Nimba County is a county in northeastern Liberia that shares borders with the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire in the East and the Republic of Guinea in the Northwest. Its capital city is Sanniquellie and its most populous city is Ganta. With the county's area measuring , Nimba is the largest of Liberia's 15 counties. The county has six statutory districts. As of the 2008 Census, it had a population of 462,026, making it the second most-populous county in Liberia.
Named after Mount Nimba (Neinbaa Tohn in the Mahn (or Mano) language), which demarcates part of the Guinea-Côte d'Ivoire border, Nimba is also bordered by Bong and Grand Bassa counties to the west, Rivercess County to the southwest, and Grand Gedeh County to the southeast. The northern and northeastern parts of Nimba border the nation of Republic of Guinea, while the northeast lies along the border of Côte d'Ivoire.
Government
Nimba County is one of fifteen counties of Liberia. During the nearly three-decade administration of William V.S. Tubman (1944–1971), the region now called Nimba County was one of three of Liberia's provinces: Western Province, Eastern Province, and Central Province. In the sixties, Tubman reorganized these provinces into counties. Central Province became what is known as Nimba County.
Before the First Liberian Civil War broke out in 1989, the county had a population of over 310,000 people. The top executive in the counties is a County Superintendent, appointed by the president of the county. The current County Superintendent, D. Dorr Cooper, who is the chief administrative officer, was appointed by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in 2017. He was re-appointed in 2018 by President George Weah after a change in administrations.
National legislatures
The County is represented by two senators and by nine representatives in the bicameral Legislative Branch of Government. The two senators currently serving the citizens of Nimba County are Senator Prince Yormie Johnson and Senator Jeremiah K. Koung
Administrative Districts
According to the 2008 census, the 17 Administrative Districts in Nimba County have the following populations:
Boe & Quilla District (18,262) Buu-Yao District (40,007) Doe District (35,918) Garr Bain District (61,225) Gbehlay-Geh District (32,176) Gbi & Doru District (8,131) Gbor District (10,875) Kparblee District (11,424) Leewehpea-Mahn District (24,747) Meinpea-Mahn District (24,157) Sanniquellie-Mah District (25,370) Twah River District (37,479) Garr Bain District (37,479) Wee-Gbehy-Mahn District (32,934) Yarmein District (22,718) Yarpea Mahn District (21,647) Yarwein Mehnsonnoh District (25,584) Zoe-Gbao District (29,372)
Electoral Districts
Since the 2008 census, there 9 electoral districts in Nimba County:
Nimba District 1 Garr Bain District
Nimba District 2 Garr Bain District, Sanniquellie-Mahn District and Yarpea Mahn District Nimba District 3 Garr Bain District, Gbehley-Geh District and Yarmein District Nimba District 4 Gbor District and Twah River District Nimba District 5 Buu-Yao District Nimba District 6 Boe & Quilla District, Gblor District, Doe District and Kparblee District Nimba District 7 Zoe-Gbao District and Wee-Gbehy-Mahn District Nimba District 8 Leewehpea-Mahn District and Meinpea-Mahn District Nimba District 9 Gbi & Doru District, Doe District and Yarwein-Mehnsonoh District
Iron ore
During the late 1950s, iron ore was found in "the Iron Mountain" Mount Nimba. In a joint venture among the Liberian Government, US Bethlehem Steel, and the Swedish mining company Gränges, a huge project was set up: LAMCO (Liberian American Company). The project contributed to economic and social development in Liberia for 30 years. It built the necessary infrastructure and operated mining, transporting ore by rail to the port of Buchanan, from where it was exported to other markets.
Corruption was minimal and political stability improved. During this period, Liberia was classified among the most progressive countries in Africa.
In 1980 civil war erupted between tribal factions. Nimba county was devastated by the civil war that followed. The iron ore had been degrading in quality, and world prices had plunged in this period. The combination led to a dismantling of the LAMCO project.
