Gbarpolu County | |
|---|---|
 Flag | |
 Location in Liberia | |
| Coordinates: 7°10′N 10°25′W / 7.167°N 10.417°W | |
| Country |  Liberia |
| Capital | Bopulu |
| Districts | 6 |
| Established | 2001 |
| Government | |
| • Superintendent | Allen Gbowee |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9,689 km2 (3,741 sq mi) |
| Population (2008) | |
| • Total | 83,758 |
| • Density | 8.6/km2 (22/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (GMT) |
| HDI (2018) | 0.405[1] low · 11th of 15 |
Gbarpolu is a county in the northern portion of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has six districts. Bopulu serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring 3,741 square miles (9,690 km2).[2] As of the 2008 Census, it had a population of 83,758, making it the eleventh-most populous county in Liberia.[2]
Created in 2001 when it was split from Lofa County, Gbarpolu is the youngest county in Liberia. As of 2013[update], the County Superintendent was Allen Gbowee.[3]
The county is bordered by Grand Cape Mount County to the west, Bomi County to the southwest, Bong County to the south, and Lofa County to the east and north. The northwest part of Gbarpolu borders the nation of Sierra Leone. The Gola Forest straddles this border and is home to the Gola Forest community.
The majority of Gbarpolu County consists of forests. Mining was the primary economic activity prior to the Liberian Civil War, in addition to subsistence farming. However, the war devastated all sectors of the county.
Gbarpolu County also produces timber and coal.
The county flag features a diamond, a tree, and the flag of Liberia on a yellow background.
- ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ^ a b "2008 National Population and Housing Census: Preliminary Results" (PDF). Government of the Republic of Liberia. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2008.
- ^ Dennis, Edwood (1 August 2008). "Liberia: Mano Resources Company Targets Modern Seaport". The Analyst. allAfrica.com. Retrieved 12 October 2008.