Country Algeria Elevation 3,120 ft (950 m) Area 530 km² Area code 1928 | Time zone CET (UTC+1) Population 73,831 (1998) | |
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Aïn Oulmene is a town and commune in Sétif Province in north-eastern Algeria.
Contents
During the Roman Empire the small city was called Zarai.
Geography
It is the capital of the Aïn Oulmene county, located at an altitude of 950 m, on the RN 28 to 30km southwest of Setif, close to the high fertile plains south of Setif and to the west, the mountains of Hodna. Its terrain is generally flat in its eastern part, while its western part is occupied by small mountains which is the highest Osman Jebel which culminates at 1100 meters. The town has 73 831 inhabitants at the census in 2008.
History
The indigenous inhabitants of Aïn Oulmene are original the Zenata and Sanhadja, berber tribes.
The Romans settled in 'to Zarai' (Zraïa) during the reign of Hadrian (117-138 AD.) and the nearby Setif colony was founded by Nerva (96-98 AD). The 1st Flavia Equilata or 6th Commagenorum were stationed here. Stéphane Gsell who undertook excavations in the area in the early 20th century. The city has a Roman and Byzantine era necropolis.
In the 8th century, Okba Ibn Nafaa installed a garrison near here.
Aïn Oulmene was from 1880 to 1958, the capital of the mixed town of Rirha (pronounced "ryɣa"). The name of Aïn Oulmene appeared for the first time in 1887 on an administrative documents. Aïn Oulmene was known as Colbert by the French from 1887 and was capital of the commune from 1935 to 1962. The name "Aïn Oulmene" reappear in 1962 with the independence of Algeria.
Toponymy
The place derives its name from the Arabic ain ( "source"), and Berber Oulmane ( "son to weave"). The full name of the town means therefore the source of weaving son.
The name could also mean "Fountain Elms" because according to Arthur Pellegrin (Toponymy of Algeria. March 1952), "oulmen" is the plural of "Oulmou 'meaning elm in Berber and that would itself from the Latin" Ulmus ". It is remarkable that the "Oulme" root derived from the Latin word has been the cause of several names, including " Oulmes " in Morocco, L'Houmeau, the Houme in France.
Aïn Oulmene is also known as عين اولمان in Arabic and 3ⵢⵏⵓⵍⵎⴰⵏ in Berber.
Economy
Aïn Oulmene is located in an agricultural vocation region. cereals were cultivated and vegetables but after the drought of the last quarter century tobacco farming, raising livestock and poultry are more popular.
Sports
The town has a football club ESAO (eg ESC) founded in 1927 which carries the colors blue and white. There is a boxing club and Female Handball club which represented Algeria in various international competitions.