Bomi is a county in the northwestern portion of the West African nation of Liberia. The county was established in 1984. The county's area is 746 square miles (1,900 km2).
Bomi is bordered on the northwest by Grand Cape Mount County, on the northeast by Gbarpolu and Bong Counties, on the southeast by Montserrado County and on the southwest by the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2022 Liberian census, Bomi had a population of 133,668, making it the nation's eleventh most populous county.[2]
Bomi County, formerly known as Bomi Territory, was first part of Montserrado County. The military regime of Samuel Doe established Bomi County in 1983. A legislative act later confirmed the County as being a separate entity. Bomi means “LIGHT” in the Gola language, recognizing the County's status as the first site for iron ore mining in Liberia.[3]
The Liberia Mining Company extracted iron ore in the territory during the 1950s and 1960s. The company closed its operations in 1979.[4]
The Lofa River forms the boundary between Bomi and Grand Cape Mount Counties. A tributary of the river forms part of the boundary between Bomi and Gbarpolu Counties. The Saint Paul River forms part of the boundary between Bomi and Montserrado Counties.[8]
Bomi County's climate is generally warm throughout the year. There are two seasons in the year - the rainy season which begins in April and ends in October and the dry season from November to March.[3]
Demographics
The 2008 Liberian census showed that Bomi County had a population of 84,119, making it the eleventh most populous county in Liberia.[5] The County had at that time a population density of 113 persons per square mile (44 persons per km2).[5]
Bomi County's resources include diamond, rubber, timber, iron ore, gold, water, stone, sand, and fertile agricultural land. Seventy percent of the population engages in agricultural activities, including the production or exploitation of rice (the staple food), cassava, sweet potatoes, eddoes, plantains, vegetables, rubber, palm oil, and livestock or in fisheries. 20% participate in business and trading. Local governments employ 10%. The Sime Darbyrubber plantation, the second largest in Liberia, is located within the county.[4]
Administrative districts
Bomi is divided into four administrative districts:[3][6]
^ abcd"Bomi County Profile". Monrovia, Liberia: Republic of Liberia: Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo (LISGIS) — Information Services. 2020. Archived from the original on 24 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020..
^ abc"Bomi County". Counties of Liberia. Liberia Institute of Politics and Democracy. Archived from the original on 24 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020..
^"Bomi County". Counties Statistics Info. Monrovia, Liberia: Republic of Liberia: Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo (LISGIS) — Information Services. 2020. Archived from the original on 24 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.