Ever wondered where a city gets its name?
Let’s uncover the story of Kiryat Ata. This city has a history stretching back millennia. Kiryat Ata lies in the Haifa District of Israel. It is a city with a population of over 61000. The name Kiryat Ata translates to City of Ata.
Archaeological digs show that Kiryat Ata has been inhabited since the Early Bronze Age. Remains from the Neolithic and Roman eras were found here. Imagine people living here thousands of years ago.
Mordechai Aviam and Dan Barag believed Kiryat Ata to be the Capharatha mentioned by Josephus. This Capharatha was in Lower Galilee. Winepresses from the Byzantine era were also discovered. Some had crosses suggesting a monastery was once located here. Ceramics and a building from the Byzantine or early Islamic period were also found.
In 1283, Kiryat Ata was known as Kafrata. It was part of the Crusader domain. Later, under the Ottoman Empire in 1596, Kufrata had 15 Muslim households. They paid taxes on wheat, barley and fruit trees.
Napoleon’s invasion in 1799 marked the area on a map as Koufour Tai. By 1859, the population was estimated at 100. In 1881, Kefr Etta was described as a small village with a well and olive trees.
The Jewish community acquired the area as part of the Sursock Purchase. In 1925, a Zionist organization bought land here. In 1934, the ATA textile plant opened becoming one of the country’s largest.
During the 1929 Arab riots, the town was attacked and abandoned. Residents returned a year later to rebuild. In 1940, it was renamed Kfar Ata. In 1965, Kfar Ata merged with Kiryat Binyamin becoming Kiryat Ata.
Kiryat Ata has a Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot and dry. Winters are cool and rainy. Snowfall is rare.
Today, Kiryat Ata is a thriving city. It boasts schools and landmarks like the Fisher House. The Fisher House is now a municipal museum displaying the history of Kiryat Ata. The city’s main football club is Maccabi Ironi Kiryat Ata. The local basketball club is Elitzur Kiryat Ata.
Kiryat Ata is also twinned with Reinickendorf in Germany and Šabac in Serbia.
From ancient settlements to a modern city Kiryat Ata’s journey is truly remarkable.