Edina, Liberia
Encyclopedia
Edina is a town in District 1
of Grand Bassa County
, Liberia
. Located on the central portion of the Atlantic Coast
of Liberia on the north shore of the mouth of the St. John River
, it is about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north of Grand Bassa’s capitol of Buchanan
. Settled in 1832, the current mayor of Edina is Etweda Cooper and the City's Senior Councilman is James W. Johnson. The community is named after Edinburgh
, Scotland
, which provided monetary support for the foundation of the settlement.
in 1832. Edina colony was later given to the United Colonization Societies of New York and Pennsylvania and became part of the Bassa Cove colony in 1837. On October 22, 1836, a school was opened and in December 1837, a church was founded in the colony. A second church opened in late 1839 while the Baptists started a mission at Edina.
Edina is listed as one of the original settlements comprising the Commonwealth of Liberia in the 1839 Constitution, which was drafted by the American Colonization Society
.
Edina was the birthplace of the 12th President of Liberia, Joseph James Cheeseman
. One of the earliest settlers of Edina was Charles R.H. Johnson, a son of Elijah Johnson who was one of the pioneers that played significant roles in establishing Liberia.
In 2002, an outbreak of diarrhea
killed six people in and around the city. Steel manufacturer Mittal began subsidisng medical care in the city in 2007.
Edina is in District 1
of Grand Bassa County
along the St. John River. It is near the mouth of the river, about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north of Buchanan
with Paynesberry and Tuo Town the next closest communities. Lying along the Atlantic coast in the central part of Liberian coastline, about 40 miles south of the capital of Monrovia
, it is inhabited by many fishermen. Situated at sea level
, the greater Edina area has a population of 15,628.
Edina Public Health Center, a government run medical clinic, is located in the city. The Liberian government believes Edina lies at the southern end of possible off-shore oil deposits. It is among the oldest communities in the county.
5°55′30"N 10°4′38"W
District 1, Grand Bassa County
District #1 is one of six districts located in Grand Bassa County, Liberia....
of Grand Bassa County
Grand Bassa County
Grand Bassa is a county in the west-central portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has eight districts. Buchanan serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring...
, Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
. Located on the central portion of the Atlantic Coast
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
of Liberia on the north shore of the mouth of the St. John River
Saint John River (Liberia)
The Saint John River is one of the six main rivers in the West African nation of Liberia. With its headwaters in neighboring Guinea, the river flows generally southwest through Liberia and empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Bassa Cove near Edina in Grand Bassa County...
, it is about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north of Grand Bassa’s capitol of Buchanan
Buchanan, Liberia
Buchanan is the third largest city in Liberia, lying on Waterhouse Bay, part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is referred to as Gbezohn in the local Bassa language. As of the 2008 census, Buchanan has a population of 34,270. Of this, 16,984 were male and 17,286 female....
. Settled in 1832, the current mayor of Edina is Etweda Cooper and the City's Senior Councilman is James W. Johnson. The community is named after Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, which provided monetary support for the foundation of the settlement.
History
Edina was founded as a colony of the American Colonization SocietyAmerican Colonization Society
The American Colonization Society , founded in 1816, was the primary vehicle to support the "return" of free African Americans to what was considered greater freedom in Africa. It helped to found the colony of Liberia in 1821–22 as a place for freedmen...
in 1832. Edina colony was later given to the United Colonization Societies of New York and Pennsylvania and became part of the Bassa Cove colony in 1837. On October 22, 1836, a school was opened and in December 1837, a church was founded in the colony. A second church opened in late 1839 while the Baptists started a mission at Edina.
Edina is listed as one of the original settlements comprising the Commonwealth of Liberia in the 1839 Constitution, which was drafted by the American Colonization Society
American Colonization Society
The American Colonization Society , founded in 1816, was the primary vehicle to support the "return" of free African Americans to what was considered greater freedom in Africa. It helped to found the colony of Liberia in 1821–22 as a place for freedmen...
.
Edina was the birthplace of the 12th President of Liberia, Joseph James Cheeseman
Joseph James Cheeseman
Joseph James Cheeseman was the 12th President of Liberia. He was born in Edina, Grand Bassa County, Liberia and was elected three times on the True Whig ticket...
. One of the earliest settlers of Edina was Charles R.H. Johnson, a son of Elijah Johnson who was one of the pioneers that played significant roles in establishing Liberia.
In 2002, an outbreak of diarrhea
Diarrhea
Diarrhea , also spelled diarrhoea, is the condition of having three or more loose or liquid bowel movements per day. It is a common cause of death in developing countries and the second most common cause of infant deaths worldwide. The loss of fluids through diarrhea can cause dehydration and...
killed six people in and around the city. Steel manufacturer Mittal began subsidisng medical care in the city in 2007.
Details
District 1, Grand Bassa County
District #1 is one of six districts located in Grand Bassa County, Liberia....
of Grand Bassa County
Grand Bassa County
Grand Bassa is a county in the west-central portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has eight districts. Buchanan serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring...
along the St. John River. It is near the mouth of the river, about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north of Buchanan
Buchanan, Liberia
Buchanan is the third largest city in Liberia, lying on Waterhouse Bay, part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is referred to as Gbezohn in the local Bassa language. As of the 2008 census, Buchanan has a population of 34,270. Of this, 16,984 were male and 17,286 female....
with Paynesberry and Tuo Town the next closest communities. Lying along the Atlantic coast in the central part of Liberian coastline, about 40 miles south of the capital of Monrovia
Monrovia
Monrovia is the capital city of the West African nation of Liberia. Located on the Atlantic Coast at Cape Mesurado, it lies geographically within Montserrado County, but is administered separately...
, it is inhabited by many fishermen. Situated at sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
, the greater Edina area has a population of 15,628.
Edina Public Health Center, a government run medical clinic, is located in the city. The Liberian government believes Edina lies at the southern end of possible off-shore oil deposits. It is among the oldest communities in the county.
External links
- The Page Families of Frederick (now Clarke) County
- The library of ... sir George Grey, K.C.B. (a catalogue, compiled by W.H.I. Bleek, sir G. Grey and J. Cameron)
- The Republic of Liberia: Its Geography, Climate, Soil and Productions
5°55′30"N 10°4′38"W