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Freetown, population 519,500 ( 1995), is the capital of Sierra Leone. The city is a port on the Atlantic Ocean. Freetown's economy revolves largely around its harbor, which handles Sierra Leone's main exports. Industries include fish packing, rice milling, petroleum refining, diamond cutting, and the manufacture of cigarettes,.

The area was first settled in 1787 by freed slaves sent from England by British abolitionists, who started the Sierra Leone Company . In 1792, Freetown was founded by former slaves from Nova Scotia. From 1808Events January 1 Importation of slaves into the United States is banned February 11 Anthracite coal first burned as fuel, experimentally. February Russia issues an ultimatum to Sweden, to join France, Denmark and Russia and attacks Finland. March 26 Charl to 1874Events January 1 New York City annexes The Bronx January 23 Marriage of the Duke of Edinburgh, second son of Queen Victoria, to Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia, only daughter of Emperor Alexander III of Russia. January Signing of the Pangkor Tr the city served as the capital of British West Africa . During World War IIWorld War II was the most extensive and costly armed conflict in the history of the world, involving the great majority of the world's nations, being fought simultaneously in several major theatres, and costing tens of millions of lives. The war was fough, Britain maintained a naval base at Freetown. Descendants of the freed slaves, called CreoleThe term Creole is used with different meanings in different contexts, which can generate confusion. Generally it refers to a people or a culture that is distinctive or local to a region, but with various additional shades of meaning. Disambiguation See as, play a leading role in the city, even though they are a minority of the population.

The city was the scene of fierce fighting in the late 1990sCenturies: 19th century 20th century 21st century Decades: 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s 2030s 2040s Years: Events and trends Computers, technology Explosive growth of the Internet; decrease in the cost of computers and other techn. It was captured by ECOWASThe Economic Community of West African States is a regional group of fifteen countries, founded on May 28, 1975 when 15 West African countries signed the Treaty of Lagos. Its mission is to promote economic integration. It was founded to achieve "collectiv troops seeking to restore President Ahmad Tejan KabbahAhmad Tejan Kabbah (born February 16, 1932) is the President of Sierra Leone ( 1996- 1997, 1998 present). He worked for the United Nations Development Program, and returned to Sierra Leone in 1992. He was elected president in 1996. Most of his time in off in 19981998 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year of the Ocean''. Events January January 1998 A massive ice storm, caused by El Nino, strikes New England, southern Ontario and Quebec, resulting, and later it was unsuccessfully attacked by rebels of the Revolutionary United Front.

Freetown is the site of the University of Sierra Leone .

The city is twinned with Kingston upon Hull in England.