The Western Area or Freetown Peninsula (formerly the Colony of Sierra Leone) is one of four principal divisions of Sierra Leone. It comprises the oldest city and national capital Freetown and its surrounding towns and countryside. It covers an area of 557 km² and has a population of 1,447,271. The Western Area is divided into two districts: the Western Area Rural and the Western Area Urban.
Unlike the other three regions of Sierra Leone, the majority of the people in the Western Area live mainly in urban areas. The Western Area is the wealthiest region in Sierra Leone, having the largest economy, financial and cultural center, as well as the seat of the country's national government. Unlike the other regions in Sierra Leone, the western area is not a province.
It is divided into two districts
- Western Area Rural
- Western Area Urban
Freetown serves as the administrative headquarters of both the Western Area and the Urban District, and served as the capital of the Rural District until 2009 when it was formally moved to the city of Waterloo.
Read more about Western Area: Borders, Major Cities and Towns in The Western Area, Small Towns and Villages in The Western Area Include, Islands Included in The Western Area
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