# Monrovia

> capital city of Liberia

**Wikidata**: [Q3748](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3748)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monrovia)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/monrovia

## Summary
Monrovia is the capital city of Liberia and a major port city located on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Mesurado River. Founded on April 25, 1822, the city is named after James Monroe, a former President of the United States. It serves as the political and administrative center of the Greater Monrovia District.

## Key Facts
- **Country:** Liberia
- **Inception:** April 25, 1822
- **Coordinates:** 6.3105555555556°N, -10.804722222222°W
- **Area:** 194.25 square kilometres
- **Population:** 1,021,762 (2008 census)
- **Time Zone:** Greenwich Mean Time (UTC±00:00)
- **Official Language:** English
- **UN/LOCODE:** LRMLW
- **Postal Code:** 1000
- **Local Dialing Code:** 77
- **Demonym:** Monrovian (English), Monrovien/Monrovienne (French), Monroviano (Italian)
- **Named After:** James Monroe
- **Location:** Greater Monrovia District; located next to the Mesurado River and the Atlantic Ocean.

## FAQs
**What is the origin of Monrovia?**
Monrovia was founded on April 25, 1822, and is named after James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States.

**What are the demographic and geographic details of Monrovia?**
The city covers an area of 194.25 square kilometres and had a population of 1,021,762 as of the 2008 census. It is situated in the Greater Monrovia District at coordinates 6.31°N 10.80°W, bordering the Mesurado River and the Atlantic Ocean.

**What are the administrative and political details of Monrovia?**
Monrovia is the capital of Liberia and the Greater Monrovia District. Its official website is https://monrovia.gov.lr/, and it utilizes the Greenwich Mean Time (UTC±00:00) zone. The current head of government (as of March 2024) is John Charuk Siafa.

**What international relationships does Monrovia have?**
Monrovia maintains "twin town" or sister city relationships with Taipei (since 1998), Dayton, and Newark.

## Why It Matters
As the capital and largest city of Liberia, Monrovia serves as the nation's political, economic, and cultural hub. Its status as a port city on the Atlantic Ocean makes it a critical point for maritime trade and logistics, indicated by its UN/LOCODE LRMLW. Historically, its founding in 1822 and naming after U.S. President James Monroe highlights the deep historical connections between Liberia and the United States. The city has played a central role in the nation's history, including being the site of the significant "Siege of Monrovia."

## Notable For
- Being the **capital city of Liberia**.
- **Founding Date**: Established on April 25, 1822.
- **Namesake**: Unique among capital cities for being named after a U.S. President, **James Monroe**.
- **Port Status**: Identified explicitly as a **port city** and "big city."
- **Sister City Relationships**: notably with **Taipei** (established 1998), Dayton, and Newark.
- **Vital Article**: Classified as a "Vital Article/Level/4" on Wikipedia, indicating high importance.

## Body

### Geography and Demographics
Monrovia is located in the Greater Monrovia District. It lies at latitude 6.3105555555556 and longitude -10.804722222222. The city covers a total area of 194.25 square kilometres. According to the 2008 census, the population was recorded as 1,021,762. The city is situated on the coast, located in or next to the Mesurado River and the Atlantic Ocean.

### History and Etymology
The city was officially founded on April 25, 1822. It was named in honor of James Monroe, the President of the United States at the time, who was a prominent supporter of the colonization of Liberia. A significant event in the city's history includes the "Siege of Monrovia." The history of the city is also documented in a specific "timeline of Monrovia."

### Governance and Administration
Monrovia functions as the capital of the sovereign state of Liberia. The official government website is https://monrovia.gov.lr/ (in English). The postal code for the city is 1000, and the local dialing code is 77. The current head of government is John Charuk Siafa (referenced as Q134069800), who assumed office in March 2024.

### Culture and Society
The official language is English. Residents of the city are known as "Monrovians" (English). In French, the demonym is "Monrovien" (masculine) and "Monrovienne" (feminine); in Italian, it is "Monroviano." An audio file of the spoken text "Monrovia" in English is available, recorded in 2019.

### International Relations
Monrovia is twinned with several administrative bodies internationally:
- **Taipei** (Partnership started in 1998)
- **Dayton**
- **Newark**

### External Identifiers and Classifications
Monrovia is extensively cataloged across various databases and library systems:
- **Standard IDs:** VIAF ID: 146571193; Library of Congress Authority ID: n79107972; Geonames ID: 2274895.
- **Encyclopedic References:** It is described by sources such as the *New Encyclopedic Dictionary*, *Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary*, *Great Soviet Encyclopedia*, *The Encyclopedia Americana*, and *Collier's New Encyclopedia*.
- **Digital Archives:** It has identifiers for Freebase (/m/01pxqx), Quora Topic (Monrovia-Liberia), and various museums and music databases (MusicBrainz Area ID: 74b46be1-9427-4e7a-bea6-d97e0c1546a8).

### Visual and Media Resources
Visual documentation of the city includes a flag image, a locator map, a page banner, and a montage image. A specific nighttime view image of downtown Monrovia taken in 2013 is also archived. The city has a dedicated commons gallery and category on Wikimedia.

## References

1. [Source](https://amalicities.africa/about/john-charuk-siafa/)
2. archINFORM
3. [Source](https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/dwe/16337.htm)
4. BnF authorities
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. BBC Things
11. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/lr.htm)
12. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)