Irbid
Encyclopedia
Irbid known in ancient times as Arabella or Arbela , is the capital and largest city of the Irbid Governorate
. It also has the second largest metropolitan population in Jordan
after Amman
, with a population of around 660,000, and is located about 70 km north of Amman
on the northern ridge of the Gilead
, equidistant from Pella
, Beit Ras (Capitolias), and Umm Qais
.
The city of Irbid is the second largest city in Jordan by population (after Amman
). Metropolitan Irbid is the second largest.
The province of Irbid Governorate
has the second largest population, and the highest population density in the kingdom.
The city is a major ground transportation hub between Amman, Syria
to the north, and Mafraq
to the east.
The Irbid region is also home to several colleges and universities, the two most prominent being Jordan University of Science and Technology
and Yarmouk University
.
. Pieces of pottery and wall stones found at Tell Irbid were estimated to be made in the year 3200 B.C.
In the Hellenistic period, Irbid, then known as Arabella was a major trade center and the birthplace of Nittai of Arbela
.
Before the advent of Islam
, the city was known as Arabella and was famous for producing some of the best wine
s in the ancient world.
The area in the region had extremely fertile soil and moderate climate, allowing the growing of high quality grapes.
After the Muslim conquests, it came under the rule of the Muslim Empire, the city became known as Irbid, and shifted from wine to olive oil
production.
Wheat was also an important product in the area.
Irbid is notable for being close to the site of the decisive Battle of Yarmouk
, fought along the banks of the Yarmouk River
roughly 30 kilometres north of the city.
The battle was waged between the Islamic Caliphate
led by Umar
and the Byzantine Empire
.
It set the stage for the departure of Byzantine armies from Greater Syria
and the beginning of the expansion of the Islamic Caliphate.
ern town and the youthful nightlife of a typical college town.
University Street, which defines the western border of the Yarmouk University campus, is popular with locals as well as with the occasional foreign visitors who stop to relax in any of its numerous restaurants and cafés.
Though not usually a major tourist destination itself, Irbid is home to two notable museums: the Museum of Jordanian Heritage and the Jordan Natural History Museum, both on the campus of Yarmouk University
.
Furthermore, Irbid's strategic location in northern Jordan makes it a convenient starting point for tourists interested in seeing the northern Jordan Valley
; visiting Umm Qais
, Beit Ras (Capitolias), Pella
, Ajloun
, Umm el-Jimal
, and other historical sites; or traveling on to Syria
.
Situated in northern Jordan, in a fertile plateau. As of 2010, the city limits of Irbid had an area of 30 Km2 of which most of it is classified as Residential areas making up 74.3% of the total area, followed by the Services areas occupying 9.5%, then Empty or unoccupied areas of 7.7%, then 4.2% is classified as Commercial areas, and 3.3% as Industrial areas, and finally Green areas (gardens) occupied 1% of the total city area.
region, the average highest ad lowest temperatures are given below.
Cities, Towns, and Villages
Many villages surround the city of Irbid including: Al-Taybeh (الطيبة), Habaka
(حبكا),Kufr-Rahta( كفررحتا ), Al-Mazar Al-Shamali (المزار الشمالي), Bushra or Bishra (بشرى ), Hareema (حريما), Alal( علعال ), Kufrasad,kufr_Asad (كفرأسد) ..North of Irbid , Kufraan(كفرعان), Jumha, Kufryuba, Zahar, Qum, Sammou', Izmal, Kufrelma, Sawm, Saydoor, kufersoom, Sama al-Rousan (سما الروسان), Ibser Abu Ali, Assarieh, Aidoon, Al Hisn, Baleela, Kitim, Beit Ras(بيت راس), Dowgarah, En-Nu`aymeh, Habaka, Houfa Al-Westiyyah, Qumaim, Huwwarah, Imrawah, Ramtha, Sal, Samad, Shajara, Turrah, hatim (حاتم العودات ), melka, foauta , Zoubia, Rehaba, Kharja, Dair yousef, Dair abos'eed, Dair yosef, kufor kefia, summer, e'nbeh, Bayt Yafa (بيت يافا) Dair Esse'neh (دير السعنة), Mandah, Marw
قرية مرو Zabda, as well as the town of Malka (ملكا), Bait Idis (بيت ايدس).
