Meru District, Arusha
Meru
Wilaya ya Meru (Swahili) | |
|---|---|
| Wilaya ya Meru, Mkoa wa Arusha | |
 Lake Duluti in Akheri Ward of Meru District | |
| Nickname: Arusha's lakes district | |
 Meru District location within Arusha Region | |
| Coordinates: 3°22′S 36°51′E / 3.367°S 36.850°E | |
| Country |  Tanzania |
| Region | Arusha Region |
| Named for | Rwa |
| Capital | Usa River |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,266 km2 (489 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation (Rhino Point, Mount Meru) | 3,800 m (12,500 ft) |
| Population (2012) | |
• Total | 268,144 |
| • Density | 210/km2 (550/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Meruan |
| Ethnic groups | |
| • Settler | Swahili, Chaga & Pare, |
| • Native | Rwa |
| Website | http://www.merudc.go.tz |
Meru or Meru District Council is one of the seven districts councils of the Arusha Region of Tanzania.The District covers an area of 1,266 km2 (489 sq mi).[1] and has an max elevation of 3,800 m (12,500 ft).[2] Meru District is bordered to the north by Longido District, to the east by Siha and Hai Districts of Kilimanjaro Region, to the south by Simanjiro District of Manyara Region, and to the west by Arusha Rural District and Arusha Urban District. The administrative capital of the council is Usa River.
According to the 2012 Tanzania National Census, the population of Meru District council was 268,144.[3]
Etymology
The district is named after Mount Meru, which is named after the Rwa people.
History
First communities
The first communities in what would be Meru District were the now extinct Koningo people, hunter gather group that lived around the slopes of Mount Meru for centuries. The second community to settle in the area is the Meru People, whom immigrated there from the Usambara Mountains in Tanga Region.[4] They settled on the southeastern slopes of the mountain and started to farm the land.
Transport
Paved trunk road T2 from Arusha to the Moshi passes through the district.[5]
Administrative subdivisions
Wards
As of 2012, Meru District was administratively divided into 17 wards:[3]
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References
- ^ "Tanzania: Northern Zone(Districts and Wards) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map".
- ^ "Rhino Point Elevation".
- ^ a b "2012 Population and Housing Census" (PDF). Development Partners Group Tanzania. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
- ^ "Meru and Machame Migrations to Arusha Region". Retrieved 17 October 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Arusha Region Roads Network" (PDF). TanRoads. Retrieved 20 August 2019.