Country Sierra Leone Time zone GMT (UTC-5) | Region Western Area Population 35,300 (2015) | |
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District Western Area Rural District | ||
Newton is a city in the Rural District in the Western Area of Sierra Leone. The city lies approximately twenty four miles east of Freetown. Newton had an estimated population of 35,300. Newton is the third most populous city in The Western Area, after Freetown and Waterloo. The city population is ethnically and religiosly diverse, as it is home to a large population of both Muslims and Christians.
Newton is named after British abolitionist John Newton. Today there is a philanthropic link between John Newton's town of Olney and Newton in Sierra Leone.
Though part of the larger Western Area Rural District Council Government, Newtown is locally governed by a directly elected town council, headed by a Town Head. The current Town Head of Newtown is Tommy Browne of the APC, who was elected in the 2013 Western Area Rural District Newton Town Head election[4].
The Anti Drugs Strikers football club which is based in Newton, represent the city in the Sierra Leone National Premier League. The club is overwhelmingly popular in Newton.