Virginia was first settled under the name New Virginia by the American Colonization Society as part of Liberia’s early settlement program for freed African Americans. The community was named for the state of Virginia, where many of its settlers originated.[1][2]
In 1979, the town hosted the Organisation of African Unity conference at Hotel Africa under the leadership of President Tolbert, marking a major international event in Liberia’s prewar history.[3]
During the Second Liberian Civil War, Virginia figured in military operations as forces used its location to approach and attack central Monrovia in 2003.
Geography
Virginia lies in western Montserrado County near the northern bank of the Saint Paul River, on Liberia’s coastal plain. The terrain is generally low and close to sea level, characteristic of western Liberia’s riverine and coastal lowlands.[4] The area experiences a tropical monsoon climate with a rainy season from May through October and a drier season from November through April, with seasonal rainfall contributing to occasional localized flooding.[5]
Landmarks and infrastructure
Grounds of Hotel Africa in Liberia
Hotel Africa and the adjacent Unity Conference Center are prominent facilities in the area, originally developed to support large conferences, international meetings, and tourism.[6]
In the mid-2000s, plans were announced for the redevelopment of Hotel Africa. A South African-backed group expressed intentions to invest more than US$100 million to rehabilitate the hotel ahead of Liberia’s hosting of an international women’s colloquium in 2009.[7] However, that redevelopment did not materialize and the hotel remained abandoned and deteriorated through the mid-2010s.[8] The Unity Conference Center has continued to be used for civic meetings and other events, including in October 2025 for a community meeting on redevelopment of the hotel site that was attended by residents and government officials.[9][10]
Political representation
Virginia is within Montserrado County’s representation in the national legislature of Liberia. The county elects members to both the House of Representatives of Liberia and the Senate of Liberia. Residents are represented in the House through one of Montserrado’s electoral districts, as defined by the National Elections Commission of Liberia.[11] Montserrado County elects two senators who represent all communities within the county, including Virginia. Senators serve nine-year terms under the Constitution of Liberia.[12]
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Liberia 
