Banjul

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Location of Banjul in The Gambia

Street in Banjul city

Banjul (formerly Bathurst) is the capital of The Gambia. The population of the city proper is only 34,828 but the total urban area is many times larger with a population of 523,589 (2003 census). It is located on St Mary's Island (or Banjul Island) where the Gambia River enters the Atlantic Ocean. Banjul is located at 13°28' North, 16°36' West (13.4667, -16.60).

1 History
2 Economy
3 Transport
4 Districts
5 Twin town
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] History

In 1816, the British founded Banjul as a trading post and base for suppressing the slave trade. It was first named Bathurst after Henry Bathurst, the secretary of the British Colonial Office, but was changed to Banjul in 1973.

Arch 22 at the entrance to Banjul

On July 22, 1994, Banjul was the scene of a bloodless military coup d'etat in which President Dawda Jawara was overthrown and replaced by the country's current (and twice reelected) President Yahya Jammeh. To commemorate this event, Arch 22 was built as an entrance portal to the capital. The gate is 35 meters tall and the centre of an open square. It houses a textile museum.

Attractions in the city include the Gambian National Museum, the Albert Market, Banjul State House, Banjul Court House, two cathedrals and several major mosques.

[edit] Economy

Banjul is the main urban area of The Gambia and holds the country's economic and administrative center including the Central Bank of The Gambia. As the fourth most densely populated country in Africa, The Gambia has more than one urban area. Peanut processing is the country's principal industry, but bee's wax, palm wood, palm oil, and skins and hides are also shipped from its port.

[edit] Transport

Ferries sail from Banjul to Barra. The city is served by the Banjul International Airport.

[edit] Districts

Districts of Banjul

Banjul is divided into 2 districts:

Banjul
Kanifing

[edit] Twin town

Banjul is twinned with Grimsby in the UK and Newark, New Jersey in the United States.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Gambia Site with history of Banjul

Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 13.4548° -16.5795°
- Mapping from Multimap or GlobalGuide or Google Maps
- Aerial image from TerraServer
- Satellite image from WikiMapia

	Subdivisions of The Gambia
Divisions	Banjul City \| Central River Division \| Lower River Division \| North Bank Division \| Upper River Division \| Western Division
LGAs	Banjul LGA \| Basse \| Brikama \| Janjanbureh \| Kanifing \| Kerewan \| Kuntaur \| Mansa Konko
Districts	Banjul: Banjul District \| Kanifing Central River: Fulladu West \| Janjanbureh \| Lower Saloum \| Niamina Dankunku \| Niamina East \| Niamina West \| Niani \| Nianija \| Sami \| Upper Saloum Lower River: Jarra Central \| Jarra East \| Jarra West \| Kiang Central \| Kiang East \| Kiang West North Bank: Central Baddibu \| Jokadu \| Lower Baddibu \| Lower Niumi \| Upper Baddibu \| Upper Niumi Upper River: Fulladu East \| Kantora \| Sandu \| Wuli Western: Foni Bintang-Karenai \| Foni Bondali \| Foni Brefet \| Foni Jarrol \| Foni Kansala \| Kombo Central \| Kombo East \| Kombo North/Saint Mary \| Kombo South