Biankouma Department

Biankouma Department is a department of Tonkpi Region in Montagnes District, Ivory Coast. In 2021, its population was 238,714 and its seat is the settlement of Biankouma. The sub-prefectures of the department are Biankouma, Blapleu, Gbangbégouiné, Gbonné, Gouiné, Kpata, and Santa.

Biankouma Department Département de Biankouma
Department
Location in Ivory Coast. Biancouma Department has had these boundaries since 2012.
Country	Ivory Coast
District	Montagnes
Region	Tonkpi
1969	Established as a first-level subdivision
1997	Converted to a second-level subdivision
2011	Converted to a third-level subdivision
2012	Divided to create Sipilou Dept
Departmental seat	Biankouma
Government
• Prefect	N'Guessan N'Dri
Area
• Total	3,900 km2 (1,500 sq mi)
Population  (2021 census)
• Total	238,714
• Density	61/km2 (160/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+0 (GMT)

History

Biankouma Department upon its creation in 1969. It kept these boundaries until 2012, but other departments began to be divided in 1974.

Biankouma Department was created in 1969 as one of the 24 new departments that were created to take the place of the six departments that were being abolished. It was created from territory that was formerly part of Ouest Department.

In 1997, regions were introduced as new first-level subdivisions of Ivory Coast; as a result, all departments were converted into second-level subdivisions. Biankouma Department was included in Dix-Huit Montagnes Region.

In 2011, districts were introduced as new first-level subdivisions of Ivory Coast. At the same time, regions were reorganised and became second-level subdivisions and all departments were converted into third-level subdivisions. At this time, Biankouma Department became part of Tonkpi Region in Montagnes District.

The territory of Biankouma Department was unchanged until 2012, when two sub-prefectures were split-off to create Sipilou Department.