Etymology

The name of the town is derived from a Syriac root meaning ‘whetstone’, the English equivalent of ‘al-hajar al-mousann’, which was altered into ‘mechane’.

Rumor has it that Mechane was a large city spreading across Byblos, Nahr Ibrahim, Afqa, Baalbeck and Damascus. The city was home to two markets for the exchange and sale of commodities. Known initially as ‘al-sham’, the town was later renamed ‘mechame’ or ‘mechane’.

Location

Mechane is located in the Qada’a of Byblos at an altitude of 950 meters above the sea level. It stretches across 200 hectares and is 45 km away from Beirut. It may be reached through the following the route: Beirut-Nahr Ibrahim-Mechane.

Population and Residences

The population registered in the Mechane personal status records is estimated at 1500. Shia’a account for a majority of 75% of the population while Maronites make up the remaining 25%. The town has nearly 100 houses.

Voters

In 2000 there were 807 eligible voters in Mechane, 447 of whom cast a ballot. This number increased to 896 in 2009 with 638 exercising their voting right. In 2013, eligible voters stood at 950.

The voters of the town of Mechane are distributed over the following families:

Shia’a

• Chamas (one of the largest families with several sub-families with a number of different names): 300
• Hamza: 166
• Hassan: 100
• Hussein: 85
• Hammoud: 30
• Fayyad: 26
• Ahmad: 25
• Qassem: 20
• Deeb: 15
• Akil: 12
• Zein Al-abidin: 8
• Daher: 14

Maronite

• Said: 120
• Daou: 14

Local Authorities

The 9-member Mechane municipal council was established pursuant to Decision 140 dated February 16, 2004. The town’s share from the Independent Municipal Fund revenues stood at LBP 52.7 million in 2008 and LBP 70.1 million in 2009. This share rose to LBP 82.7 million in 2010 then dropped back to LBP 74.1 million in 2011.

The town also has a 3-member ikhtiyariyah body.

Educational Institutions

The Mechane Public Kindergarten (Antoine Said) contains 25 students and 3 teachers.

Economic Life

In addition to public sector jobs, agriculture is another source of livelihood for Mechane’s inhabitants. Given that the elderly make up a majority in Mechane, most of the residents suffer generally from dire economic conditions.

Mechane is famed for its abundant wells and fresh water which flows into the Nahr Ibrahim River. Coexistence between Shia’a and Maronites is another feature that characterizes the town and members of the two sectarian communities join efforts in constructing both Muslim and Christian places of worship.