Ramat Gan
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| Hebrew | רמת גן |
| Government | City |
| District | Tel Aviv |
| Population | 127,400 (CBS end of 2004) |
| Jurisdiction | 12,214 dunams (12 km²) |
Ramat Gan is a city in the Tel Aviv District of Israel which borders the cities of Tel Aviv, Giv'atayim, and Bnei Brak. It houses Israel's national soccer stadium, Bar-Ilan University, an advanced medical center (Sheba Medical Center), and a national park. It is also the home of one of the world's major diamond exchanges, in which Israel's tallest office tower is located.
Ramat Gan was established in 1921 as a moshav, a communal settlement, with a focus on agriculture. After commercial and population expansion, it was declared a city in 1950. As of 2004, Ramat Gan had 127,400 residents, on an area of 12,000 dunams (12 km²). The population was growing at a rate of 0.7% per annum.
According the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, as of 2001, Ramat Gan's socioeconomic ranking stood at 8 out of 10 (high). 70.9% of twelfth grade students received a matriculation certificate in 2000. In that year, the average wages in Ramat Gan were 6,995 NIS.
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[edit] History
When Ramat Gan was established in 1921 on land purchased in 1918, it was known as a moshav, a socialist-style Zionist settlement. Before the name Ramat Gan was coined in 1923, the settlement was called Ir Ganim (Hebrew: עיר גנים, meaning Garden City).
As the years passed, Ramat Gan shifted from an agriculture-based economy to a more commercial and urban settlement. In 1926, the British Mandate of Palestine recognized Ramat Gan as a local municipality.
In 1950, Ramat Gan was recognized by the nascent State of Israel as a city. The city infrastructure grew steadily, as new structures such as Sheba Medical Center, the national stadium, Bar Ilan University, and the Diamond Exchange were developed.
True to its name, 25% of Ramat Gan is covered by public parkland. The city also includes Kfar haMaccabiah where the Maccabiah Games, the Jewish Olympics, are held every 4 years. </br>
[edit] The Diamond Exchange compound
This area, in the northwest of the city, is home to a large concentration of skyscrapers, including City Gate, Israel's tallest at over 240 meters, the Diamond Exchange (a world leader in fancy-cut diamonds, a large Sheraton hotel, and many high-tech businesses. The area was formerly a nightly center of prostitution and unlawful gambling, but in 2006, following a new law [1], the police detained criminals related to prostitution and sex trafficking, and these activities disappeared. [2]
[edit] Future plans
In March 2006, American property tycoon Donald Trump, announced plans to build what will become Israel's tallest building in the city. Trump Plaza Tower is a 70 story tower set to be built on the site of the historic Elite Candy factory. As a tribute to the history of the site, the lower floors of the tower are planned to house a chocolate museum. Source. The tower is set to contain luxury apartments, with an average price tag of USD 1 million each.
[edit] Twin cities
- Image:Flag of France.svg Strasbourg, France
- Image:Flag of Germany.svg Kassel, Germany
- Image:Flag of Germany.svg Weinheim, Germany
- Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Finchley, London, UK
- Image:Flag of the United States.svg Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Barnet, London, UK
- Image:Flag of Argentina.svg Mendoza, Argentina
- Image:Flag of Poland (bordered).svg Wrocław, Poland
- Image:Flag of Hungary.svg Szombathely, Hungary
- Image:Flag of Peru.svg San Isidro, Lima, Peru
The city has had a great relationship with Weinheim since 1999, and exchange programs take place each year.
[edit] Born in Ramat Gan
- Tal Stricker (1979), Israeli breaststroke swimmer
- Ilan Ramon (1954), First Israeli Astronaut; died in the Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster in 2003
[edit] See also
- Hiriya - Old waste dump and location of advanced waste processing technology
[edit] External links
ca:Ramat Gan
da:Ramat Gan de:Ramat Gan es:Ramat Gan fr:Ramat Gan he:רמת גן nl:Ramat Gan pl:Ramat Gan pt:Ramat Gan sv:Ramat Gan
