{{short description|County of Liberia}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Bong County | settlement_type = County | nickname = | image_skyline = | image_size = | image_caption = | image_flag = Flag of Bong County.svg | image_map = Bong in Liberia.svg | map_caption = Location in Liberia | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|Liberia}} | subdivision_type1 = Capital | subdivision_name1 = Gbarnga | subdivision_type2 = Districts | subdivision_name2 = 12 | leader_title = Superintendent | leader_name = Hawa Loleyah Norris | established_title = Established | established_date = 1964 | area_total_km2 = 8754 | population_as_of = 2022 census | population_note = | population_total = 467502 | population_density_km2 = auto | blank_name_sec2 = HDI (2021) | blank_info_sec2 = 0.434<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{Cite web|url=https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/|title=Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab|website=hdi.globaldatalab.org|language=en|access-date=2018-09-13}}</ref><br/>{{color|#900|low}} · 9th of 15 | timezone = GMT | utc_offset = +0 | iso_code = LR-BG | coordinates = {{coord|07|00|00|N|09|40|00|W|region:LR|display=inline}} | footnotes = }} '''Bong''' is a county in the north-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 twelve districts. Gbarnga serves as the capital. The area of the county measures {{convert|8772|km2|mi2}}.<ref name="census2008"/> As of the 2022 Census, it had a population of 467,502, making it the third-most populous county in Liberia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Liberia: Counties, Major Cities, Towns & Urban Areas - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/liberia/ |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}</ref><ref name="census2008">{{cite web|url=http://www.emansion.gov.lr/doc/census_2008provisionalresults.pdf|title=2008 National Population and Housing Census: Preliminary Results|year=2008|publisher=Government of the Republic of Liberia|access-date=2008-10-14|archive-date=2012-02-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213110308/http://www.emansion.gov.lr/doc/census_2008provisionalresults.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The county was organized in 1964 and is important for its mining industry. Bong produces mostly iron ore, for example at the Bong Mine, located in Bong Town.
Named after Mount Bong in the southern portion of the county, it is bordered by Lofa and Gbarpolu counties to the north, Margibi and Montserrado counties to the west, Grand Bassa County to the south, and Nimba County to the east. The northeast part of Bong borders the nation of Guinea. Bong County's flag is purple, signifying the dawn, and orange, signifying the county's newness.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mapnall.org/pt/Mapa-bong_1104574.html|title=Mapa - Bong (condado) (Bong County)|website=mapnall.org}}</ref> The two geological instruments in the white field portion of the flag symbolize Bong County's mining industry.
==Geography== Bong County is situated in the central part of Liberia. The main paved road that runs from Monrovia to Sanniquellie in Nimba County traverses Bong County.
==Districts== Bong County has twelve districts (2008 population):<ref name="census2008"/>
{{div col|colwidth=30em}} * Boinsen District (8,352) * Fuamah District (27,784) * Jorquelleh District (78,803) * Kokoyah District (3,707) * Kpaai District (25,127) * Panta District (16,326) * Salala District (41,982) * Sanayea District (30,932) * Suakoko District (28,277) * Tukpahblee District (11,767) * Yeallequellah District (36,919) * Zota District (18,943) {{div col end}}
==Demographics== The population of Bong from the 1984 Census was 255,813 for the {{convert|8772|km2|mi2}} county.<ref name="census2008"/> In July 2005, the population was estimated to be around 804,000.<ref>[http://www.humanitarianinfo.org/Liberia/infocentre/Countyprofile/doc/Bong%20County%20Profile%20Edited%2029%20July%202005.doc ''Bong County: A profile'' by UNMIL Civil Affairs Section] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061130141217/http://www.humanitarianinfo.org/Liberia/infocentre/Countyprofile/doc/Bong%20County%20Profile%20Edited%2029%20July%202005.doc |date=November 30, 2006 }}</ref> In 2008, the Census placed the figure at 328,919, ranking it third in Liberia after Montserrado and Nimba.<ref name="census2008"/> The main ethnic groups include the Kpelle, Mandingo (who are mostly Muslim), and Mano.<ref name="kas-benin.de"/>
==Education== 1. Cuttington University is a private institution established in the late 19th century by the Episcopal Church of the US as part of its educational mission in Liberia. It is located in Suacoco.
2. United Methodist University (UMU) is a private institution of higher learning in Monrovia. It was established in 1998 and opened in 2000.
