Southern Province, Sierra Leone
Encyclopedia
The Southern Province is one of three provinces of Sierra Leone
. It covers an area of 19,694 km² and has a population of 1,377,067 (2004 census). It consists of four districts (Bo
, Bonthe
, Moyamba
, and Pujehun
). Its capital and administrative center is Bo
, which is also the second largest and second most populated city in Sierra Leone after the nation's capital Freetown
. The population of the southern province is largely from the Mende
ethnic group.
To the south and west of Southern Province is the Atlantic Ocean
.
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
. It covers an area of 19,694 km² and has a population of 1,377,067 (2004 census). It consists of four districts (Bo
Bo District
Bo District is the second most populous district in Sierra Leone and is located in the Southern Province of the country. Its capital and largest city is the city of Bo, which is the second largest city in Sierra Leone. The other major towns in the district include Baoma, Bumpeh, Serabu, Sumbuya,...
, Bonthe
Bonthe District
Bonthe District comprises several islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the southwestern coast of Sierra Leone and a mainland area. Its capital is the town of Mattru Jong and the largest town in the district is Bonthe, on Sherbro Island and the town of Masabendu....
, Moyamba
Moyamba District
Moyamba District is a district in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone with a population of 260,910 in the 2004 census. Its capital and largest city is Moyamba. The other major towns include Njala, Rotifunk and Shenge...
, and Pujehun
Pujehun District
Pujehun District is a district in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone. Its capital is the town of Pujehun . The other major towns in the district include Gandorhun, Zimmi, Bomi and Potoru.The district has a 2010 estimated population of 276,970....
). Its capital and administrative center is Bo
Bo, Sierra Leone
Bo is the second largest city in Sierra Leone and the largest city in the Southern Province. It lies about 164 miles south-east of Freetown and had a population 149,957 in the 2004 census, with a current estimate is 231,494 . The city serve as the capital and administrative center of Bo District...
, which is also the second largest and second most populated city in Sierra Leone after the nation's capital Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
. The population of the southern province is largely from the Mende
Mende people
The Mende people are one of the two largest and most dominant ethnic group in Sierra Leone, along with the Temne. The Mende make up 30% of Sierra Leone's total population or 1,932,015 members...
ethnic group.
Districts
The province is divided into 4 districts.- Bo DistrictBo DistrictBo District is the second most populous district in Sierra Leone and is located in the Southern Province of the country. Its capital and largest city is the city of Bo, which is the second largest city in Sierra Leone. The other major towns in the district include Baoma, Bumpeh, Serabu, Sumbuya,...
, capital BoBo, Sierra LeoneBo is the second largest city in Sierra Leone and the largest city in the Southern Province. It lies about 164 miles south-east of Freetown and had a population 149,957 in the 2004 census, with a current estimate is 231,494 . The city serve as the capital and administrative center of Bo District... - Bonthe DistrictBonthe DistrictBonthe District comprises several islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the southwestern coast of Sierra Leone and a mainland area. Its capital is the town of Mattru Jong and the largest town in the district is Bonthe, on Sherbro Island and the town of Masabendu....
, capital Mattru JongMattru JongMattru Jong commonly known as Mattru is a major fishing town on the mainland of Bonthe District in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone. It is located along the Jong River, 52 miles southwest of Bo. It is the seat of the Jong Chiefdom, and home of Paramount Chief Alie Badara Sheriff III. The... - Moyamba DistrictMoyamba DistrictMoyamba District is a district in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone with a population of 260,910 in the 2004 census. Its capital and largest city is Moyamba. The other major towns include Njala, Rotifunk and Shenge...
, capital MoyambaMoyambaMoyamba is the capital and largest city of Moyamba District, in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone, with a population of 11,485 in the 2004 census. The city is about 48 miles southeast of the capital, Freetown. The population of the city is ethnically diverse although the Mende people make up... - Pujehun DistrictPujehun DistrictPujehun District is a district in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone. Its capital is the town of Pujehun . The other major towns in the district include Gandorhun, Zimmi, Bomi and Potoru.The district has a 2010 estimated population of 276,970....
, capital PujehunPujehunPujehun is a rural town in Pujehun District in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone. The town is the capital and second largest city of the Pujehun District. The 1985 census gives pujehun a population of 3,859 with the population estimated to have grown to 9,121 in 2010. The Mende language along...
Borders
Southern Province has the following borders:- Western AreaWestern Area, Sierra LeoneThe Western Area or Freetown Peninsula is one of four principal divisions of Sierra Leone. It comprises the oldest city and national capital Freetown and its surrounding suburbs. It covers an area of 557 km² and has a population of 947,122...
: far northwest - Northern ProvinceNorthern Province, Sierra LeoneThe Northern Province is one of the four provincial divisions of Sierra Leone. It comprises five Districts and covers an area of 35,936 km² and with a population of 1,718,240 . Its administrative and economic center is Makeni...
: north - Eastern ProvinceEastern Province, Sierra LeoneEastern Province is one of the four provinces of Sierra Leone. It covers an area of 15,553 km² and has a population of 1,187,532...
: east - Grand Cape Mount CountyGrand Cape Mount CountyGrand Cape Mount is a county in the northwestern 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 five districts. Robertsport serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring...
, LiberiaLiberiaLiberia , 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...
: southeast
To the south and west of Southern Province is the Atlantic Ocean
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...
.