A History of Bishoftu Town (1917-2000)

Abstract

This study deals with the history of Bishoftu town from 1917-2000. Before Bishoftu had developed into an urban center, it was a railway station since when the line reached the area towards the end of 1917. Subsequently, the small village that flourished around the station drew in a sizeable number of people of diverse origin. In1935, Bishoftu was a bit larger than station with its multifarious population and economic activities.Yet, at least until the Italian period, it may be difficult to label the area as a full-fledged urban center. Through the Italian occupation period saw Bishoftu a significant change.The strategic location, agricultural productivity and recreational potential of the area were among the major factors that attracted the Italians to Bishoftu. The Italians made Bishoftu their garrison town, and it was also one of the earliest few places chosen by the Italians for their white settlement scheme. Italians in fact had a significant effect on the infrastructural development, expansion and growth of the town. Nonetheless, in the post-Italian period that the town witnessed considerable growth and development.Together with the municipality, different administrative and branch offices of various ministries were opened, which obviously drew a sizeable number of government employees to the town. Yet, it was with the establishment of educational research center and above all with various military institutions that the town’s development was closely related. Bishoftu’s location in the midst of rich agricultural area and along the main highway and the railway, its proximity to the capital, and its scenery made the town a resort place. All these variously contributed to its development. During the Derg rule with the establishment of new institutions and steady population increase, the town saw unprecedented spatial expansion. Nevertheless, this spatial expansion of the town was not compatible with infrastructure and facilities. After 1991, the municipality was granted autonomus self-administration status and the town’s development has been speeded up. During this period, Bishoftu has become one of the biggest and relatively developed towns by Ethiopian standard.