Kiryat Yam

Coordinates: 32°50′0″N 35°04′0″E / 32.83333°N 35.06667°E / 32.83333; 35.06667
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Kiryat Yam
קִרְיַת יָם
Hebrew transcription(s)
 • ISO 259Qiryat Yamm
The promenade near the beach at Kiryat Yam
The promenade near the beach at Kiryat Yam
Official logo of Kiryat Yam
Kiryat Yam is located in Haifa region of Israel
Kiryat Yam
Kiryat Yam
Kiryat Yam is located in Israel
Kiryat Yam
Kiryat Yam
Coordinates: 32°50′0″N 35°04′0″E / 32.83333°N 35.06667°E / 32.83333; 35.06667
Country Israel
District Haifa
Founded1945
Government
 • MayorDavid Even-Tzur
Area
 • Total4,339 dunams (4.339 km2 or 1.675 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total39,441
 • Density9,100/km2 (24,000/sq mi)
Name meaningSea Town
Websitewww.kiryat-yam.muni.il

Kiryat Yam (Hebrew: קִרְיַת יָם, lit. Sea Town) is a city in the Haifa Bay district of Israel, 12 km (7 mi) north of Haifa. One of a group of Haifa suburbs known as the Krayot, it is located on the Mediterranean coast, between Kiryat Haim and the Tzur Shalom industrial area, east of Kiryat Motzkin. In 2021 it had a population of 39,441.[1]

History[edit]

Kiryat Yam, 1949

The area was acquired by the Jewish community as part of the Sursock Purchase, in which a large tract of land on the Haifa Bay was purchased from the Sursock family of Beirut by the American Zion Commonwealth in 1925.[2] In 1928, the Bayside Land Corporation, a joint venture of the Palestine Economic Corporation and the Jewish National Fund, acquired 2,400 dunams of residential land in a deal related to the building of the IPC oil pipeline.[3] Development of a residential area began in 1939,[4] and the first houses were completed in 1940.[3]

Demographics[edit]

Psagot Yam neighborhood

Kiryat Yam has a population of 38,945.[5] The northern area of the city is home to many immigrants from the former Soviet Union, North Africa and Ethiopia in which the municipality and its mayor Shmuel Sisso worked to build dozens of centers and homes to help the immigrants settle. The city is ranked medium on the socio-economic scale.[6]

Schools[edit]

Kiryat Yam has 15 preschools, eight elementary schools and 3 high schools (Rabin, Rodman & Levinson) with a student population of 10,000. In 2015 Rodman High School was merged with Rabin high school. The merging caused overcrowding at Rabin High School, resulting in overload and malfunction of public facilities and adjustment struggles of adolescents. Most of elementary schools and junior highs are included in public transport roots. Rabin high school was detached in circa 2015 from a particular bus line. The line has not been returned in spite of requests sent to the local municipality about the overcrowding and malfunction of public facilities.

Israeli-Arab conflict[edit]

During the 2006 Lebanon War, Kiryat Yam was hit by Hezbollah rockets and suffered casualties and property damage.[7]

Urban development[edit]

Urban development plans aimed at upgrading the old Gimmel neighborhood were blocked by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, whose main weapons development plant borders Kiryat Yam.[8] In 2009, the Haifa district planning committee approved high-rise construction for the neighborhood, overruling Rafael's objections.[9]

Neighbourhoods[edit]

  • Kiryat Yam (Dalet) - including Almogim
  • Kiryat Yam (Gimmel) - built in the 1950s
  • Kiryat Yam (Bet)
  • Kiryat Yam (Alef)
  • Savyoney Yam
  • Psagot Yam & Bne Beitkha

Notable people[edit]

Gil Vermouth

Twin towns – sister cities[edit]

Kiryat Yam is twinned with:[10]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Regional Statistics". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  2. ^ *Glass, Joseph B. (2002). From new Zion to old Zion: American Jewish immigration and settlement in Palestine, 1917-1939. Wayne State University Press. p. 192.
  3. ^ a b Glass, 2002, p. 236
  4. ^ Palestine Post, May 12, 1939
  5. ^ "Kiryat Yam Profile CBS".
  6. ^ Local councils and municipalities, by socio-economic index, ranking and cluster membership
  7. ^ Einav, Hagai (August 5, 2006). "Western Galilee: 3 women killed in rocket attack". YNet News. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  8. ^ "In Kiryat Yam, urban renewal program faces off with Rafael armaments". Archived from the original on 2009-01-01. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
  9. ^ Kiryat Yam renewal gets go-ahead
  10. ^ "ערים תואמות, שיתופי פעולה וקשרי חוץ (Main Page)". kiryat-yam.muni.il (in Hebrew). Kiryat Yam. Retrieved 2020-02-24.