Abidjan
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Abidjan District Autonome d'Abidjan Autonomous District of Abidjan |
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Collection of views of Abidjan, featuring St. Paul's Cathedral, the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium, the Republic square, the beach of Vridi and the CBD named Le Plateau.
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| Motto: "District d'Abidjan, acteur de développement" | |||
 Abidjan
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| Coordinates: 5°19′N 4°2′W / 5.317°N 4.033°WCoordinates: 5°19′N 4°2′W / 5.317°N 4.033°W | |||
| Country |
 Ivory Coast
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| District | Abidjan | ||
| Department | Abidjan | ||
| Government | |||
| • Governor | Robert Beugré Mambé | ||
| Area | |||
| • City and autonomous district | 2,119 km2 (818 sq mi) | ||
| • Urban | 422 km2 (163 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 18 m (59 ft) | ||
| Population (2014 census) | |||
| • City and autonomous district | 4,707,404 (district); 4,395,243 (city) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Abidjanais | ||
| Time zone | GMT (UTC+0) | ||
| Area code(s) | +225 | ||
| Website | http://www.districtabidjan.ci/ (French) | ||
Abidjan is the economic capital of Ivory Coast and the most populous French-speaking city in West Africa. According to the 2014 Ivory Coast census, Abidjan's population was 4.7 million, which is 20 percent of the overall population of the country. Within West Africa, only Lagos, the former capital of Nigeria, surpasses Abidjan in population. Considered the cultural crossroads of West Africa, Abidjan is characterised by a high level of industrialisation and urbanisation.
The city expanded quickly after the construction of a new wharf in 1931, followed by its designation as the capital city of the then-French colony in 1933. Abidjan remained the capital of Ivory Coast after its independence from France in 1960. The completion of the Vridi Canal in 1951 enabled Abidjan to become an important sea port. In 1983, the city of Yamoussoukro was designated as the official political capital of Cote d'Ivoire. However, almost all political institutions and foreign embassies continue to be located in Abidjan.
Because Abidjan is also the largest city in the country and the centre of its economic activity, it has officially been designated as the "economic capital" of the country. The Abidjan Autonomous District, which encompasses the city and some of its suburbs, is one of the 14 districts of Ivory Coast.
Abidjan lies on the south-east coast of the country, on the Gulf of Guinea. The city is located on the Ébrié Lagoon. The business district, Le Plateau, is the center of the city, along with Cocody, Deux Plateaux (the city's wealthiest neighborhood and a hub for diplomats), and Adjamé, a slum on the north shore of the lagoon. Treichville and Marcory lie to the south, Attecoube, Locodjro, Abobo Doume and Yopougon to the west, and Île Boulay is located in the middle of the lagoon. Further south lies Port Bouët, home to the airport and main seaport. Abidjan is located at 5°25′ North, 4°2′ West (5.41667, −4.03333).
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Wikipedia