Arusha District Council, Arusha

Arusha District or Arusha District Council (Wilaya ya Arusha , in Swahili) is one of the seven districts of the Arusha Region of Tanzania. The district is bordered to the north by Longido District, to the east by Meru District, to the south by Kilimanjaro Region, and to the west by Monduli District. the district surrounds Arusha City on all three sides. The district covers an area of 1,547.6 km2 (597.5 sq mi).[2] The district is comparable in size to the land area of Guadeloupe.[3] The district capital is located in Sokon II. According to the 2022 Tanzania National Census, the population of Arusha District was 449,518.[4]

Arusha District
Wilaya ya Arusha (Swahili)
From top to bottom:
Sokon II view, flame trees in Mateves Ward, and Oltroto Ward
Nickname: 
Arusha's breadbasket
Arusha Rural District's location within Arusha Region
Arusha Rural District's location within Arusha Region
Coordinates: 03°15′38″S 36°38′28″E / 3.26056°S 36.64111°E / -3.26056; 36.64111
CountryTanzania
RegionArusha Region
District1 July 2007
Named forArusha people
CapitalSokon II
Area
 • Total
1,547.6 km2 (597.5 sq mi)
 • Rank6th in Arusha
Highest elevation
(Mount Meru Peak)
4,562 m (14,967 ft)
Population
 (2022)
 • Total
449,518
 • Density290/km2 (750/sq mi)
DemonymDistrict Arushan
Ethnic groups
 • SettlerMaasai, Chaga, Pare & Swahili,
 • NativeRwa & Arusha people
Time zoneUTC+3 (EAT)
Postcode
232xx
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols of Tanzania
Bird
Tacazze sunbird
Mammal
Mountain reedbuck

History

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Arusha District was first home of the now extinct Koningo people, hunter gather group that lived around the slopes of Mount Meru for centuries. Around 400 years ago, Arusha people a bantu subgroup of the Pare people migrated from Arusha Chini in Kilimanjaro Region. Some Masai in the west assimilated into the Arusha community and influenced the Arusha into adopting the Masai language as their own.[5] In 1880s a pandemic of rinderpest killed thousands of cattle and forced a large section of the Masai people in the west and integrated into Arusha agriculturally based society.[6] Arusha District Council was formed on July 1, 2007. The previous Arumeru District Council has separated into Arusha District Council and Meru District Council.[7]

Geography

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There are two zones, one of which being the green belt of Mount Meru's slopes to the south. Annual rainfall ranges from 800mm to 1000mm. The other zone is in the lowlands belt, where maize, beans, cassava, peas, rose, pigeon peas agriculture are grown, and cattle keeping done on a free ranch.[8]

Economy

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Infrastructure

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Paved Trunk road T2 from Kenyan border crossing at Kamanga to Moshi and paved trunk road T5 from Babati to Arusha pass through Arusha Rural District.[9]

Agriculture

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As Arusha's breadbasket, a total of 78,350 ha of arable land is available in the district. Maize, beans, coffee, pyrethrum, round potatoes, sweet potatoes, bananas, legumes, and horticultural crops are among the food and cash crops farmed in the district.[10]

Industry

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TARPO Industries (T) LTD and TIGAAT East Africa LTD are two medium-sized businesses. Mateves is one of Arusha District Council's 27 Wards, and it is extremely close to a big scale enterprise known as 'A to Z Net Healthy Olyset,' which deals with treated mosquito net manufacturers. There are also 76 small scale industries, such as carpentry, saw mills, garages, milling machines, workshops, tomato/chill source parking, and book printers.[11]

Tourism

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The district has Mungu Crater (Laroi Crater). Napuk Falls is also in Kiutu ward. Bagata ward is home to Ngires Falls.[12]

Demographics

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The district's ethnic population is largely made up of Arusha people, who moved there roughly 400 years ago. Other settle groups, especially Europeans, have established themselves in Mateves ward. The district in 2012 had a population of 323,198 people, with 154,301 males and 168,897 females, a population density of 227.4 people per square mile, and a population growth rate of 3.4%. According to the 2012 national Population and Housing Census report, the average family size is five people, and the average life expectancy is 52 years.[13]

Administrative subdivisions

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As of 2012, Arusha Rural District was administratively divided into three divisions: Enaboishu; Moshono; Mukulat; and 27 wards.[14]

Wards

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Sources

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References

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  1. ^ "Arusha District Council". Arusha Region Office, Tanzania. Archived from the original on 16 October 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  2. ^ "District area".
  3. ^ 264 km2 (102 sq mi) for Guadeloupe at "Area size comparison". Nation master. 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Arusha Rural (District, Tanzania) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  5. ^ "WaArusha People". Archived from the original on 21 December 2007. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  6. ^ Koponen, Juhani. “War, Famine, and Pestilence in Late Precolonial Tanzania: A Case for a Heightened Mortality.” The International Journal of African Historical Studies, vol. 21, no. 4, 1988, pp. 637–76. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/219745. Accessed 5 Feb. 2023.
  7. ^ "Arusha District Council Investment Guide" (PDF). Office of District Executive Director, Arusha District. 2017. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  8. ^ "Arusha District Council Investment Guide" (PDF). Office of District Executive Director, Arusha District. 2017. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  9. ^ "Arusha Roads Network" (PDF). Tanroads. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 November 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  10. ^ "Arusha District Council Investment Guide" (PDF). Office of District Executive Director, Arusha District. 2017. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  11. ^ "Arusha District Council Investment Guide" (PDF). Office of District Executive Director, Arusha District. 2017. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  12. ^ "Arusha District Council Investment Guide" (PDF). Office of District Executive Director, Arusha District. 2017. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  13. ^ "Arusha District Council Investment Guide" (PDF). Office of District Executive Director, Arusha District. 2017. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
  14. ^ "Census 2012". National Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2016.