Irbid Governorate

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Irbid Governorate
محافظة إربد
UTC+3 (GMT +3)
 • Summer (DST)+3
Area code+(962)2
Urban82.9%
Rural17.1%
HDI (2021)0.714[1]
high · 6th of 12

Irbid or Irbed (

Arabic: إربد) is a governorate in Jordan, located north of Amman, the country's capital. The capital of the governorate is the city of Irbid. The governorate has the second largest population in Jordan after Amman Governorate
, and the highest population density in the country.

History

Iron Age

Main article: Gilead

During the Iron Age, the region around Irbid, known then as Gilead, was settled by the Israelites.[2] Ar-Ramtha, the second largest city in the Irbid Governorate,[3] is commonly identified with the Israelite city of Ramoth-Gilead, a Levitical city and city of refuge east of the Jordan River, mentioned several times in the Hebrew Bible.[4][5]

By the late Iron Age, Gilead became the focus of a power struggle between the

Aram Damascus. During the battle, King Ahab of Israel joined King Jehoshaphat of Judah to fights the Aramaeans but was hit by an arrow and died from his wounds. Later on, it was also the location of a battle where Ahaziah of Israel and Jehoram of Judah fought against Hazael, king of Aram Damascus, and Jehoram was wounded. In this city, Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat, was anointed by Elisha
.

In the 8th century BCE, the Assyrians gained control of the area, followed by the Babylonian and the Achaemenid Empire.

Classical antiquity

Main article: Decapolis

The region was later distinguished by the

Ghassanids had established their country in the north of Jordan covering Irbid, Golan and Horan
plains. It was described as the most beautiful Syrian countries. Also it had the Islamic soldiers’ supplies. Christianity spread out there in the second and the third century CE.

Middle Ages

With the conversion work of Islam, the Islamic opening armies achieved an advance. As a result,

Battle of Yarmouk. Consequently, he managed to put an end to the Roman presence in the area. In 1187 CE (583 AH) Saladin's armies advanced to Hittin in which the most ferocious battle in the history of the Crusades took place, This battle was followed by recapturing Jerusalem and the whole region was gradually taken by the Ayyubids
.

During the

Hijaz and Palestine coast, especially during the time in which Irbid was linked with Damascus, which had a positive effect on the cultural and scientific movement of Irbid, as referred by historical writings. In addition to the spread of a number of scientists and Islamic jurisprudence scholars, the Islamic expansion left many graves of the companions of Muhammad
, many mosques and Islamic buildings such as Dar Assaraya (the former prison) which has been converted into a museum, Hibras Mamluk Mosque, Irbid Mamluke Mosque and Saham Umayyed Mosque.

  • The city of Um Qais (Gadara)
    The city of
    Um Qais (Gadara)
  • A Byzantine church in Um Qais
    A
    Um Qais
  • A Byzantine site in Ar Ramtha
    A
    Ar Ramtha

Geography

Irbid Governorate is located in the far north west of Jordan in the

Hawran
plateau, which covers northern Jordan, and south-west Syria, Irbid located about 80 Km away from Amman the capital. The governorate is bordered by Syria (the Golan Heights) from the north, the Jordan River from the west, Mafraq Governorate from the east, and Jerash, Ajloun and Balqa Governorates from the south.

Demographics

Children in Irbid Governorate
Juhfieh

The Jordan national census of 2004 demographic data indicate that Irbid Governorate had a population of 928,292. Estimates put the population slightly over one million for the year 2009. The next census was scheduled to be held in 2014.

Demographics of Irbid Governorate (2004 Census)[8]
Female to Male ratio 48.9% to 51.1%
Jordanian citizens to foreign nationals 96.6% to 3.4%
Urban population 707,420
Rural population 220,872
Total population 928,292

The population of districts according to census results:[9]

District Population
(Census 1994)		 Population
(Census 2004)		 Population
(Census 2015)
Irbid Governorate 751,634 928,292 1,770,158
Al-Āghwār ash-Shamāliyah 78,355 85,203 122,330
Al-Kūrah 71,513 91,050 161,505
Al-Mazār ash-Shamālī 35,651 44,166 78,427
Al-Wasṭīyah ... 24,046 42,571
Ar-Ramthā
 79,304 109,142 238,502
Aṭ-Ṭaībah
 23,847 29,132 51,501
Banī Kenānah 51,868 76,398 131,797
Banī 'Obeīd ... 93,561 204,313
Qaṣabah Irbid ... 375,594 739,212

Administrative divisions

Irbid Governorate is named after its capital and largest city. It is divided into nine departments called alweya which is the plural of liwaa. Many of these departments are within the sphere of influence (and constitute districts) of metropolitan Irbid

Department Arabic name Population (2004) Administrative center
1
Al-Qasbah
 لواء القصبة 375,594 Irbid
2 Bani Obaid Department لواء بني عبيد 93,561
Al Hisn
3 Al-Mazār ash-Shamālī Department لواء المزار الشمالي 44,166 Al Mazar al Shamali
4 Ar Ramtha Department لواء الرمثا 109,142
Ar Ramtha
5
Bani Kinanah Department
 لواء بني كنانة 76,398 Sama al-Rousan
6 Koura Department لواء الكورة 91,050 Der Abi Saeed
7 Al-Aghwar Al Shamaliyyeh Department لواء الأغوار الشمالية 85,203
North Shuna
8
Taybeh Department
 لواء الطيبة 29,318 Taybeh
9 Wasatieh Department لواء الوسطية 24,046 Kufr Asad

Cities, towns, and villages

A view from northern Irbid over the Sea of Galilee

Arab
civilizations.

  • Ar Ramtha
    The second largest city in Irbid Governorate.
  • Byzantine
    period is the most popular touristic destination in the Governorate.
  • Many towns and villages surround the city of Irbid including:

Shatana (

AshShajarah, Turrah (ar:الطرة (إربد)), Hatim, Melka, Foauta, Zoubia, Rehaba, Kharja, Dair Yousef, Kufor Kefia, Summer, E'nbeh (عنبة), Dair Esse'neh (ar:دير السعنة (إربد)), Mandah, Zabda, as well as the town of Malka. There are many other towns and villages in the governorate such as Der Abi Saeed, Kufr 'Awan, and Kufr Rakeb
.

Economy

There are three Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZ) in Irbid Governorate: Prince Hasan Industrial City, Cyber City, and Jordan River Crossing City. The net exports value of Prince Hasan Industrial City reached US$274 million in 2001 benefiting from its status as a Qualified Industrial Zone (QIZ). Clothing, chemicals and electronics constituted its main exports.[10] Irbid is at the top of the Jordanian agricultural regions especially in the production of

bee honey.[citation needed
]

References

  1. ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
  2. OCLC 1101929531.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link
    )
  3. ^ "Population of Jordan 2017" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 August 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  4. ^ Knauf, E. A., 2001: The Mists of Ramthalon, or, How Ramoth-Gilead disappeared from the Archaeological Record. BN 110, 33–36.
  5. ^ Lapp, P., 1968: Tell er-Rumeith. RB 75, 98–105.
  6. JSTOR 27931518
    .
  7. OCLC 967957191.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link
    )
  8. ^ Jordan National Census of 2004 Table 3-1 Archived 2011-07-22 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "Jordan: Administrative Division, Governorates and Districts". citypopulation.de. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  10. ^ "Industry in Irbid (in Arabic)". Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2010-07-08.
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