The town was going to be named "Meslen el-kebch" (spine sheep) but the notable of the city decided to not adopt it, concerning the current name of the city in base it's el arrouche العروش which in some sorts refers to tribes . Located halfway between the ancient Cirta (Constantine) and the ancient Skikda, the history of El Harrouch remains strongly linked to the two major urban centers. There is however very little information about the area before the Roman occupation, though pre
Roman tombstones, shine some light on that period. When the French troops arrived in El Harrouch, the remains of the Roman road from Stora to Cirta were still visible and usable. It was by following this ribbon of stones that the battalions arrived on the coast. In 1838, the first military detachments settled permanently in El Harrouch where four bastions, ensured the defense of the camp. The first settlers arrived soon after. Twice the Government had to repopulate this settlement center, the colonists having been decimated by cholera and earthquakes. The settlement of El Harrouch was mainly
Belgian and
German families. The commune of El Harrouch was created by decree of 28 August 1881.
Ali Kafi,
Algerian President (1992–1994), and the historian
Mohamed Harbi were born in the town, and
Khaled el-Hassani ben el-Hashemi was married there. ==References==