Buchanan (Bassa: Gbezohn), also previously known as Grand Bassa on some maps, is the third largest city in Liberia, lying on Waterhouse Bay, part of the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2008 census, Buchanan had a population of 34,270. Of this, 16,984 were male and 17,286 female.[1]
Named for Thomas Buchanan, cousin of U.S. president James Buchanan, and second governor of Liberia, it is also the capital of Grand Bassa County and lies 70 miles (110 km) southeast of Monrovia, near the mouth of the Saint John River. The town was popular with refugees during the Liberian Civil War as it largely escaped the fighting. Fishing is an important industry in the town. The town also has isolated beaches and lagoons.
In December 1832, the Port Cresson colony was founded in what is now Buchanan, by black Quakers of the New York and Pennsylvania Colonization Societies.[2] It was established as a settlement for black emigrants from the United States. The emigrants named the settlement in honor of Elliott Cresson, a Philadelphia merchant and Pennsylvania Colonization Society founder who funded their voyage to Liberia.[3]
In June 1835, Bassa tribal members destroyed the Americo-Liberian colony of Port Cresson.
A month later, a new colony called Bassa Cove was founded by black Quakers of the Young Men's Colonization Society of Pennsylvania.[4] The Bassa Cove colony was incorporated into Liberia on April 1, 1839.
Throughout much of the 1850s, Buchanan's population failed to grow: deaths outnumbered births, and only through immigration from the United States was the community able to avoid a substantial decline.[5]
Economy
Buchanan is the port for the 155 miles (250 km) railway that brings iron ore from the mines at Yekepa, Nimba County. Originally built by the now defunct Liberian-American-Swedish Minerals Company (LAMCO), the rail line has now (as of 2012) been revitalized by the Arcelor Mittal Company. Rubber and palm oil once were also shipped out of the Port of Buchanan. Africa's first iron-ore washing and pelletizing plant was opened in Buchanan in 1968.[4] This plant was severely damaged during the first Liberian civil war (1989-1996). Stephen Ellis writes that during early 1994, ECOMOG '..Nigerian troops dismantled, and exported as second-hand plant or as scrap metal, industrial equipment worth some $50 million' which had remained intact when the port had earlier been occupied by the National Patriotic Front of Liberia, Charles Taylor's faction.[6] It is reported that the plant was later sold off as scrap metal to a Chinese buyer in 2010.
Buchanan Renewable Energies, a firm based in Toronto, Canada, that processes chips from rubber tree trunks into biofuel, has begun operations in the city.[7]
According to the managing-director of Liberia's National Port Authority, Togba Ngangana, Chinese investors have signed a memorandum of understanding to build a manufacturing zone outside the southern port of Buchanan which would produce 50,000 jobs.[citation needed] This is in addition to an undisclosed amount of low-interest loans, debt relief and other incentives.[citation needed]
Notable residents
Marcus Andreasson, Retired professional football player, was born in Buchanan
Joseph James Cheeseman, the 12th President of Liberia, was born in Edina, Grand Bassa County, north of Buchanan
^"2008 National Population and Housing Census: Preliminary Results" (PDF). Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services. Government of the Republic of Liberia. June 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-14.
