Settat
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Settat سطات ⵙⵟⵟⴰⵟ |
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| Municipality and city | ||
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 Settat
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| Coordinates: 33°0′N 7°37′W / 33.000°N 7.617°W | ||
| Country |
 Morocco
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| Region | Casablanca-Settat | |
| Province | Settat Province | |
| Population (2004) | ||
| • Total | 116,570 | |
| Time zone | WET (UTC+0) | |
| • Summer (DST) | WEST (UTC+1) | |
Settat (Arabic: سطات; Berber: ⵙⵟⵟⴰⵟ, Seṭṭaṭ) is a city in Morocco between the national capital Rabat and Marrakech. Settat is located 83.9 km by road south of the centre of Casablanca, roughly an hour's drive. It is the capital of Settat Province and is its largest city in both size and population. According to the 2004 census, it had a population of 116,570 people. Settat is 370m above sea level, built on a plateau surrounded by foothills in all directions. The antiquities of Settat include the very old Ismailiya Kasbah distinguished by the statue of a steed which lies at the center of the city.
The name Settat comes from "Ait Settat" a Senhaja-Berber clan of the Houara tribe. They belonged to the Masmuda-led Almohad alliance according to al-Baydaq, Ibn Hazm and Ibn Khaldun. Their origin is south-east of the High-Atlas and they seemingly settled in the Chaouia region as a result of the Almohad advance to the north.
By choosing to build the Kasbah on the hilly site of Settat, 18th century Moroccan ruler Moulay Ismail would trigger the process of urbanization. Indeed, the building of the Kasbah brought order and security for travelers and residents supported the settlements near it. Moreover, by installing the first Caïd in the region which previously depended Caïd Doukkali and Rahmani, Moulay Ismail formalized Settat status as capital of this region.
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