In the 1930s there were about 8,000 inhabitants in this city. Baardheere lies on the Juba River. The river Juba cuts through the city. Bardera is probably the fifth or sixth largest city in Somalia.
On the eve of the European concur of the continent, the British and the Italians saw the strategic importance of Baardheere. The two fought over the city couple times in the early 1940s.
The Somalis who lived in this city had system of governance, primarily Fiefdom (Ugaas in Somali) or the chief of the tribe. The Ugaas is often a well-respected intellectual man with deep knowledge of the religion, Islam.
Baardheere had about 20,000 citizens from mid 1970s. There are important religious schools as well as an important center which was connected to the National University in Mogadishu. Students and teacher used visit Baardheere for research projects, especially agricultural ones.
Bardera is the most county (beel) in Gedo; the region which Baardheere is part of. Agricultural bounty from this fertile land is marketed in many parts of the country. Sorghum, different types of onions, maize, potatoes, and sesame from Bardera farms reach as far as Jabuti on the Gulf of Aden which is about 3000km away.
The outbreak of the civil war in the 1991 changed the dynamics of the city. The population swelled to 120,000 people. At one point, it reached 230,000 before many families moved northward to Beled Hawo.
At the end of the 1990s and early 2000, Bardera developed into even more important town for its inhabitants and business people alike. There is a new route to Kismaayo. And this brings a lot of business for the city and the surrounding areas.
There are two middle schools and one high school and another one is to be opened soon. There are also plans for building higher institution besides the technical school operated by Hirda which is a non-profit Somali development group.
Bardera is currently headed by Council of Elders. (Odayaal Dhaqameedyo) The Bardera Council of Elders is comprised of 21 prominent religious leaders and respected elders from different Somali clans [Marehan, Rahaweyn, and Awliahan] that live in the city. The council undertakes to settle the disputes in the community that can from time to time occour over land, property, and blood [fatal accidents] in a peaceful and traditional manner. As of February 2002 Cheif Fanax Barre Warsame [of Bahtanado family lineage] is the chairman of the Council of Elders.
Barderians, having a long history of amity and cordial relations with other cities, enjoy a very peaceful coexistence and tranquility with the neighboring populations and villages.