buchanan, liberia, buchanan, bassa, gbezohn, also, previously, known, grand, bassa, some, maps, third, largest, city, liberia, lying, waterhouse, part, atlantic, ocean, 2008, census, buchanan, population, this, were, male, female, buchanan, gbezohn, bassa, buc. Buchanan Bassa Gbezohn also previously known as Grand Bassa on some maps is the third largest city in Liberia lying on Waterhouse Bay part of the Atlantic Ocean As of the 2008 census Buchanan had a population of 34 270 Of this 16 984 were male and 17 286 female 1 Buchanan Gbezohn Bassa BuchananLocation in LiberiaCoordinates 05 52 51 N 10 02 48 W 5 88083 N 10 04667 W 5 88083 10 04667CountryLiberiaCountyGrand Bassa CountyDistrictBuchanan DistrictElevation253 ft 77 m Population 2008 census Total34 270ClimateAmNamed for Thomas Buchanan cousin of U S president James Buchanan and second governor of Liberia it is also the capital of Grand Bassa County and lies 70 miles 110 km southeast of Monrovia near the mouth of the Saint John River The town was popular with refugees during the Liberian Civil War as it largely escaped the fighting Fishing is an important industry in the town The town also has isolated beaches and lagoons Contents 1 History 2 Economy 3 Notable residents 4 See also 5 ReferencesHistory EditIn December 1832 the Port Cresson colony was founded in what is now Buchanan by black Quakers of the New York and Pennsylvania Colonization Societies 2 It was established as a settlement for black emigrants from the United States The emigrants named the settlement in honor of Elliott Cresson a Philadelphia merchant and Pennsylvania Colonization Society founder who funded their voyage to Liberia 3 In June 1835 Bassa tribal members destroyed the Americo Liberian colony of Port Cresson A month later a new colony called Bassa Cove was founded by black Quakers of the Young Men s Colonization Society of Pennsylvania 4 The Bassa Cove colony was incorporated into Liberia on April 1 1839 Throughout much of the 1850s Buchanan s population failed to grow deaths outnumbered births and only through immigration from the United States was the community able to avoid a substantial decline 5 Economy EditBuchanan is the port for the 155 miles 250 km railway that brings iron ore from the mines at Yekepa Nimba County Originally built by the now defunct Liberian American Swedish Minerals Company LAMCO the rail line has now as of 2012 been revitalized by the Arcelor Mittal Company Rubber and palm oil once were also shipped out of the Port of Buchanan Africa s first iron ore washing and pelletizing plant was opened in Buchanan in 1968 4 This plant was severely damaged during the first Liberian civil war 1989 1996 Stephen Ellis writes that during early 1994 ECOMOG Nigerian troops dismantled and exported as second hand plant or as scrap metal industrial equipment worth some 50 million which had remained intact when the port had earlier been occupied by the National Patriotic Front of Liberia Charles Taylor s faction 6 It is reported that the plant was later sold off as scrap metal to a Chinese buyer in 2010 Buchanan Renewable Energies a firm based in Toronto Canada that processes chips from rubber tree trunks into biofuel has begun operations in the city 7 According to the managing director of Liberia s National Port Authority Togba Ngangana Chinese investors have signed a memorandum of understanding to build a manufacturing zone outside the southern port of Buchanan which would produce 50 000 jobs citation needed This is in addition to an undisclosed amount of low interest loans debt relief and other incentives citation needed Notable residents EditMarcus Andreasson Retired professional football player was born in Buchanan Joseph James Cheeseman the 12th President of Liberia was born in Edina Grand Bassa County north of Buchanan Dessaline Harris Justice of the Supreme Court 1954 1966 Daniel Edward Howard President of Liberia 1912 1920 Joakim Sundstrom Swedish sound editor sound designer and musician was brought up in BuchananSee also EditDoris Williams Stadium Railway stations in LiberiaReferences Edit 2008 National Population and Housing Census Preliminary Results PDF Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo Information Services Government of the Republic of Liberia June 2008 Retrieved 2008 11 14 Liberia Liberia Or Mr Peyton s Experiments 1853 permanent dead link a b Britannica com Buchanan Clegg Claude A III The Price of Liberty African Americans and the Making of Liberia Chapel Hill U of North Carolina P 2004 207 Stephen Ellis The Mask of Anarchy C Hurst and Co 1999 173 NewLiberian com President Sirleaf Visits Arcelor Mittal and Buchanan Renewable Energies January 26 2008 Archived from the original on July 14 2011 Retrieved October 28 2008 Coordinates 05 52 51 N 10 02 48 W 5 88083 N 10 04667 W 5 88083 10 04667 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Buchanan Liberia amp oldid 1111812936, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
