📖 About San Pedro

San Pedro is Ivory Coast's second-largest port city, located on the southwestern coast. With approximately 600,000 residents, this rapidly growing city serves as the export hub for cocoa, rubber, and palm oil from the country's western agricultural regions. The port is Africa's largest cocoa exporting terminal.

The city was purpose-built in the 1970s as part of a development scheme for the southwestern region. Modern infrastructure contrasts with nearby rainforests. San Pedro represents Ivory Coast's economic vitality—agricultural exports, port development, and regional growth hub in West Africa's economic powerhouse.

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💼 Economy & Culture

San Pedro's economy centers on its port—the world's leading cocoa export terminal handles about 50% of Ivory Coast's cocoa. Rubber and palm oil also ship through. Fishing provides local employment. Commerce serves the growing population. The economy is directly tied to agricultural commodity exports and port operations—volatile but vital.

The city is multicultural—migrants from across Ivory Coast and neighboring countries came for economic opportunities. French is official; local languages are diverse. Christianity and Islam coexist. Traditional cultures mix with modern urbanization. Food features Ivorian dishes—attiéké (cassava couscous), fresh fish, and regional specialties. The culture is a blend of southwestern traditions and migrant communities.

📜 History

The San Pedro region was traditionally inhabited by the Krou peoples. French colonial rule developed limited infrastructure. The modern city was planned in the late 1960s as part of the "Opération San Pedro" development initiative—creating a new port to exploit western Ivory Coast's agricultural potential.

Construction of the port (completed 1971) and planned city created San Pedro essentially from scratch. Growth was rapid as agriculture expanded. Civil conflict (2002-2011) caused disruption but the city recovered. Today San Pedro is Ivory Coast's second economic hub—cocoa port, regional growth center, and gateway to the southwestern rainforest region.