TangaFor other meanings, see Tanga (Portugal), Tanga (clothing) and Tanga (Movie). Tanga is both the name of the most northerly seaport city of Tanzania, and the surrounding region. A 2002 population of 242,640 makes Tanga Town one of the largest cities in the country. It is a quiet city compared to, for example, Arusha or Moshi with a comparable number of inhabitants. The harbour and surrounding is the centre of life in Tanga, with its hotels, bars and the only buildings with more than four floors. Tanga is stretched out several km² into the country. It has several markets in several neighbourhoods. NeighborhoodsIt is still possible, even it continue to change, to differentiate Tanga into the white area (Msungu : European), the Indian/Goan area and the black area. 1. The white area before (but still) was mostly Rascasone, it is still like this, but after international companies and organisations have escaped because Sisal was not anymore of interest, also the international employees have been reduced. Other people of African and Indian/Goan origin have taken over the houses of the white people living in Rascasone. One thing is still obvious; you still need money to live in Rascasone. The High commissioner, the head of the police force directors and all the VIP persons are living in Rascasone. 2. The Indian/Goan area stretches itself from the harbour to the railway station and as the railway as a natural boarder on one end and along the shore to the north. 3. The so-called black area is all behind the railroad stretching to the east were most the rural and poorest areas are settled. HistoryTanga was chosen in 1889 as a military post of German East Africa, and became a district office in 1891. The local economy was based on sisal, which had been brought to the colony several years earlier, and population in the area grew rapidly. The town was also established as the terminus of the Usambara railway line, which runs inland to Moshi at the foot of Kilimanjaro. As the coastal town closest to Kenya, Tanga was on the front line at the outset of World War I. A British landing was thrown back on 4 November 1914 in the Battle of Tanga, and the town was not taken until 7 July 1916. Reference
Categories: Tanzania | Coastal cities |
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