Bouaké, Commercial center in central Ivory Coast
Bouaké is a commercial city in central Ivory Coast that serves as a crossroads for roads and railway lines linking the southern and northern parts of the country. The city sits on a plateau at 312 meters (1024 feet) and spreads around several main roads lined with residential neighborhoods, business districts, and educational facilities.
French colonial authorities established a military post at this location in 1899, and by 1914 the site had been developed into an administrative center. The population grew from 3600 residents in 1921, and the city developed into a regional trading hub.
The markets sell Senufo textiles and hand-carved masks made by local craftsmen using methods passed down through generations. Bronze castings sit alongside fabrics woven in surrounding villages, showing the connection between the urban center and its rural hinterland.
Université Alassane Ouattara and several schools are located across different parts of town, and most buildings are open to visitors during regular hours. Those looking to navigate the city will find the main roads and intersections clearly marked.
The Gonfreville facility was founded in 1922 nearby and remains the oldest textile factory in the country, with portions of the original machinery still operating. Some of the looms were shipped from France a century ago and continue to produce fabrics for local and regional markets.
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