Aïn Oulmene

The town derives its name from the Arabic ain ("source") and Berber Oulmane ("weaver's son").[4] The name could also mean "Fountain Elms" according to Arthur Pellegrin. "Oulmen" is the plural of "Oulmou," meaning elm in Berber from the Latin "Ulmus".[5]

The capital of the Aïn Oulmene county, it is crossed by the Algerian Route Nationale 28 to 30 kilometers southwest of Setif, close to the high fertile plains south of Setif and to the west, the mountains of Hodna. Its terrain is generally flat in its eastern part, while its western part is occupied by small mountains which is the highest Osman Jebel which culminates at 1100 meters. The town has 73 831 inhabitants at the census in 2008.

The indigenous inhabitants of Aïn Oulmene were the Zenata and Sanhadja Berber tribes.

Zaraï was a Carthaginian trading post, minting its own bronze coins.

The Romans settled in Zaraï during the reign of Hadrian (AD 117-138) and the nearby Setif colony was founded by Nerva (96-98). The 1st Flavia Equilata or 6th Commagenorum were stationed here. Stéphane Gsell who undertook excavations in the area in the early 20th century. The city has a Roman and Byzantine era necropolis.

In the 8th century, Okba Ibn Nafaa installed a garrison near here.

Aïn Oulmene was from 1880 to 1958, the capital of the mixed town of Rirha (pronounced "ryɣa"). The name of Aïn Oulmene appeared for the first time in 1887 on an administrative documents. Aïn Oulmene was known as Colbert by the French from 1887 and was capital of the commune from 1935 to 1962. The name "Aïn Oulmene" reappear in 1962 with the independence of Algeria.

Aïn Oulmene is located in an agricultural vocation region. cereals were cultivated and vegetables but after the drought of the last quarter century tobacco farming, raising livestock and poultry are more popular.

The town has a football club ESAO (eg ESC) founded in 1927 which carries the colors blue and white. There is a boxing club and Female Handball club which represented Algeria in various international competitions.

• Jean Baptiste Mattei , 1898–1980, born in Corti, doctor by profession. He moved to Algeria in 1927, First Mayor (Socialist) Colbert (Ain-Oulmène) from 1928 to 1937 and colonial doctor in New Caledonia in 1938. He joined the Free Franch in 1940, he was appointed Chief Resident the Wallis and Futuna archipelago from 1942 to 1945. in 1947, he was appointed District Director of Health in Algiers, a position he held until 1965. Died in Bastia in 1980.
• Djamila Debbeche, born in 1921 in the region of Aïn Oulmene (ex. Colbert) [precision needed], a pioneer in French language Algerian women's literature. Author of the novel "Leila girl in Algeria" published in 1947.
• Noureddine Aba, born February 16, 1921 in Aïn Oulmene (ex. Colbert), poet, storyteller, playwright, creator in 1991 of the Aba Foundation awarding prizes to the best writers of the year.
• Abdelwahab Hammoudi, born in 1955 in Ain Oulmène ex Colbert. Filmmaker, novelist and essayist.
• Azzedine Djellaoudji , Arabic poet and novelist.
• Sofiane Mokhenache, author Arabic novelist of the novel "لا يترك في متناول الأطفال".
• Bassem Debbabi, Doctor in Computer Engineering from the University of Grenoble. Three times champion of Algeria in Computer Science (2000, 2001 and 2002).