Amman Governorate
Encyclopedia
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
محافظة العاصمة, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
translation: The Capital Governorate), Amman Governorate is one of the governorates - locally known as muhafazat - in Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
. This governorate's capital is the City of Amman
Amman
Amman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...
, It is also Jordan's capital. The administrative center of the governorate as well as all government offices and parliament are located in the Abdali
Al Abdali
Al Abdali is one of the five districts of the Municipality of Greater Amman. It covers an area of in the heart of Amman. A population of 120,000 includes the neighborhoods of Shmeisani, Sports City district, Jabal al Hussein, and Jabal Luweibdeh...
district.
The Capital Governorate has the largest population of the 12 governorates of Jordan. It borders Zarqa Governorate
Zarqa Governorate
Zarqa Governorate is the third largest governorate in Jordan by population. The capital of Zarqa governorate is Zarqa City, which is the largest city in the governorate. It is located 25 km east of the Jordanian capital Amman...
from the north and north east, the governorates of Balqa and Madaba
Madaba Governorate
Madaba, is one of the governorates of Jordan, it is located south west of Amman, capital of Jordan. Its capital is Madaba. The governorate is ranked eighth by population and by area in Jordan...
from the west, Kerak
Karak Governorate
Karak is one of the governorates of Jordan, located south-west of Amman, Jordan's capital. Its capital is Al Karak. It borders Madaba and the Capital Governorates to the north, Ma'an Governorate from the east, Tafilah Governorate from the south, and the Dead Sea form the west.-Ancient History:The...
and Ma'an
Ma'an Governorate
Ma'an is one of the governorates of Jordan, it is located south of Amman, Jordan's capital. Its capital is the city of Ma'an. This governorate is the largest in the kingdom of Jordan by area.-History:...
governorates from the south. It also shares an international border with Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
from the east.
History
The land covered by the Capital Governorate has been inhabited since the prehistoric age, ruins of civilizations as early as 7250 BC have been discovered at 'Ain Ghazal'Ain Ghazal
Ain Ghazal is a Neolithic site located in North-Western Jordan, on the outskirts of Amman. It dates as far back as 7250 BC, and was inhabited until 5000 BC...
near Amman
Amman
Amman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...
, the site itself is one of the largest prehistoric settlements in the Middle East.
Amman
Amman
Amman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...
was the capital and strong hold of the Ammon
Ammon
Ammon , also referred to as the Ammonites and children of Ammon, was an ancient nation located east of the Jordan River, Gilead, and the Dead Sea, in present-day Jordan. The chief city of the country was Rabbah or Rabbath Ammon, site of the modern city of Amman, Jordan's capital...
ites, which they called Rabbath Ammon, the Ammon
Ammon
Ammon , also referred to as the Ammonites and children of Ammon, was an ancient nation located east of the Jordan River, Gilead, and the Dead Sea, in present-day Jordan. The chief city of the country was Rabbah or Rabbath Ammon, site of the modern city of Amman, Jordan's capital...
ites ruled almost the entire land of the Capital Govrnorate. After the Romans
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
took control of the region, Amman was renamed as Philadelphia, and was one of the ten Roman Decapolis
Decapolis
The Decapolis was a group of ten cities on the eastern frontier of the Roman Empire in Judea and Syria. The ten cities were not an official league or political unit, but they were grouped together because of their language, culture, location, and political status...
cities. Following the Arab Muslim conquests, Philadelphia reclaimed the name Amman
Amman
Amman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...
. The Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
site at Umm ar-Rasas was designated as a World Heritage Site in 2004.
Geography
The climate of the Capital Governorate is that of the Eastern Mediterranean climate. However since Amman is located on a hilly plateau, the average annual precipitation and temperature generally may vary significantly from one location to another, even within the city of Amman. For instance, it may be snowing in the Sweileh district which has an elevation of 1050 m above sea level, but cloudy with no rain in the Amman city center, which has an elevation of 780 m. The Capital Governorate is the third largest governorate in JordanJordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
by area, and the largest by population.
Demographics
The Jordan national census of 2004 indicates that the total population of the Capital Governorate was 1,942,066 growing from 1,576,238 in the 1994 census at an average annual growth of 2.1%. Estimates of the year 2009 put the population at about 2,380,000. However this estimate is based on natural growth rate, and does not take into account the influx of Iraqi refugees after the invasion of Iraq. Other estimates put the population of the Capital Governorate at about 2.5~2.8 millions. The next census is scheduled to be held in 2014.| Demographics of Capital Governorate (2004 Census) | |
|---|---|
| Female to Male ratio | 48.58% to 51.42% |
| Jordanian citizens to foreign nationals | 88% to 12% |
| Urban population | 94% |
| Rural population | 6% |
| Total population | 1,942,066 |
Administrative Divisions
Article 4 of the administrative divisions system of the Jordanian Ministry of Interior states that the Capital Governorate is divided into nine departments, five of these departments include the districts of Metropolitan AmmanAmman
Amman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...
