MonroviaArticle Free Pass Monrovia, capital, largest city, and
chief Atlantic port of Liberia, located on Bushrod Island and
Cape Mesurado. It was founded during the administration of U.S.
President James Monroe (for whom it was named) by the American
Colonization Society as a settlement for freed American slaves.
The first town (1822) was on Providence Island at the mouth of
the Mesurado River. The population is composed of descendants of
settlers from North America, most of whom arrived between 1830
and 1871, and of substantial numbers of immigrants from the
interior. Bushrod Island contains the artificial harbour and
free port of Monrovia, the only such port in West Africa. As the
national centre of commerce and transportation, it attracted
petroleum, paint, tuna, pharmaceutical, and cement enterprises.
Prominent buildings have included the Capitol (1958), the
Executive Mansion (1964), the City Hall, and the Temple of
Justice. Many of these and other buildings, however, were
severely damaged or destroyed d