population of 1,010,970 as of the 2008 census. With 29% of the total population of Liberia, Monrovia is the country's most populous city. From January 7, 1822 until the Liberian Declaration of Independence from the American Colonization Society on July 26, 1847 some 3,198 ex-Caribbean slaves settlers from the Lesser Antilles, who had escaped from their slaveholder or were born free, left the Caribbean islands and came to Liberia with the help and support of the American Colonization Society and other establishment organizations. The ex-Caribbean slaves came to Liberia to live a better life, to be free, and to establish self-governance. The first ex-Caribbean slaves who came to Liberia were from Barbados; some 500 to 1,000 ex-Caribbean slaves arrived in Liberia. The second group of settlers who came from the Caribbean islands were from Trinidad and Tobago; they were some 345 ex-Caribbean slaves, followed by some 620 ex-Caribbean slaves from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Another group of settlers, some 350 ex-Caribbean slaves, came from Saint Kitts and Nevis. The last two groups of settlers from the Caribbean islands were some 483 from Grenada and some 400 from Saint Lucia. As job opportunities and development growth increased, the ex-Caribbean slaves moved through Grand Cape Mount, Bomi County, Montserrado, Margibi County and other regions of Liberia to seek jobs and other opportunities.

Monrovia is Liberia's cultural, political and financial hub. The body that administers the government of Greater Monrovia District is the Monrovia City Corporation.

Founded on April 25, 1822, Monrovia was the second permanent Black American settlement in Africa after Freetown, Sierra Leone. Monrovia's economy is shaped primarily by its harbour and its role as the location of Liberia's government offices. It is the world's poorest city according to TheRichest.