3. Bong Technical College.
==Politics== Bong County is represented in the Senate by Senators. Henrique Tokpa, the former Cuttington University President, and also the former Minister of Internal Affairs, was senator in 2018.<ref name="kas-benin.de">{{Cite web|url=http://www.kas-benin.de/liberia/Profiles_2005_52nd_Legislature-Liberia.pdf|title=A Profile of Members of the 52nd Legislature of Liberia}}</ref> Current senator (2023) is Johnny K. Kpehe.
==History== Bong County was created in 1964, along with Nimba, Lofa and Grand Gedeh, when the administrative sub-divisions of Liberia were increased to a total of thirteen. The capital is Gbarnga, named after an old farm in the location.<ref>[http://www.unitedbong.org/html/facts.html Facts about Bong] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517230805/http://www.unitedbong.org/html/facts.html |date=May 17, 2008 }}</ref> Gbarnga was used by Charles Taylor as the base for his rebellion against the Presidency of Samuel Doe in the early 1990s. Having failed to capture Monrovia, in early 1991, he established an unofficial provisional government (the (National Patriotic Reconstruction Assembly Government, or NPRAG) after ECOMOG forces arrived for peacekeeping and were based in the Liberian capital.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.c-r.org/accord/liberia|title=Liberia | Conciliation Resources|website=www.c-r.org}}</ref> NPRAG continued to operate out of Gbarnga until 1994.
==Superintendents== *1964 - 1968 James Y. Gbarbea<ref name="worldstatesmen.org">{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Liberia-county.html|title=Counties of Liberia|last=Cahoon|first=Ben|work=worldstatesmen.org|access-date=October 12, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Historical dictionary">{{Cite book|title=Historical Dictionary of Liberia|last=Dunn, Beyan and Burrowes|first=Elwood D., Amos J. and Carl Patrick|date=2000|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn= 9780810838765}}</ref> *1968 - 1971 Augustus W. Korwaya (Korkoryah)<ref name="worldstatesmen.org"/><ref name="Historical dictionary"/> *1971 - 1976 Harry Augustus Greaves<ref name="worldstatesmen.org"/><ref name="Historical dictionary"/><ref name="1973 USA information">{{Cite web|url=https://aad.archives.gov/aad/createpdf?rid=86908&dt=2472&dl=1345|title=Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 30 JUN 2005|date=May 1973|publisher=NARA, AAD|access-date=October 14, 2024}}</ref> *1976 - 1980 Joseph A. (Kolleh) Yorwatei (Yorwatel)<ref name="worldstatesmen.org"/><ref name="Historical dictionary"/><ref name="USAID APHA report 1977">{{Cite web|url=https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PBAAH739.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123100621/https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PBAAH739.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 23, 2025|title=Environmental Health Assessment Liberia (Draft Interim Report)|date=1977|last=Gibson, Grigsby, Van der Schalie, and Ruiz-Tiben|first=Ulric, Margaret, Henry and Ernesto|publisher=American Public Health Association|access-date=October 13, 2024}}</ref> *1980 - 1983 Bardeh B. Zaza<ref name="worldstatesmen.org"/><ref name="Historical dictionary"/> *1983 Ayun Cassell<ref name="worldstatesmen.org"/><ref name="Historical dictionary"/> *1983 - 1990 Venecious K. Vorkpor<ref name="worldstatesmen.org"/><ref name="Historical dictionary"/> *1990 - 1994 John Nanjohn Suah<ref name="worldstatesmen.org"/> *1994 - 1995 Charles K. Too (acting)<ref name="worldstatesmen.org"/> *1995 - 1997 George S. Mulbah<ref name="worldstatesmen.org"/> *1997 A. Wonyon Kulah<ref name="worldstatesmen.org"/> *1997 - 2002 J. Fulton Dunbar<ref name="worldstatesmen.org"/> *2002 - 2004 Aloysius Sackie<ref name="worldstatesmen.org"/> *Aug 2004 - 2006 Daniel F. Weetol<ref name="worldstatesmen.org"/> *2006 - 28 Jan 2011 Ranney Banama Jackson, Sr. (suspended Oct 2008 - Dec 2009)<ref name="worldstatesmen.org"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200809081383.html|title=Liberia: Abuses, Wastes of Resources in Bong County|last=Dalieh|first=Jerome|date=September 8, 2008|work=The NEWS|publisher=allAfrica.com|access-date=2008-10-10}}</ref> *2008 - 2009 Dan Hartzman<ref name="worldstatesmen.org"/> *28 Jan 2011 - 2012 Lucia F. Herbert (acting to 17 Mar 2011)<ref name="worldstatesmen.org"/> *Apr 2012 - 2018 Selena Polson Mappy (suspended in Dec 2015, reinstated in May 2016)<ref name="worldstatesmen.org"/><ref name="thenewdawnliberia.com">{{Cite