# Freetown

> capital of Sierra Leone

**Wikidata**: [Q3780](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3780)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freetown)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/freetown

## Summary
Freetown is the capital city of Sierra Leone, founded in 1792 by John Clarkson. It serves as a major port city and is located in the Western Area. As of 2015, the city had a population of approximately 1.1 million people.

## Key Facts
- **Country:** Sierra Leone
- **Inception:** 1792
- **Founded by:** John Clarkson
- **Instance of:** City, port city, big city
- **Capital of:** Sierra Leone, Colony of Sierra Leone, Western Area, Commonwealth realm of Sierra Leone
- **Location:** Western Area
- **Population:** 1,055,964 (2015), 951,000 (2014), 862,419 (2013), 853,651 (2012)
- **Area:** 357,000,000 square metres
- **Coordinates:** 8.487222°N, -13.235556°W
- **Elevation:** 26 metres above sea level
- **Time Zone:** UTC±00:00
- **Head of Government:** Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr (since May 11, 2018)
- **Legislative Body:** Freetown City Council
- **Official Language:** Krio, English
- **Demonym:** Freetonien (masculine singular), Freetonienne (feminine singular)
- **UN/LOCODE:** SLFNA
- **Local Dialing Code:** 22
- **Sister Cities:** Banjul, Conakry, Ganzhou, Hartford, Hefei, Kansas City, Kingston upon Hull, Makeni, New Haven (since 1981)

## FAQs
**Where is Freetown located and when was it established?**
Freetown is the capital city of Sierra Leone, situated in the Western Area on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and near the Sierra Leone River. It was founded in 1792 by John Clarkson.

**Who governs Freetown and what are its administrative features?**
The city is administered by the Freetown City Council, with Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr serving as mayor since May 11, 2018. Its official languages are English and Krio, and its legislative body is the Freetown City Council.

**What is the population of Freetown?**
The city's population has grown from 853,651 in 2012 to 1,055,964 in 2015, with intermediate counts of 862,419 in 2013 and 951,000 in 2014.

**What is Freetown’s role in international relations?**
Freetown maintains sister city agreements with nine cities worldwide, including New Haven (established in 1981), Hartford, and Kansas City in the United States; Banjul and Conakry in West Africa; and others in China and the UK.

## Why It Matters
As the political, economic, and cultural heart of Sierra Leone, Freetown is the nation's primary urban center and port city. Its founding in 1792 connects it to the history of the Colony of Sierra Leone and the broader Commonwealth realm. The city's governance under the Freetown City Council and its status as the seat of national government underscore its administrative importance. Furthermore, its international sister city network highlights its role in global municipal cooperation.

## Notable For
- Being the **capital city of Sierra Leone** and the former Colony of Sierra Leone.
- Classification as a **port city** and **big city**.
- **Founded in 1792** by John Clarkson.
- Population exceeding **one million residents** as of 2015.
- Having a female mayor, **Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr**, the first since 1980.
- Extensive **sister city network** across four continents.

## Body

### Geography and Demographics
Freetown is geographically positioned at coordinates 8.487222°N, -13.235556°W, with an elevation of 26 metres above sea level. The city covers a total area of 357,000,000 square metres. It is located in the Western Area and is situated next to the Atlantic Ocean and the Sierra Leone River.

The city has experienced steady population growth in recent years. Recorded population figures include 853,651 in 2012, 862,419 in 2013, 951,000 in 2014, and 1,055,964 in 2015.

### Governance and Administration
Freetown serves as the capital of Sierra Leone, the Western Area, the former Colony of Sierra Leone, and the former Commonwealth realm of Sierra Leone. The city's legislative body is the Freetown City Council. The current head of government is Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, who assumed office on May 11, 2018. The official website for the city is https://fcc.gov.sl/.

### History and Origins
The city was officially founded in 1792 by John Clarkson. Its history is documented in specific topics such as the "history of Freetown" and the "timeline of Freetown history." The city has been the subject of significant historical events, including the Siege of Freetown.

### Identity and Culture
The native and official name of the city is Freetown. The official languages are Krio and English. Demonyms for residents include "Freetonien" for masculine singular and "Freetonienne" for feminine singular. The city is also known by aliases such as 自由城 and فريتون.

### International Connections
Freetown maintains sister city relationships with Banjul, Conakry, Ganzhou, Hartford, Hefei, Kansas City, Kingston upon Hull, Makeni, and New Haven. The sister city agreement with New Haven was established in 1981.

The city is identified by various international codes and IDs, including the UN/LOCODE SLFNA, VIAF ID 154786869, and GeoNames ID 2409306. It has a local dialing code of 22 and operates in the UTC±00:00 time zone.

### Classification and Media
Freetown is classified as a city, a port city, and a big city. It is described by major encyclopedic sources, including the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, Granat Encyclopedic Dictionary, and the 11th edition of Encyclopædia Britannica.

Available media includes an aerial view image, a nighttime view from January 1, 2014, an overview map, and a flag image. The city also has a designated coat of arms.

## References

1. [Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr is the First Female Mayor in Sierra Leone Since 1980. 2018](https://howafrica.com/yvonne-aki-sawyerr-is-the-first-female-mayor-in-sierra-leone-since-1980/)
2. archINFORM
3. [Sister cities of Freetown](http://en.sistercity.info/sister-cities/Freetown.html)
4. [Source](https://www.newhavenct.gov/gov/depts/arts/neighborhood_n_cultural_development/sister_cities.htm)
5. Virtual International Authority File
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. MusicBrainz
8. [Source](http://cnig.gouv.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CNT-PVM_r%C3%A9vis%C3%A9_2020-01-27-1.pdf)
9. GeoNames
10. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/sl.htm)
11. YSO-Wikidata mapping project
12. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
13. museum-digital