Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Civic Brief • City

Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv, officially Tel Aviv-Yafo, is a major city on Israel’s Mediterranean coast and the center of the Tel Aviv metropolitan area.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

Tel Aviv, officially Tel Aviv-Yafo, is a major city on Israel’s Mediterranean coast and the centre of the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. It was founded in 1909 as a Jewish suburb of Jaffa and merged with that ancient port city in 1950.

What it is

Tel Aviv is Israel’s economic, financial, technological, and cultural hub. Often described as a modern, cosmopolitan city, it is distinct from Jerusalem’s political and religious role. The municipality covers 52 km² and has a population of roughly 494,900, though the broader metropolitan area is much larger.

Key details

The city was founded in 1909 by Jewish families from Jaffa as a garden suburb. In 1950, Tel Aviv and Jaffa were formally united under the name Tel Aviv-Yafo. Located about 60 km northwest of Jerusalem, it lies on the Mediterranean coast and is known for its high-tech sector, nightlife, and beaches.

Why it matters

Tel Aviv is a major destination for business, technology, tourism, and diplomatic reporting related to Israel. For Canadian readers, it often appears in news about the region’s economy, innovation, and geopolitics.

In short

  • Tel Aviv was founded in 1909 and merged with Jaffa in 1950.
  • It is Israel’s economic and technological centre.
  • The official name is Tel Aviv-Yafo.
  • Located on the Mediterranean coast, about 60 km from Jerusalem.
Canadian angle

Canadian readers may encounter Tel Aviv as a major destination for business, technology, tourism, and diplomatic reporting related to Israel.

Quick questions

What is Tel Aviv?
Tel Aviv is a major Israeli city on the Mediterranean coast and the core of the Tel Aviv metropolitan area.
What is the official name of Tel Aviv?
The official municipal name is Tel Aviv-Yafo.
What is Tel Aviv known for?
It is known as Israel’s economic and technological centre, as well as a cultural hub.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tel_Aviv
    Supports: Official name, population, area, metropolitan context, and economic role.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/place/Tel-Aviv-Yafo
    Supports: Location, founding as a suburb of Jaffa, and merger with Jaffa.
  3. Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality — https://www.tel-aviv.gov.il/en/abouttheCity/Pages/CityinNumbers.aspx
    Supports: Founding date, 1950 unification with Jaffa, and municipal population information.
  4. Tel Aviv University — https://english.tau.ac.il/tel_aviv_global_city
    Supports: Tel Aviv as a cultural and financial centre and a hub for high-tech industry.
  5. Wikivoyage — https://www.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Tel_Aviv
    Supports: Location, city size, and metropolitan description.