.
| Department | Arabic Name | Subdivisions | population (2004) | Administrative Center | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Capital Department (Al-Qasaba) | لواء قصبة عمان | includes six of Amman metropolitan districts | 552,511 | Abdali Al Abdali Al Abdali is one of the five districts of the Municipality of Greater Amman. It covers an area of in the heart of Amman. A population of 120,000 includes the neighborhoods of Shmeisani, Sports City district, Jabal al Hussein, and Jabal Luweibdeh... |
| 2 | Marka Department | لواء ماركا | includes four of Amman metropolitan districts | 483,819 | Marka |
| 3 | Al-Qwesmeh Department | لواء القويسمة | includes three of Amman metropolitan districts | 257,260 | Al Juwayyidah Al Juwayyidah -External links:**... |
| 4 | University Department | لواء الجامعة | includes six of Amman metropolitan districts | 279,359 | Al Jubayhah Al Jubayhah -External links:**... |
| 5 | Wadi Al Seer Department | لواء وادي السير | includes three of Ammman metropolitan districts and 12 other towns and villages | 173,792 | Wadi Al Seer Wadi Al Seer Valley of the Orchads , is a municipality approximately Northwest of the Jordanian capital's centre, on the outskirts of Ammān.-Wadi'è Sér City:... |
| 6 | Naour Department | لواء ناعور | includes 25 towns and villages | 66,220 | Naour Naour Naour Na’our is region number 26 in Greater Amman Municipality , located at the west side of the Capital, with 26 neighborhoods or residential concentrations. The land space of Na’our amounts to 87 KM2, i.e.5,19% of the total landscape of GAM. Its population is 100,000 inhabitants, and it is... |
| 7 | Sahab Department | لواء سحاب | includes 7 towns and villages | 57,037 | Sahab |
| 8 | Al Jizah Department | لواء الجيزة | Includes 62 towns and villages | 42,051 | Al Jizah Al Jizah, Jordan -External links:**... |
| 9 | Muwaqqar Department | لواء الموقر | includes 26 towns and villages | 30,017 | Al Mushaqqar Al Mushaqqar -External links:**... |
Towns and villages
Abu `Alandah
-External links:**...
, Adh Dhuhaybah
Adh Dhuhaybah
-External links:* Note that the town is located on the rim of what may be a meteorite impact crater. [Zoom-in five clicks for best view.] 18 October 2010*...
, Al `Al
Al `Al
Al `Al is a town in the Amman Governorate of northern Jordan.-External links:**...
, Al `Amiriyah
Al `Amiriyah
-External links:**...
, Al `Arid
Al `Arid
-External links:**...
, Al `Arudah
Al `Arudah
-External links:**...
, Al Bahhath
Al Bahhath
-External links:**...
, Al Bassah
Al Bassah
Al Bassah is a town in the Amman Governorate of northern Jordan.-External links:**...
, Al Bunayyat al Janubiyah
Al Bunayyat al Janubiyah
Al Bunayyat al Janubiyah is a town in the Amman Governorate of north-western Jordan.It is located south-west of Amman the capital of Jordan.-External links:**...
, Al Bunayyat ash Shamaliyah
Al Bunayyat ash Shamaliyah
Al Bunayyat ash Shamaliyah is a town in the Amman Governorate of north-western Jordan.-External links:**...
, Al Hawwasiyah
Al Hawwasiyah
-External links:**...
, Al Hummar
Al Hummar
-External links:**...
, Al Jizah
Al Jizah, Jordan
-External links:**...
, Al Jubayhah
Al Jubayhah
-External links:**...
, Al Judayyidah
Al Judayyidah
-External links:**...
, Al Jumayyil
Al Jumayyil
-External links:**...
, Al Juwayyidah
Al Juwayyidah
-External links:**...
, Al Lubban
Al Lubban
Al Lubban is a town in the Amman Governorate of north-western Jordan.-External links:**...
, Al Mabrak
Al Mabrak
-External links:**...
, Al Mahattah
Al Mahattah
-External links:**...
, Al Manakhir
Al Manakhir
-External links:**...
, Al Mathluthah
Al Mathluthah
-External links:**...
, Al Muqabalayn
Al Muqabalayn
-External links:**http://www.jordanpost.com.jo/post_loc_en.php?IdDier=12&AreaId=4...
