Harper, situated on Cape Palmas, is the capital of Maryland County in Liberia. It is a coastal town situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Hoffman River. Harper is Liberia's 11th largest town, with a population of 17,837.[1]
The town is named after Robert Goodloe Harper, a prominent U.S. politician and member of the American Colonization Society. It was he who proposed the name Liberia for the American Colonization Society's settlement in Africa, and the town of Harper was named in honor of him.[2] Harper was the capital of the short-lived Republic of Maryland (1834–1857).
Geography
Magnificent unexploited beaches stretch for miles on both sides of Harper and warm ocean temperature year round. Fish are found in abundance, as well as whales, dolphins, and large oysters. Fanti canoes sail from Harper to Monrovia via Greenville. This trip can take from 3 to 6 days depending on the wind and weather. A UNMIL ship, the MV Catarina, sails fortnightly between Harper and Monrovia. From the Ivory Coast, Harper is accessible from Tabou.
A local landmark is the old mansion of William Tubman, President of Liberia, and the shell of the Morning Star Masonic Lodge, also built by Tubman.[3]
History
Americo-Liberian period
Harper was the capital of the Republic of Maryland, an independent country (1834–1857), the last component of modern Liberia.
Cape Palmas, the region of which Harper is the center, is one of the traditional hometowns of the Americo-Liberians, descendants of freed slaves from the United States who settled in Liberia and declared it an independent country in 1847. John Brown Russwurm, an African-American abolitionist and governor of Monrovia, was buried in Harper after his death. There is a statue to commemorate his grave site.
Harper as it existed prior to the Civil Wars was based on the plantation architecture of the southern United States, where many of the Americo-Liberians came from.[4] "Today [2016], no place captures the ambiguous world of the Americo-Liberians better than Harper, whose oldest neighborhoods are reminiscent of New Orleans. Once occupied by the ruling elite, houses in the style of plantation mansions now stand silent and ghostly."[4]
One of the town's most famous citizens is President William Tubman (1895-1971), who was born in Harper. In 2021, his mansion lies in ruins and is occupied by squatters.[4]
During the 1970s, Harper was terrorized by Maryland ritual killings. The crimes have been regarded as "Liberia's most notorious ritual killing case" due to the number of murders, the involvement of high ranking government officials, and their subsequent public executions.[5]
Tubman University, one of only two public universities in Liberia, is located in Harper.
^2008 National Population And Housing Census. 2012-02-13 at the Wayback Machine Government Of The Republic Of Liberia.
^"Maryland Historical Society Library: Harper-Pennington Papers, 1701-1899, MS. 431". from the original on 2008-09-07. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
^"William Tubman mansion | Harper, Liberia Attractions". Lonely Planet. from the original on 2020-04-06. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
^ abcMacDougall, Clair (July–August 2016). "These Abandoned Buildings Are the Last Remnants of Liberia's Founding History". Smithsonian Magazine. from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
^Aimé Muyoboke Karimunda (16 March 2016). The Death Penalty in Africa: The Path Towards Abolition. Taylor & Francis. pp. 82–. ISBN978-1-317-03633-3. from the original on 3 November 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
Further reading
MacDougall, Clair (July–August 2016). "These Abandoned Buildings Are the Last Remnants of Liberia's Founding History". Smithsonian Magazine. from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
External links
Media related to Harper, Liberia at Wikimedia Commons
