Place details
Place nameCôte d'Ivoire
Other namesRépublique de Côte d'Ivoire, Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, CIV, CI, ISO384, IV00, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Ivory Coast, Elfenbeinküste, Ivoorkust, Costa del Marfil, Costa do Marfim, Ivorian
Latitude8
Longitude-5
SourceThesaurus of Geographic Names
Overview
Indigenous coastal settlements were isolated until Europeans arrived to exploit ivory & slaves in 15th cen.; French made treaty with native rulers in 1842, & fought hinterland Mandingos 1885-1886 to gain control of region; was part of French West Africa; official language is French, but over 60 local dialects are also spoken.