, Al Mushaqqar
Al Mushaqqar
-External links:**...
, Al Mushayrifah, Al Mushayrifah, Al Muwaqqar
Al Muwaqqar
Al Muwaqqar is a town in the Amman Governorate of north-western Jordan. The village contains the ruins of an Umayyad palace, the Qasr Al Muwaqqar, one of the desert castles. Little remains of the palace today except several acanthus leaf capitals and gauge for a water reservoir.-External...
, Al Qartu`iyah
Al Qartu`iyah
Al Qartu`iyah is a town in the Amman Governorate of north-western Jordan.It is located several miles north-east of Amman.-External links:**...
, Al Qastal
Al Qastal
Al Qastal is a town in the Amman Governorate of northern Jordan. Originally established as an Umayyad settlement, it remains the oldest and most complete such settlement in the Near East The remains of the minaret at Qastal is especially important as it is the only one extant from the Umayyad...
, Al Qunaytirah
Al Qunaytirah, Jordan
-External links:**...
, Al Qurayyat, Al Quwayjiyah
Al Quwayjiyah
-External links:**...
, Al Quwaysimah
Al Quwaysimah
-External links:**...
, Al Yadudah
Al Yadudah
Al Yadudah is a town in the Amman Governorate of north-western Jordan south of Amman.-External links:**...
, `Ammuriya
`Ammuriya
-External links:**...
, An Naqubah
An Naqubah
-External links:**...
, An Nuwayjis
An Nuwayjis
-External links:**...
, `Ara`ir
`Ara`ir
-External links:**...
, Ar Rabahiyah
Ar Rabahiyah
-External links:**...
, Ar Rajib
Ar Rajib
-External links:**...
, Ar Riwaq
Ar Riwaq
-External links:**...
, Ash Shufatah
Ash Shufatah
-External links:**...
, Ash Shumaysani
Ash Shumaysani
-External links:**...
, Ash Shuqayq
Ash Shuqayq
-External links:**...
, As Samik
As Samik
-External links:**...
, As Saqrah
As Saqrah
-External links:**...
, Ath Thughrah, `Atruz, At Tunayb
At Tunayb
-External links:**...
, Barazin
Barazin
-External links:**...
, Barzah, Barzah, Bayt Zir`ah
Bayt Zir`ah
-External links:**...
, Biddin
Biddin
-External links:**...
, Bilal
Bilal, Jordan
-External links:**...
, Buqay` al Qababi`ah
Buqay` al Qababi`ah
-External links:**...
, Dab`ah, Dhiban
Dhiban
Dhiban is a Jordanian town located in Madaba Governorate, approximately 70 kilometers south of Amman and east of the Dead Sea. Previously nomadic, the modern community settled the town in the 1950s. Today, Dhiban is approximately 15000 members strong, with many working in the army, government...
, Dhuhaybah, Dulaylat al Hama'idah
Dulaylat al Hama'idah
Dulaylat al Hama'idah is a town in the Madaba Governorate of north-western Jordan.-External links:**...
, Dulaylat al Mutayrat
Dulaylat al Mutayrat
Dulaylat al Mutayrat is a town in the Madaba Governorate of north-western Jordan.-External links:**...
, Halaq ash Shuqayq
Halaq ash Shuqayq
Halaq ash Shuqayq is a town in the Madaba Governorate of north-western Jordan.-External links:**...
, Hawwarah, Hisban, `Iraq al Amir
`Iraq al Amir
Iraq al Amir , is within the municipality of Amman in the Jordan Valley. Located about 15 km southwest of the town of Wadi Al Seer, it has a population of about 6000 people, mostly members of the tribe of Abbadi...
, Jalul, Jawa, Juraynah, Khilda, Khirbat `Assaf, Khirbat as Sahilah
Khirbat as Sahilah
Khirbat as Sahilah is a small village in the Madaba Governorate of western Jordan.-External links:**...
, Khirbat Badran, Khirbat Khaww
Khirbat Khaww
-External links:**...
, Khirbat Siran, Khuraybat as Suq, Kufayr Abu Sarbut
Kufayr Abu Sarbut
Kufayr Abu Sarbut is a town in the Madaba Governorate of north-western Jordan.-External links:**...
, Kufayr al Wakhyan
Kufayr al Wakhyan
-External links:**...
, Kufayrat Abu Khinan
Kufayrat Abu Khinan
Kufayrat Abu Khinan is a town in the Madaba Governorate of north-western Jordan.It lies several miles north of Madaba.-External links:**...
