MacCarthy Island
Fulani |
MacCarthy Island, originally known as Lemain Island and officially named Janjanbureh Island, is an island located approximately 170 miles (272 km) upriver from the mouth of the
Gambia, in the Janjanbureh District. Located on the island is the second-largest town in the country, Janjanbureh, but on many maps it still appears by its European name of Georgetown. In addition to being a destination for some wildlife tourists, the island is also the home of Gambia's largest prison
.
History
The island was first settled by Western traders in the 15th century, although by the 19th century it was no longer a viable trading post due to frequent wars between the states of
British West African Territories.) In 1832, Georgetown was founded by the British as a Creole
settlement, although it was quickly populated by liberated Africans from elsewhere. The town gradually became an administrative and economic centre for the country.
References
- ^ "Georgetown The Gambia". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
- ^ "District of Janjanbureh". Gambia Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original on 26 July 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
- ISSN 0016-7398. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ^ Glovsky, David (2020). Belonging beyond boundaries : constructing a transnational community in a West African borderland (PhD). p. 96. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
External links
13°32′N 14°46′W / 13.533°N 14.767°W
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