| Centre Department Département de Centre | |||||
| Department of Ivory Coast | |||||
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| Capital | Bouaké | ||||
| History | |||||
| • | Established as a first-level subdivision | 1961 | |||
| • | Disestablished | 1969 | |||
| Today part of | Lacs, Vallée du Bandama, and Yamoussoukro Autonomous Districts; Marahoué Region | ||||
Centre Department was one of the original four departments of Ivory Coast. It was established in 1961, along with Nord Department, Sud-Est Department, and Sud-Ouest Department. During Centre Department's existence, departments were the first-level administrative subdivisions of Ivory Coast.
Departments of Ivory Coast are currently the third-level administrative subdivision of the country. Each of the 31 second-level regions of Ivory Coast is divided into two or more departments. Each department is divided into two or more sub-prefectures, which are the fourth-level subdivisions in Ivory Coast. As of 2016, there are 108 departments of Ivory Coast.
Nord Department was one of the original four departments of Ivory Coast. It was established in 1961, along with Centre Department, Sud-Est Department, and Sud-Ouest Department. During Nord Department's existence, departments were the first-level administrative subdivisions of Ivory Coast.
Ivory Coast is a relatively decentralised state. The country divided into 14 districts, of which two are cities organised as autonomous districts. The 12 non-autonomous districts are subdivided into 31 second-level regions. The autonomous districts and the regions are divided into 108 third-level departments. The departments are divided into 510 fourth-level sub-prefectures. Sub-prefectures contain villages and, in some instances, several villages are combined into fifth-level communes. There are 197 communes.
Using current boundaries as a reference, the territory of Centre Department was composed of Lacs District, Marahoué Region, Vallée du Bandama District, and Yamoussoukro Autonomous District.
Lacs District is one of fourteen administrative districts of Ivory Coast. The district is located in the central part of the country. The capital of the district is Dimbokro.
Vallée du Bandama District is one of fourteen administrative districts of Ivory Coast. The district is located in the north-central part of the country. The capital of the district is Bouaké.
In 1969, Centre Department and the other five existing departments of the country were abolished and replaced with 24 new departments. The territory of Centre Department became the new departments of Bouaflé, Bouaké, Dimbokro, and Katiola.
Bouaflé Department is a department of Marahoué Region in Sassandra-Marahoué District, Ivory Coast. In 2014, its population was 409,683 and its seat is the settlement of Bouaflé. The sub-prefectures of the department are Bégbessou, Bonon, Bouaflé, N'Douffoukankro, Pakouabo, Tibéita, and Zaguiéta.
Bouaké Department is a department of Gbêkê Region in Vallée du Bandama District, Ivory Coast. In 2014, its population was 680,694, making it the most populous department in the country. The seat of the department is the city of Bouaké. The sub-prefectures of the department are Bouaké-SP, Bouaké-Ville, Bounda, Brobo, Mamini, and N'Djébonouan.
Dimbokro Department is a department of N'Zi Region in Lacs District, Ivory Coast. In 2014, its population was 91,056 and its seat is the settlement of Dimbokro. The sub-prefectures of the department are Abigui, Diangokro, Dimbokro, and Nofou.
