Niamey City - Fortune of Africa Niger
Niamey City
Location
Niamey is the capital and largest city of the West African country Niger. Niamey lies on the Niger River, primarily situated on the east bank. It is an administrative, cultural and economic centre.
The city is located in a pearl millet growing region, while manufacturing industries include bricks, ceramic goods, cement and weaving.
History of the City
Niamey was founded in the e18th century, but was of little importance to most of the country until the French developed a colonial post in the 1890s. This rapidly grew into an important centre.
In 1926 it became the capital of Niger and the population gradually increased, from about 3,000 in 1930 to around 30,000 in 1960. The period from 1970 to 1988 was one in which the economy of Niger boomed, driven by revenue from the uranium mines at Arlit.
Population