Kofele

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Kofele
nickname =
motto =
pushpin_

map_caption = Location of Kofele in Ethiopia
subdivision_type1 = Country
subdivision_name1 =
subdivision_type2 = Region
subdivision_name2 =
subdivision_type3 = Zone
subdivision_name3 =
latd=07 |latm=00 |lats= |latNS=N
longd=38 |longm=45 |longs= |longEW=E
established_title =
established_date =
established_title2 =
established_date2 =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
area_magnitude =
area_total_sq_mi =
area_total_km2 =
area_land_sq_mi =
area_land_km2 =
area_water_sq_mi =
area_water_km2 =
area_urban_sq_mi =
area_urban_km2 =
area_metro_km2 =
area_metro_sq_mi =
population_as_of=2005
population_footnotes = [cite web
url = http://www.csa.gov.et/text_files/2005_national_statistics.htm
title= 2005 National Statistics, Table B.4
accessdate=2008-06-11 ]
population_total = 13, 127
population_urban =
population_male =
population_density_sq_mi =
population_density_km2 =
timezone = EAT
utc_offset =+3
timezone_EAT =
utc_offset_DST =
elevation_footnotes=
elevation_ft = 8, 842
elevation_m = 2, 695
website =
footnotes =

Kofele is a town in southern Ethiopia, and the administrative center of the Kofele woreda. Located in the Arsi Zone of the Oromia Region, this town has a latitude and longitude of coord|7|00|N|38|45|E with an elevation of 2695 meters above sea level.

According to the Oromia state government, there are two telephone stations and a post office agent in Kofele. Primary, junior secondary and senior secondary schools are present, as well as medical and veterinary clinics. Although electricity is available, there are no fuel stations, banks or insurance organizations in Kofele. [ [http://oromiagov.org/Socio%20Economic%20Profile/Arsi/Arsi%20Zone.pdf "Socio-economic profile of Arsi Zone"] Government of Oromia Region (last accessed 1 August 2006).]

Based on figures from the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this town has an estimated total population of 13,127 of whom 6,690 were males and 6,437 were females. [ [http://www.csa.gov.et/text_files/2005_national_statistics.htm CSA 2005 National Statistics] , Table B.3] The 1994 national census reported this town had a total population of 2,563 of whom 1,252 were males and 1,311 were females.

Kofele was founded on the orders of Balambaras Chakiiso Tuuri in the 1910s; Waako Oborra laid out the market where the town has since occupied. The community was important at the beginning as an assembly point for long-distance caravans because of its water, grazing and strategic location. In the 1930s, Swedish missionaries operated a small school in Kofele; they returned to the town after the Italian occupation. By 1956, however, the road connecting Kofele to Shashamene remained so poor that it took 6 hours to drive the 25 kilometers. [ [http://130.238.24.99/library/resources/dossiers/local_history_of_ethiopia/k/ORTKOB.pdf "Local History in Ethiopia"] (pdf) The Nordic Africa Institute website (accessed 9 January 2008)]

Notes