History

Hawassa city is established in 1952E.C during the period of Emperor Hailesilasie. The city got its name from Lake Hawassa, Hawassa means “Wide” in Sidama language.

Hawassa city  is located in the Sidaama National Regional State on the shores of Lake Hawassa in the Great Rift Valley  275 km south of Addis Ababa and 1,125 km north of Nairobi, Kenya. The city lays on the Trans African High Way-4: an international road that stretched from Cairo (Egypt) to Cape Town (S. Africa).

Geographically the City lays between 6⁰55’0’’ to 7⁰6’0’’ latitude North and 38⁰ 25’0’’ to 38⁰ 34’0’’ longitudes east.

Hawassa city is bounded by Lake Hawassa in the West, Oromia Region in the North, Wendogenet woreda in the East and Shebedino woreda in the south. The city administration has an area of 157.2 (sq.kms), divided in to 8 sub-cities and 32 Kebeles, These eight sub cities are Hayek Dare, Menehariya, and Tabor, Misrak, Bahile Adarash, Addis Ketema, Hawela-Tula and Mehal ketema sub city.  Currently, the City is serving as the seat of Sidama Region & Hawassa City Administration