Country Algeria Elevation 1,036 m (3,399 ft) Area 63.5 km² Province Médéa Province | District Médéa District Postal code 26000 Local time Thursday 4:22 PM Team Olympique de Médéa | |
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Weather 8°C, Wind NW at 10 km/h, 80% Humidity Neighborhoods Elkouala, 1 November 1954 Sqaure, Quartier Rekia Mustapha | ||
Médéa (Arabic: المدية), population 123,535 (1998 census) is the capital city of Médéa Province, Algeria. It is located roughly 83 km south of Algiers.
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The present-day city is situated on the site of an ancient Roman military post and has a history dating back to the 10th century. The town is French in character, with a rectangular city plan, red tile-roofed buildings, and beautiful public gardens. The hills surrounding Médéa are covered with vineyards, orchards, and farms that yield abundant grain. Médéa’s chief products are wines, irrigation equipment, and various handicrafts.
Etymology
Medea is a Roman city named ad Medix or Media ("halfway" in Latin), so called because it was equidistant from Tirinadi (Berrouaghia) and Sufnsar (Amourah) rest house of Mauretania caesarean on the road linking the capital Caesarea (Cherchell) to the colony Auzia (Aumale).
History
Following the defeat of the Berbers in the 11th century, Arab tribes of Hilal and Sulaym descent were settled in the region, mixing with and Arabicizing the local Berbers.
Médéa was the capital of Titteri; a Bey, deputy of the Dey of Algiers, was resident there. The beylik of Titteri (chief Medea) was established in 1548. The last Bey Mostefa Boumezrag ran it from 1819 to 1830, when the French arrived. In 1837, after the Treaty of Tafna, Medea became one of the capitals of the part of Algeria ruled by Abdelkader El Djezairi, but was occupied by the French when they eventually took possession of the whole of Algeria. Until 1962 Médéa was a garrison town for the French army.
Economy
One of the largest pharmaceutical production units in Algeria (Saidal-Antibiotical) is located in Medea.
Shoe factories also established in Takbou and M'salah.