in 1961, it was the capital of the Protectorate of Sierra Leone. The city is the administrative centre of the Southern Province. After Freetown, Bo is the leading transportation, commercial, and educational centre of Sierra Leone. The Sierra Leone Government Railway was closed in 1974. The inhabitants of Bo are known for their resolve, resistance and hospitality. The town was named after its generosity. An elephant was killed close to what is now known as Bo Parking Ground. People from the surrounding villages came to receive their share. Because the amount of meat was so large, the hunter spent days distributing it and the words "Bo-lor" (which in Mende language means "this is yours," with reference to the meat) was said so much that the elders and visitors decided to name the place Bo. "Bo-lor" in Mende also translates to "this is Bo." Government The city of Bo is one of Sierra Leone's six municipalities and is governed by a directly elected city council form of government, headed by a mayor, in whom executive authority is vested. The mayor is responsible for the general management of the city. The mayor and members of the Bo city council are elected directly by the residents of Bo in a municipal election that is held every four years.` Like virtually all parts of the Southern Province, the city of Bo is a reliable political stronghold of the SLPP, the main opposition party in Sierra Leone. The SLPP has won every Sierra Leone presidential elections in the city and the rest of Bo District by an overwhelming majority. The SLPP has also won virtually every parliamentary, and Local government elections in Bo by an overwhelming majority, including the most recent Sierra Leone general elections held in November 2012. With assistance from the Revenue Development Foundation Bo City Council has started to collect property taxes. Geography Climate Like the rest of Sierra Leone, Bo has a tropical climate, more specifically a tropical monsoon climate (Am) under the Köppen climate classification, with a rainy season from May to October and a dry season from November to April. Average annual precipitation varies with up to 5,080 mm (200 inches) in the wettest parts. The prevailing winds are the SW Monsoon during the wet season and the northeastern Harmattan which is a dust-laden wind from the Sahara Desert during the dry season. Average temperature ranges in Bo are