Located on the western coast of Africa, and consisting of low coastal plain and a biodiverse rainforest, Liberia has a unique history amongst its neighbors in that it is the only majority-Black African country that was never colonized. In fact, Liberia began through land acquired for formerly enslaved people from the United States by the American Colonization Society, with independence declared in 1847. Liberia faces many challenges in all public spheres; economically, politically, and socially. Amongst the most well-known are the two painful civil wars the country has endured, with the most recent ending in 2003. The country has a high poverty rate, with the majority of the population living below the poverty line. Stemming from this poverty, Liberians face challenges with adequate food and water supplies, as well as vulnerability to infectious disease, such as the 2014 Ebola outbreak.