Or Akiva

Or Akiva אוֹר עֲקִיבָא‎‎ أور عقيفا‎
Hebrew transcription(s)
• ISO 259	ʔor ʕaqibaˀ
• Also spelled	Or Aqiva (official)
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Official logo of Or Akiva Logo
Or Akiva
Coordinates:
District	Haifa
Government
• Type	City
• Mayor	Simha Yosipov
Area
• Total	3,539 dunams (3.539 km2 or 1.366 sq mi)
Population (2012)
• Total	16,206

Or Akiva (Hebrew: אוֹר עֲקִיבָא‎) is a city located in the Haifa District of Israel, on the country's Coastal Plain. It is located just inland from the ancient port city of Caesarea and the Mediterranean Sea, and to the north of the city of Hadera. It is 30 miles (48 kilometres) south of Haifa and 24 miles (39 km) north of Tel Aviv. As of 2012, Or Akiva had a population of 16,206.

Demographics

According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), at the end of 2005 the city had a total population of 15,800. As such, it is the Israeli city with the lowest population. According to CBS, in 2001 the ethnic makeup of the city was 99.3% Jewish and other non-Arab, with no significant Arab population. There are 154 immigrant residents. See Population groups in Israel.

According to CBS, in 2001 there were 7,400 males and 7,900 females. The population of the city was spread out with 33.7% 19 years of age or younger, 15.4% between 20 and 29, 20.8% between 30 and 44, 16.3% from 45 to 59, 4.1% from 60 to 64, and 9.7% 65 years of age or older. The population growth rate in 2001 was -0.1%.

Income

According to CBS, as of 2000, in the city there were 5,739 salaried workers and 399 are self-employed. The mean monthly wage in 2000 for a salaried worker in the city is NIS 3,845, a real change of 7.3% over the course of 2000. Salaried males have a mean monthly wage of NIS 4,737 (a real change of 7.3%) vs. NIS 2,848 for females (a real change of 4.3%). The mean income for the self-employed is 4,662. There are 533 people who receive unemployment benefits and 1,864 people who receive a guaranteed-income supplement.

Economy

Or Akiva is home to a number of large factories those of Dexxon (pharmaceuticals), Anna Lotan Ltd. (professional skin care), Darbox Ltd. (plastic packaging), Meprolight (gunsights and nightvision), Plasson (Livestock feeders), and Tyco (electronics).

Education

According to CBS, there are 10 schools and 2,409 students in the city. They are spread out as 6 elementary schools and 1,575 elementary school students, and 5 high schools and 834 high school students. 51.9% of 12th grade students were entitled to a matriculation certificate in 2001.

Since 2005 gap year volunteers from Habonim Dror in have volunteered in the town and surrounding areas working in schools and in extracurricular frameworks with Arab and Jewish youth.

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Israel

Twin towns — sister cities

Or Akiva is twinned with:

• Miami, United States (Or Akiva has twinned with the Jewish community in Miami)
• Hîncești, Moldova

External links

• Or Akiva Municipality (Hebrew)
• Or Akiva civic auditorium (Hebrew)