A HISTORICAL SURVEY OF THE TOWN OF WOLISO FROM ITS FOUNDATION TO THE PRESENT

Abstract The thesis tries to reconstruct the social, economic, administration, religion institutional and population history of Waliso town from its foundation in 1920s to the present. In this research utilized primary and secondary sources as well as oral information through interview in order to gather the data. As a source indicate that, the town developed considerably from a sizeable village that took a form of town into one of capitals of Chäbo and Guragé Awraja (1941-1989), as the capital of Western Shoa Awraja (1989-1991) and the capital of south west Shewa zone (1991-the present).The thesis begins its discussion with describing various views of urbanization in different disciplines, and then it shed light on a history of urbanization in Africain and Ethiopia. It also explores the foundation and development of Waliso town. Furthermore, it discusses the social, economic, political, religious and urban service facilities during the period under study. The establishment of a market around the hot spring gradually led to the emergence of urban settlement in the area. During the period of Italian occupation, the town developed and took urban form in real sense. At the time, the Italians had constructed asphalt road from Addis Ababa to Jimma via Waliso town. This road facility contributed a lot for the growth of the town. After liberation, the town became the seat of Chäbo and Guragé Awraja. This also greatly contributed for the growth of the town with many people coming and settling there as functionaries of different institutions. The transfer of the old market from country side to the town had contributed for its growth and increment of urban population. During the Imperial regime, there was not tangible development in areas of urban service and facilities, But its attempt to start the road around Ayeetu. However, during the Derg period developments had been seen in areas of road construction, urban services and facilities. More after the fall of Derg the growth of town was rapidly and population was also increase Because Different infrastructures and urban services was widely expanded like road inside and outside of town, college, university different private and public institution was constructed. This thesis will contribute its own share in constructing historical survey of Waliso town, it fills the historical gaps and it paved the way for further study.