Oran, also Wahran, city, northwestern Algeria, capital of Oran Province, on the Gulf of Oran (an arm of the Mediterranean Sea). It is one of the nation's busiest ports and a commercial and manufacturing center. Products include plastic items, chemicals, wine, and processed food. A pipeline carries natural gas to the city from the Sahara. Points of interest here include the large citadel of Santa Cruz, begun by the Ottoman Turks; the Great Mosque (1796); and the Casbah. The University of Oran (1965), the University of Science and Technology of Oran (1975), and institutes of music, dramatic arts, meteorology, and telecommunications are in the city.
Oran was probably founded in the early 10th century as a center for trade between northern Africa and Moorish-held southern Spain. The settlement declined after the Moors began to leave Spain in 1492, and it subsequently became a base for pirates. During the 18th century it was held at times by the Ottoman Turks and the Spanish. The community experienced renewed economic growth after being annexed in 1831 by the French. Many French settled here, but most of the European population left Oran during the War of Independence (1954-62). Population (1987) 590,000.