, Madaba
Madaba
Madaba , is the capital city of Madaba Governorate of Jordan, which has a population of about 60,000. Madaba is the fifth most populous town in Jordan. It is best known for its Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics, especially a large Byzantine-era mosaic map of The Holy Land...
, Ma`in, Manja, Marka, Mukawir, Mulayh, Murayjimat Ibn Hamid
Murayjimat Ibn Hamid
-External links:**...
, Natl, Na`ur, Qasr al Hallabat
Qasr al Hallabat
Qasr al Hallabat is a town in the Amman Governorate of north-western Jordan. The town is named after the Umayyad castle located there. Also located in the town is the Qasr Hammam As Sarah. It is located north-east of the capital of Amman.-Castle:...
, Qubur `Abd Allah, Qurayyat Falhah
Qurayyat Falhah
-External links:**...
, Qurayyat Nafi`, Qurayyat Salim
Qurayyat Salim
-External links:**...
, Rujaym Salim
Rujaym Salim
-External links:**...
, Rujm ash Shami
Rujm ash Shami
-External links:**...
, Rujm ash Shara'irah
Rujm ash Shara'irah
Rujm ash Shara'irah is a town in the Amman Governorate of north-western Jordan. It is located north-west of the capital Amman and off of Highway 25.-External links:**...
, Sahab, Shunat Ibn `Adwan, Sufah, Sumiya, Suwaylih
Suwaylih
Suwaylih is a town in the north of Amman with a population of over 120,000.The town is known for having a good climate throughout the year, growing olives and grapes, and is the presence of many heavy industries, such as auto assembly, steel and cement.- External links : at Pagenation.com...
, Tabarbawr, Tila` al `Ali, Umm al `Amad, Umm al Birak
Umm al Birak
-External links:**...
, Umm al Hanafish, Umm al Kundum
Umm al Kundum
-External links:**...
, Umm al Qanafidh
Umm al Qanafidh
-External links:**...
, Umm ar Rasas, Umm as Summaq, Umm Juraysat, Umm Nuwarah, Umm Qusayr, Umm Qusayr, Umm Rummanah, Umm Shujayrah al Gharbiyah
Umm Shujayrah al Gharbiyah
Umm Shujayrah al Gharbiyah is a town in the Amman Governorate of north-western Jordan.-External links:**...
, Umm Zuwaytinah
Umm Zuwaytinah
-External links:**...
, `Urjan al Gharbiyah
`Urjan al Gharbiyah
`Urjan al Gharbiyah is a town in the Amman Governorate of north-western Jordan.It is located north of the capital of Amman.-External links:**...
, `Urjan ash Sharqiyah
`Urjan ash Sharqiyah
`Urjan ash Sharqiyah is a town in the Amman Governorate of north-western Jordan.It is located north of the capital of Amman.-External links:**...
, `Uyun adh Dhi'b, Wadi as Sir, Yajuz, Zaba'ir `Udwan
Zaba'ir `Udwan
-External links:**...
, Zuwayza
Education
As of 2010, there were 24 universities and community colleges in the Capital Governorate, the University of JordanUniversity of Jordan
The University of Jordan , is a government-supported University located in Amman, Jordan...
is the oldest university established in the governorate, it is also Jordan's first university, other universities are the Arab Open University
Arab Open University
Arab Open University is a non-profit private Pan-Arab university founded in 2002 in Kuwait, Jordan, and Lebanon. One year later it opened in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Oman. The AOU is affiliated with the UK Open University...
which is owned and run by the Arab League
Arab League
The Arab League , officially called the League of Arab States , is a regional organisation of Arab states in North and Northeast Africa, and Southwest Asia . It was formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945 with six members: Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan , Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Yemen joined as a...
and Princess Sumaya University for Technology
Princess Sumaya University for Technology
Princess Sumaya University for Technology , established in 1991, is a specialized, nongovernmental, nonprofit, Jordanian university, owned by the leading applied research centre in Jordan, the Royal Scientific Society . PSUT’s area of specialization is IT, Communications and Electronics...
which was named after Princess Sumaya of Jordan. Petra University
Petra University
Petra University is a university in Amman, Jordan. Its president is Professor Adnan Badran-Programs:The university offers a variety of programs at its five faculties. Arabic is used for teaching of humanities, and English is used for most of other courses...
was ranked 20th in the Arab World
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
by Webometrics, Philadelphia University (Jordan)
Philadelphia University (Jordan)
Philadelphia University is a university in Amman, Jordan.Philadelphia Private University was established in 1989 as a national higher educational institution. The university is located 20-km out of Amman, on the road linking between Amman and Jerash....
is the largest private university in the Capital Governorate.