When Liberia declared its independence in 1847, the country contained 11 towns. Edina was one of them.
Most polities in the area at the time, including Liberia, were composed of non-continuous towns. In other words, they consisted of settlements widely separated by unclaimed forest and mangrove swamp.
Of the various neighboring examples, Liberia at independence most resembled the Kru polity, which consisted of widely dispersed settlements along the coast.
By 1850, some residents were already growing export crops.
Footnote: J. W. Lugenbeel, “Sketches of Liberia – No. 2,” African Repository, July 1850, p. 207.
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