Port Loko

Infobox Settlement
official_name =
other_name = Port Loko, Sierra Leone
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pushpin_label_position =bottom
pushpin_map_caption =Location in Sierra Leone
subdivision_type = Country
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subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = Northern Province
subdivision_type2 = District
subdivision_name2 = Port Loko District
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leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Brima Kargbo (APC)
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population_as_of =1985
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population_total = 15,248
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latd=8 |latm=46|lats= |latNS=N
longd=12|longm=47|longs=|longEW=W
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Port Loko is the capital and largest city of Port Loko District, in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone. It is the third largest city in the Northern province by population, after Makeni and Magburaka. The city lies about 78 miles (by road) north-east of the nation's capital Freetown [http://allafrica.com/stories/200803311757.html] and had a population of 15,248 in the 1985 census but it is now estimated to be several times as many. Port Loko lies on Port Loko Creek, which flows into the Sierra Leone River.

The city is home to Port Loko Teacher's College. Like in virtually all parts of Sierra Leone, the Krio language is widely spoken in the city of Port Loko.

Government

The city of Port Loko is governed with a city council form of government, which is headed by a mayor, in whom executive authority is vested. The mayor is responsible for the general management of the city and for seeing that all local and national laws are enforced. The mayor is elected directly by the residents of Port Loko.

Ethnicity

The population of Port Loko is ethnically diverse, although the Temne and Loko make up the largest ethnic group.

port

Port Loko has a football club named the Bai Bureh Warriors. The club currently plays in the Sierra Leone National First Division, the second highest football league in Sierra Leone.

Education

Like the rest of Sierra Leone, Port Loko has an education system with six years of primary school (Class 1-6), and six years of secondary school (Form 1-6); secondary schools are further divided into Junior secondary school (Form 1-3) and Senior secondary school (Form 4-6). Primary schools usually start from ages 6 to 12, and secondary schools usually start from ages 13 to 18. Primary Education is free and compulsory in government-sponsored public schools. The cPort Loko Teacher's College, one of the major colleges in Sierra Leone is located in the city.

Notable people from Port Loko

*Bai Bureh, Hero of The 1898 Rebellion
*Sorie Ibrahim Koroma, Vice President of Sierra Leone from 1971-1986

External links

* Sierra Leone Encyclopedia: [http://www.daco-sl.org/encyclopedia/3_dist/3_1j_pl.htm Port Loko District]
* BBC News story: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/246206.stm Port Loko success for Ecomog]

* [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/SL/2/Port_Loko.html FallingRain Map - elevation = 45m (Red dots are railways)]