FREETOWN, capital of the British colony and protectorate of Sierra Leone, W'r'est Africa, on the south side of the Sierra Leone estuary, about 5 m. from the cape of that name, in 8° 29' N., 13° to' W. Pop. 55,359. Freetown is picturesquely situated on a plain, closed in behind by a succession of wooded hills, Sugar Loaf mountain being 2,494 ft. high. There are many fine stone-built business premises and public buildings, includ ing an Anglican cathedral, Wilberforce Hall, courts of justice and the governor's residence. Several of these institutions are built on the slopes of the hills. The botanic gardens form a pleasant and favourite place of resort. Freetown possesses an abundant and pure water-supply, drawn from the adjacent hills but the climate is enervating and was notoriously unhealthy. It was particularly to Freetown, often spoken of as Sierra Leone, that the designation "White Man's Grave" applied. Since the beginning of the loth century successful efforts have been made to improve the sanitary condition notably by a new system of drainage, and the filling up of marshes wherein the malarial mosquito breeds. A light railway 6 m. long, opened in 1904, was built to Hill Station (90o ft. high), where, on a healthy site, are the residences of the government officials and of other Europeans. In 1929 this railway was closed to public traffic, and a motor bus service substituted. The town is governed by a municipality (created in 1893) with a mayor and councillors, the large ma jority being elective. Freetown was the first place in British West Africa granted local self-government.
Both commercially and strategically Freetown is a place of importance. Its harbour, the best in West Africa, affords ample accommodation for the largest fleets and is a port of call for all steamers serving 'Vest Africa. Freetown is also the ocean terminus of the Sierra Leone railways. Its inhabitants who include a number of Syrians are noted as very keen and successful traders.
In consequence of the character of the original settlement (see SIERRA LEONE), many of the inhabitants are descended from non-indigenous Negro races. These form a distinct class, known as creoles. Their language is English and they are mainly Chris tians. A large proportion of them are highly educated and they occupy a prominent part in the life of the town, as lawyers, medical men, clergy, teachers, civil servants, traders and clerks. Census returns show however that their numbers are diminishing.
Since 1861-1862 there has been an independent Episcopal Na tive Church; but the Church Missionary Society, which in 1804 sent out the first missionaries to Sierra Leone, maintains various agencies. Furah Bay college, built by the society on the site of General Charles Turner's estate (II- m. E. of Freetown), and opened in 1828 with six pupils, one of whom was Bishop Crow ther, was affiliated in 1876 to Durham university. Other insti tutions are the C.M.S. Grammar School (opened 1845), the Wesleyan Boys' and Girls' High Schools, the Annie Walsh (girls) school and the Prince of Wales secondary school (opened by the Prince in 1925).