Dbayeh

History

The name Dbayeh originates from a Phoenician word meaning 'female deer'. Due to its location on the Mediterranean sea, Dbayeh historically has been a passage for various civilizations and cultures that have left their history engraved on the rocks of Zouk Khrab and Nahr el Kalb.

With the establishment of the Beirut water company in 1870, and the establishments of several coffee shops and houses located near the water canals of the company, the area started its development towards the modern day Dbayeh. These houses, along the railway between Beirut and Maameltein has made Dbayeh a first class tourist center attracting visitors from Beirut, the mountains, and the surrounding areas to spend short vacations and relaxing weekends in Dbayeh.

The Beirut water company in Dbayeh was established by a British- French- Belgian- company to distribute fresh drinking water to Beirut. Dbayeh has benefited from the excess water to help speed up the further development of agriculture, construction, and tourism in the area and its surroundings. Tourism in the area cooled down during the recession of the second world war and almost disappeared with the construction of the main highway between Nahr el Mot and Nahr el Kalb which started in 1954.

Agriculture

Dbayeh's lands were neglected until the establishment of the Beirut water company, which drove many mountainous people down to settle in Dbayeh in search for work with the new company or to cultivate the land. Berries and vegetables were grown in the early damp, along with cultivation of the silk worm. Soon afterwards, the berries were replaced with banana plantations, seasonal vegetables, and mostly citron fruits.

Construction

Before 1870 Dbayeh had no more than twenty residential houses, mostly belonging to the Maronite monastery. The new settlers working for the Beirut water company and the farmers helped to develop the town and to build new houses. During the second world war, the allied forces established a military unit in Dbayeh, which encouraged trade in the area, resulting in more people moving and settling in the town, further developing the infra-structure and the growth of the town.

Geography

The town of Dbayeh lies on the Mediterranean sea bordered as follows:

to the North, Zouk Khrab,

to the South Nakkash, Antelias,

to the East Zouk Khrab, Haret Belaneh, Awkar, Nakkash,

to the West the Mediterranean sea.

It lies 1-10 meters above sea level, and has sandy and red soil, mostly enable land. The nature of the surrounding lands help to store internal water causing natural winter canals to flow through Dbayeh’s flat land. Humidity is high, especially in the spring and summer. During the winter, strong western winds blowing from the sea are harmful to the crops, and to prevent damage, the crops are surrounded by high fences or hedges.

Dbayeh has moderate temperatures varying from 8؛C - 20؛C in winter, and between 25؛C - 35؛C in summer.

Demographics (1983)

Population is around 2050 distributed around 100 hektars.
145 buildings between one and five strays high

An average of 5 persons per family

Population age:

40% 1- 20 yrs

40% 20- 50 yrs

20% over 50 yrs

Use of land (1983)

Dbayeh’s area is nearly 1, 000, 000 m² (or 1km²)

150,000 m² construction and residential

700,000 m² agriculture

30,000 m² tourism

120,000 m² industrial

Roads

Dbayeh had a network of narrow roads developed mostly for horses and carts. With the growth of the town some roads were widened and tarred mostly as an individual initiatives by its people.

The construction of the highway of Nahr el Mot – Nahr el Kalb, passing right through the center of Dbayeh, dividing it into two parts and connecting all the roads network to each other.

Treated Water

Dbayeh gets its drinking water from the water treatment plant of Beirut water company that is located in the town. Production of treated water was 5000 cubic m per day before the first world war. 1983 production figures were 220,000 cubic m of treated water per day.

Electricity

There are two schools in Dbayeh

1- A public school with 600 students, 65% male, 35% female and teaches both French and Arabic languages.

2- St. Rita’s School founded in 1966 by the Maronite church and has nearly 450 students 80% female, 20% male and teaches three languages, Arabic, French, and English.

Churches

There are 3 churches in Dbayeh

St. George Church

The Resurrection Church

St. Man sour Church