Oran (department)

Oran (Arabic: وَهران, romanized: Wahrān) was a French département in Algeria existing from 1848 until 1974.

There were three French départements in Algeria: Oran in the west, Alger in the center, and Constantine in the east.

Oran covered 67,262 km², encompassing five sub-prefectures of Mascara, Mostaganem, Sidi Bel Abbès, Tiaret and Tlemcen.

However, prior to departmentalisation, the two eastern territories of the south were managed by the department of Oran.

In 1956 an administrative reform aimed at taking into account the strong demographic growth in Algeria split the province into four parts, Oran, Mostaganem, Tiaret and Tlemcen, taking place on 20 May 1957.