Gan Yavne

Gan-Yavne
גן יבנה
Hebrew transcription(s)
 • ISO 259Gann Yabne
 • Translit.Gan Yavneh
Gan Yavne town hall
Gan-Yavne
Coordinates: 31°46′56″N 34°42′19″E / 31.78222°N 34.70528°E / 31.78222; 34.70528
Country Israel
DistrictCentral
Founded1931
Government
 • Head of MunicipalityAharon Dror (since 2003)
Area
 • Total
10,600 dunams (10.6 km2; 4.1 sq mi)
Population
 (2024)[1]
 • Total
25,144
 • Density2,370/km2 (6,140/sq mi)
Name meaningYavne Garden

Gan-Yavne (Hebrew: גן יבנה) is a town in central Israel, located adjacent to the city of Ashdod. Gan Yavne was founded in 1931 and achieved local council status in 1950.

It lies east of the Tel Aviv–Ashkelon highway, and is bordered to the west by Ashdod, to the north by Gederot Regional Council, and to the east and south by Be'er Tuvia Regional Council. In 2024 it had a population of 25,144.[1] The population in Gan-Yavne is nearly entirely Jewish.[2]

History

Gan Yavne was established in 1931 by the "Achuza Aleph" Company founded by several Jewish families from Russia and Poland, who had immigrated to the United States.[3] The inspiration for its name "Gan Yavne", comes from its proximity to the historical city of Yavne. In 1930 land was purchased and plans were drawn up to plant 400 dunams of orange groves. After negotiations with the Mandatory government between 1936 and 1938, a road was paved to Gan Yavne. The village was designed as a garden city.[4]

As of 2017, the town has over 23,000 residents, who are almost exclusively Jewish.

Gan Yavne was the site of the Gan Yavne stabbing attack on 31 March 2024 in which 1 person was killed.[5]

Urban development

In the 1990s and 2000s Gan Yavne more than doubled its population, becoming a commuter town. The development of Highway 4, which is a freeway between Tel Aviv and Gan Yavne junction, and also the introduction of frequent rail service to the nearby Ashdod railway station, allows commuters to travel to Tel Aviv in 30–45 minutes.

Education and culture

Gan Yavne has 38 kindergartens, 5 state elementary schools (Ben-Gurion, Maccabim, Ilan Ramon, Ehud Manor, and Nofey Moledet), a state religious elementary school (Sinai), and 2 junior highs/high schools (Ort Itzhak Rabin and Ort Naomi Shemer). Beit Apple youth village is also located in Gan Yavne.

The town has a community center and library, a community center for the elderly, gyms and sports fields, and a country club.

It also has had a number of youth movements (Hebrew Scouts, HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed, Bnei Akiva, Rotary Interact, HaNoar HaLeumi, and several others).

Twin towns – sister cities

Gan Yavne is twinned with:

Notable residents

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Regional Statistics". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  2. ^ "קובץ הרשויות המקומיות בישראל - 2019". www.cbs.gov.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  3. ^ The sleepy Israeli town and the Jewish spy who helped the Soviets get the bomb, Haaretz
  4. ^ From New Zion to Old Zion: American Jewish Immigration and Settlement in Palestine, 1917-1939, Joseph B. Glass
  5. ^ Ghert-Zand, Renee (4 April 2024). "Lidor Levy, 34, dies of wounds from Gan Yavne terror stabbing". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Puteaux - Qu'est-ce que le jumelage?". Mairie de Puteaux [Puteaux Official Website] (in French). Archived from the original on 2013-11-26. Retrieved 2013-12-28.