Virginia, Liberia

History

Virginia was first settled under the name New Virginia by the American Colonization Society as part of Liberia’s early settlement program for freed African Americans. The community was named for the state of Virginia, where many of its settlers originated.

In 1979, the town hosted the Organisation of African Unity conference at Hotel Africa under the leadership of President Tolbert, marking a major international event in Liberia’s prewar history.

During the Second Liberian Civil War, Virginia figured in military operations as forces used its location to approach and attack central Monrovia in 2003.

Geography

Virginia lies in western Montserrado County near the northern bank of the Saint Paul River, on Liberia’s coastal plain. The terrain is generally low and close to sea level, characteristic of western Liberia’s riverine and coastal lowlands.{{cite web |access-date=2 January 2026 |access-date=2 January 2026

Landmarks and infrastructure

Hotel Africa and the adjacent Unity Conference Center are prominent facilities in the area, originally developed to support large conferences, international meetings, and tourism.{{cite web |access-date=2 January 2026

In the mid-2000s, plans were announced for the redevelopment of Hotel Africa. A South African-backed group expressed intentions to invest more than US$100 million to rehabilitate the hotel ahead of Liberia’s hosting of an international women’s colloquium in 2009.{{cite news |access-date=2 January 2026 |access-date=2 January 2026 |access-date=2 January 2026 |access-date=2 January 2026

Political representation

Virginia is within Montserrado County’s representation in the national legislature of Liberia. The county elects members to both the House of Representatives of Liberia and the Senate of Liberia. Residents are represented in the House through one of Montserrado’s electoral districts, as defined by the National Elections Commission of Liberia.{{cite web |access-date=2 January 2026 |access-date=2 January 2026

References

References

1. [https://books.google.com/books?id=zj8UAAAAIAAJ&dq=%22new+virginia%22+liberia&pg=PA177 G.S. Stockwell et al., ''The Republic of Liberia: Its Geography, Climate, Soil And Productions'']
2. [https://books.google.com/books?id=yXLMonDEHb0C&dq=%22new+virginia%22+%22virginia+colonization+society%22&pg=PA284 Thomas C. Thornton, ''An Inquiry Into the History of Slavery'']
3. Huband, Mark. [https://books.google.com/books?id=X1BVJZMDYMwC&dq=virginia+liberia+suburb&pg=PA206 ''The Liberian Civil War'']