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| Settat Province | |
|---|---|
| Name | Settat Province |
| Native name | إقليم سطات |
| Settlement type | Province |
| Coordinates | 33°00′N 7°37′W |
| Country | Morocco |
| Region | Casablanca-Settat |
| Capital | Settat |
| Area km2 | 6728 |
| Population total | 956904 |
| Population as of | 2004 census |
| Timezone | Western European Time |
Settat Province is a provincial subdivision in central Morocco, situated within the Casablanca-Settat region. The province includes the city of Settat as its administrative center and links the plains of Chaouia to the highlands leading toward Marrakesh. Its position along historic trade routes and modern transport corridors has shaped interactions with Casablanca, Rabat, and Fes.
Settat Province lies on the Chaouia plain between the Atlantic coastal basin near Casablanca and the foothills rising toward the High Atlas. The provincial landscape features agricultural plains, scattered Argan and olive groves, and steppe zones adjacent to the Haouz fringe. Major hydrographic features include seasonal tributaries feeding into the Oum er-Rbia watershed and man-made reservoirs tied to irrigation projects linked to policies from King Mohammed VI. Climatic influences derive from the nearby Atlantic Ocean and the shielding effect of the Atlas Mountains, producing a semi-arid Mediterranean regime similar to areas around Settat (city), Ben Ahmed, and Oulad M'Rah.
The territory encompassing Settat Province has prehistoric and historic layers including Iberomaurusian and Neolithic traces, later influenced by Phoenician and Carthaginian trade networks along the Moroccan littoral. During the medieval period it intersected routes used by Almoravid and Almohad dynasties moving between Marrakesh and Fez. In the early modern era the area came under influence of local chaouia tribes and was affected by treaties such as the Treaty of Fez in the colonial reordering, leading into the French Protectorate in Morocco. The development of railways and roads during the Protectorate era connected Settat with Casablanca and Marrakesh, while post-independence reforms under leaders like Mohammed V and administrations in the late 20th century promoted rural modernization and municipal reorganization.
Population centers include Settat (city), El Gara, Ben Ahmed, and Oulad M'Rah, with population shifts linked to migration toward Casablanca and peri-urban growth influenced by industrial zones and university facilities such as branches linked to Hassan II University and academic exchanges with institutions in Rabat. Ethnolinguistic composition includes speakers of Darija and Tamazight dialects common in Chaouia, with religious life organized around Sunni Islam practices and local zawiyas connected to Sufi orders historically active in the region. Census data and demographic surveys conducted by national agencies reflect trends in fertility, urbanization, and labor migration tied to larger Moroccan patterns seen in provinces like El Jadida and Berrechid.
Agriculture dominates the provincial economy with cereal cultivation, olive oil production, and livestock grazing on the Chaouia plain, supplying markets in Casablanca and Marrakesh. Industrial activity has grown around agri-food processing, textile workshops, and small-scale manufacturing linked to export platforms in Greater Casablanca. Infrastructure investments under national development plans and initiatives by organizations such as Agence Nationale de Promotion de l'Emploi have sought to diversify employment into construction, logistics, and services. Local markets and weekly souks maintain trade patterns comparable to those in Khemisset and Beni Mellal, while remittances and informal commerce connect families to diasporas in Europe including France and Spain.
Administratively the province is subdivided into municipalities (communes urbaines) and rural communes, with municipal councils seated in Settat (city), Ben Ahmed, and El Gara. Governance reforms associated with decentralization laws enacted during the reign of King Hassan II and continuing under King Mohammed VI have adjusted prefectural and provincial competencies, aligning local councils with regional bodies in Casablanca-Settat. Judicial and administrative services are organized through provincial seats coordinating with ministries headquartered in Rabat.
Settat Province is served by the A7 motorway corridor linking Casablanca to Marrakesh, regional highways, and an operational railway branch that connects Settat station to the national ONCF network. Public transport includes intercity bus operators such as CTM and local bus services; freight flows use road and rail to reach ports like Mohammedia and Casablanca Port. Utilities and development projects have involved national agencies including ONEE for water and electricity distribution and initiatives under Plan Maroc Vert aimed at agricultural irrigation and rural electrification.
Cultural life draws on Chaouia rural traditions, culinary specialties similar to those in Meknes and Rabat, and festivals that celebrate harvest cycles and religious calendars associated with local zawiyas and shrines. Architectural heritage includes vernacular dwellings, kasbahs, and colonial-era stations reflecting styles seen in Marrakesh and Casablanca; preservation efforts connect to national heritage institutions such as the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. Folkloric music, crafts, and artisanry in markets echo patterns from Fes and Essaouira, while contemporary cultural exchange occurs through regional fairs and partnerships with cultural centers in Casablanca.