harper, liberia, harper, situated, cape, palmas, capital, maryland, county, liberia, coastal, town, situated, between, atlantic, ocean, hoffman, river, harper, liberia, 11th, largest, town, with, population, harperharper, 2004harperlocation, liberiacoordinates. Harper situated on Cape Palmas is the capital of Maryland County in Liberia It is a coastal town situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the Hoffman River Harper is Liberia s 11th largest town with a population of 17 837 1 HarperHarper in 2004HarperLocation in LiberiaCoordinates 4 22 N 7 43 W 4 367 N 7 717 W 4 367 7 717CountryLiberiaCountyMaryland CountyPopulation 2008 Total17 837ClimateAfShell of Morning Star Masonic Lodge Harper Liberia Contents 1 Name 2 Geography 3 History 3 1 Americo Liberian period 3 2 Civil War and after 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksName EditThe town is named after Robert Goodloe Harper a prominent U S politician and member of the American Colonization Society It was he who proposed the name Liberia for the American Colonization Society s settlement in Africa and the town of Harper was named in honor of him 2 Harper was the capital of the short lived Republic of Maryland 1834 1857 Geography EditMagnificent unexploited beaches stretch for miles on both sides of Harper and warm ocean temperature year round Fish are found in abundance as well as whales dolphins and large oysters Fanti canoes sail from Harper to Monrovia via Greenville This trip can take from 3 to 6 days depending on the wind and weather A UNMIL ship the MV Catarina sails fortnightly between Harper and Monrovia From the Ivory Coast Harper is accessible from Tabou A local landmark is the old mansion of William Tubman President of Liberia and the shell of the Morning Star Masonic Lodge also built by Tubman 3 History EditAmerico Liberian period Edit Harper was the capital of the Republic of Maryland an independent country 1834 1857 the last component of modern Liberia Cape Palmas the region of which Harper is the center is one of the traditional hometowns of the Americo Liberians descendants of freed slaves from the United States who settled in Liberia and declared it an independent country in 1847 John Brown Russwurm an African American abolitionist and governor of Monrovia was buried in Harper after his death There is a statue to commemorate his grave site Harper as it existed prior to the Civil Wars was based on the plantation architecture of the southern United States where many of the Americo Liberians came from 4 Today 2016 no place captures the ambiguous world of the Americo Liberians better than Harper whose oldest neighborhoods are reminiscent of New Orleans Once occupied by the ruling elite houses in the style of plantation mansions now stand silent and ghostly 4 One of the town s most famous citizens is President William Tubman 1895 1971 who was born in Harper In 2021 his mansion lies in ruins and is occupied by squatters 4 Civil War and after Edit Before the First Liberian Civil War Harper was an important administrative centre During the 1970s Harper was terrorized by Maryland ritual killings The crimes have been regarded as Liberia s most notorious ritual killing case due to the number of murders the involvement of high ranking government officials and their subsequent public executions 5 Tubman University one of only two public universities in Liberia is located in Harper Harper is also home to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cape Palmas one of three dioceses of the Catholic Church in Liberia See also EditMaryland ritual killings Republic of MarylandReferences Edit 2008 National Population And Housing Census Archived 2012 02 13 at the Wayback Machine Government Of The Republic Of Liberia Maryland Historical Society Library Harper Pennington Papers 1701 1899 MS 431 Archived from the original on 2008 09 07 Retrieved 2008 10 27 William Tubman mansion Harper Liberia Attractions Lonely Planet Archived from the original on 2020 04 06 Retrieved 2020 04 06 a b c MacDougall Clair July August 2016 These Abandoned Buildings Are the Last Remnants of Liberia s Founding History Smithsonian Magazine Archived from the original on 20 April 2021 Retrieved 23 June 2021 Aime Muyoboke Karimunda 16 March 2016 The Death Penalty in Africa The Path Towards Abolition Taylor amp Francis pp 82 ISBN 978 1 317 03633 3 Archived from the original on 3 November 2020 Retrieved 10 January 2019 Further reading EditMacDougall Clair July August 2016 These Abandoned Buildings Are the Last Remnants of Liberia s Founding History Smithsonian Magazine Archived from the original on 20 April 2021 Retrieved 23 June 2021 External links Edit Media related to Harper Liberia at Wikimedia CommonsCoordinates 4 22 N 7 43 W 4 367 N 7 717 W 4 367 7 717 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Harper Liberia amp oldid 1094344831, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
