Photo courtesy of commons.wikipedia.org

Herzliya was founded in 1924 as a semi-cooperative farming community.  Large numbers of immigrants moved to the city after the establishment of Israel as a state in 1948, and in 1960 when the population reached 25,000, Herzliya was officially established as a city.

Sister City History

Herzliya and Columbus became sister cities in 1994 after a series of business exchanges.  In order to maintain the business exchanges and cultivate new exchanges (such as cultural and diplomatic partnerships) the two cities formalized a sister city relationship.

Economy

The economy in Herzliya is diverse, the main industries being entertainment, technology, and services.  Herzliya is home to Israel’s largest television and film studio, Herzliya Studios.  Moreover, research and development have increased in the city, with the Weizmann Institute focusing on technology transfer and RadBioMed, focusing on life sciences.

Education

The Herzliya Interdisciplinary Center is the main university in the city, and it offers graduate and undergraduate degrees in a myriad of disciplines.

Culture

Herzliya ranked 2nd highest for quality of life among Israel’s largest cities.  It has a large marina and a small airport, shopping malls and movie theaters, and two professional sports teams.  There are 2 soccer teams, Maccabi Herzliya, and Hapoel Herzliya, and there is also the Bnei HaSharon basketball club.  Herzliya Pituah is an up-and-coming neighborhood with beautiful beaches and a vibrant nightlife.