With a population of about 3.1 million, Casablanca is the
main center for business in Morocco with all important industrial facilities and
international companies based there. Hence, it is also considered to be
Morocco's economic capital, and is well connected to rest of the country with
excellent roads and railways. It is also home to one of the largest artificial
ports in the world, and the Royal Moroccan Navy has its primary naval base here
too. Phosphate is the largest export of Morocco, with the Port of Casablanca
being the administrative center for its export.
Quick
Facts
City: Casablanca
Population (city proper):
3,311,000
Population (metro area): 3,743,000
Elevation: 17
meters, 55 feet
Languages: Arabic, Berber dialects,
French
Religion: Sunni Muslims 98%
Literacy:
52%
Currency: Moroccan dirham
Economy: Phosphate, textiles,
glass, electronics, soft drinks, beer, automobile manufacturing, sugar refining,
bricks, cigarettes, leather work and fishing.
Attractions:
- Largest Moroccan city
- One of the largest artificial ports in the world
- Hassan II Mosque, has the tallest minaret in the world
- Boulevard Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah
- Old Medina wall and streets
History
The area that we
today know as Casablanca was once ruled by the Spanish, French and Almoravids.
Berbers were the first people to settle here in the 7th century. It was captured
by the Almoravids in 1068 AD, but became a free state again in the early 15th
century. It was considered a paradise for sea pirates. This led the Portuguese,
who were a strong naval force then, to attack and destroy the town in 1468 AD.
The Portuguese built a military fort in 1515 AD, to protect themselves from
outside attacks. The town was called 'Casa Branca', meaning 'white house'.
Casablanca was a part of Spain until 1755 AD, when an earthquake destroyed the
city and Europeans vacated the area completely.
The French took over
Casablanca in 1907 but, their control wasn't formalized until 1910. They tried
to build a light railway near the port, which was en route a graveyard. This
angered the locals, and they attacked the French. Riots followed, and as a
result France had to send troops to control the situation and ameliorate law and
order. This led to the process of colonization of Casablanca. In 1942, a movie
Casablanca, was made, that highlighted the city's colonial status of the
time. The movie went on to become a blockbuster.
Morocco gained
independence from France on March 2, 1956. Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah, a close
ally of George Washington, rebuilt the town during the 1960s and 1970s. The town
was known as 'Casa Blanca' in Spanish. Slowly and steadily its population grew,
as did the economy, and in particular, the textile industry.
Casablanca
played a key role in World War II. It was the site of an American air base which
was vital to the United States' European operations. Today, the city with its
largest artificial port, and the minaret of the Hassan II Mosque, is slowly
growing as one of the major global tourist destinations.
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