web|url=https://thenewdawnliberia.com/bong-citizens-react-to-superintendent-s-re-instatement/|title=Bong citizens react to Superintendent's re-instatement|last=Morris|first=Papa|date= May 11, 2016|work=Liberia News|publisher=The New Dawn|access-date=October 12, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/county-news/bong-county-supt-deputy-minister-tehmeh-political-ambitions-die/|title=Bong County Supt, Deputy Minister Tehmeh Political Ambitions Die|date=July 21, 2017|work=County News|publisher=Front Page Africa|access-date=October 12, 2024}}</ref> *2018 - 2024(?) Esther Y. Walker<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thenewdawnliberia.com/bong-superintendent-officially-takes-office-2/|title=Bong Superintendent officially takes office|last=Yekeryan|first=Joseph Titus|date= March 7, 2018|work=Politics News|publisher=The New Dawn|access-date=October 12, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thenewdawnliberia.com/former-bong-sup-wants-esther-walker-fired/|title=Former Bong Sup. Wants Esther Walker fired|last=Yekeryan|first=Joseph Titus|date=March 14, 2022|work=Liberia News|publisher=The New Dawn|access-date=October 12, 2024}}</ref> *2024 Hawa Loleyah Norris<ref name="mykmtvnews">{{Cite web|url=https://mykmtvnews.com/bong-county-superintendent-pledges-transformation-through-development-and-anti-corruption-measures/|title=Bong County Superintendent Pledges Transformation through Development and Anti-Corruption Measures|last=Yekeryan|first=Joseph Titus|date=May 15, 2024|work=KMTV News Liberia|access-date=October 12, 2024}}</ref>
After the 1980 coup d'état, J. Fulton Dunbar Sr, the Superintendent of Nimba County, reportedly fled to his farm near Palala in Bong County.<ref name="Archie P. Williams Center for Historical Information and Archives Research">{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/groups/239499183293331/posts/1392539834655921/|title=Remembering Joseph Fulton Dunbar Sr|last=Biddle|first=Michael T.|publisher=Archie P. Williams Center for Historical Information and Archives Research|date=23 June 2024|access-date=October 13, 2024}}</ref> He and Bong County Superintendent Yorwatei reportedly subsequently surrendered together.<ref name="Archie P. Williams Center for Historical Information and Archives Research"/> Yorwatei had previously been Private Secretary to President Tolbert, who was ousted by the coup and murdered.<ref name="1973 USA information"/> Yorwatei was a member of the True Whig Party and reportedly continued to support Tolbert after he became Superintendent of Bong County.<ref name="1978 publications">{{Cite web|url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA348360.pdf|title=Declassified/TRANSLATIONS ON SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA No. 2023|date=15 November 1978|publisher=JPRS|access-date=October 14, 2024}}</ref> His wife Frances, her mother Louise Rose and her sister Majorie King were also arrested and detained shortly after the coup.<ref name="Cordor">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J_UMAQAAIAAJ|title=Liberia Under Military Rule: An Introductory Study of Liberia Before and After the Military Coup|last=Cordor|first=S. Henry|date=1980|publisher=S.H. Cordor, Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa|oclc= 7695038|page=87|access-date=October 15, 2024}}</ref><br>
==See also== *2014 Ebola virus epidemic in Liberia
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20210507003556/http://www.cuttingtonchronicle.com/ ''Cuttington Chronicle'']}} - Student Newspaper * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070220090955/http://www.unitedbong.org/OurMission.asp US-based United Bong County Association website] ** [https://web.archive.org/web/20080517230805/http://www.unitedbong.org/html/facts.html United Bong County Association - Bong County factsheet] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20061130141217/http://www.humanitarianinfo.org/Liberia/infocentre/Countyprofile/doc/Bong%20County%20Profile%20Edited%2029%20July%202005.doc July 2005 Profile of Bong County] - UNMIL * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090402191546/http://www.bong-town.com/ The Bong Town community on the web] * [http://www.humanitarianinfo.org/Liberia/infocentre/pcodes/doc/Bong_PCODE_Handbook_2005.pdf Place name codes]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
{{Counties of Liberia}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Bong County Category:Counties of Liberia Category:1964 establishments in Liberia