This high concentration of institutions of higher education has played a key role in carving a unique identity of the city.
The largest universities in Irbid are:
in Irbid.
was ranked fourth in the Jordanian football premier league in 2008.
Its home matches are held in Prince Hassan Youth City's Stadium.
The other major football club in Irbid is Al-Arabi. Established in 1945, it is one of the oldest athletic clubs in the country.
As of 2008, there are 22 cultural and sport clubs registered in Irbid.
Irbid hosted the 1999 Pan Arab Games
.
Irbid Governorate
Irbid or Irbed is one of the governorates of Jordan. It is located north of Amman, Jordan's capital. The capital of the governorate of Irbid is the city of Irbid...
. It also has the second largest metropolitan population 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...
after 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...
, with a population of around 660,000, and is located about 70 km north 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...
on the northern ridge of the Gilead
Gilead
In the Bible "Gilead" means hill of testimony or mound of witness, , a mountainous region east of the Jordan River, situated in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. It is also referred to by the Aramaic name Yegar-Sahadutha, which carries the same meaning as the Hebrew . From its mountainous character...
, equidistant from Pella
Pella, Jordan
Pella is a village and the site of ancient ruins in northwestern Jordan. It is half an hour by car from Irbid, in the north of the country....
, Beit Ras (Capitolias), and Umm Qais
Umm Qais
Umm Qais is a town in Jordan located on the site of the ruined Hellenistic-Roman city of Gadara . The town was also called Antiochia or Antiochia Semiramis and Seleucia...
.
The city of Irbid is the second largest city in Jordan by population (after 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...
). Metropolitan Irbid is the second largest.
The province of Irbid Governorate
Irbid Governorate
Irbid or Irbed is one of the governorates of Jordan. It is located north of Amman, Jordan's capital. The capital of the governorate of Irbid is the city of Irbid...
has the second largest population, and the highest population density in the kingdom.
The city is a major ground transportation hub between Amman, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
to the north, and Mafraq
Mafraq
Mafraq is the capital city of Mafraq Governorate, Jordan, located 80 Km to the north from the Jordanian capital Amman in crossroad to Syria to the north and Iraq to the east. It has 58,954 inhabitants...
to the east.
The Irbid region is also home to several colleges and universities, the two most prominent being Jordan University of Science and Technology
Jordan University of Science and Technology
The Jordan University of Science and Technology , often abbreviated JUST, is a comprehensive, state-supported university located on the outskirts of Irbid at Ar Ramtha region, in northern Jordan....
and Yarmouk University
Yarmouk University
Yarmouk University is a university in Jordan. It was established in 1976. Located in the northern town of Irbid, it has a student body of roughly 31,000.The university has several international partnerships with overseas universities...
.
History
Artifacts and graves in the area show that Irbid has been inhabited since the Bronze AgeBronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
. Pieces of pottery and wall stones found at Tell Irbid were estimated to be made in the year 3200 B.C.
In the Hellenistic period, Irbid, then known as Arabella was a major trade center and the birthplace of Nittai of Arbela
Nittai of Arbela
Nittai of Arbela was av beit din or vice-president of the Sanhedrin under the nasi Joshua ben Perachyah at the time of John Hyrcanus . In Yer. Hag...
.
Before the advent of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, the city was known as Arabella and was famous for producing some of the best wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
s in the ancient world.
The area in the region had extremely fertile soil and moderate climate, allowing the growing of high quality grapes.
After the Muslim conquests, it came under the rule of the Muslim Empire, the city became known as Irbid, and shifted from wine to olive oil
Olive oil
Olive oil is an oil obtained from the olive , a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin. It is commonly used in cooking, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and soaps and as a fuel for traditional oil lamps...
production.
Wheat was also an important product in the area.
Irbid is notable for being close to the site of the decisive Battle of Yarmouk
Battle of Yarmouk
The Battle of Yarmouk was a major battle between the Muslim Arab forces of the Rashidun Caliphate and the armies of the East Roman-Byzantine Empire. The battle consisted of a series of engagements that lasted for six days in August 636, near the Yarmouk River, along what is today the border...
, fought along the banks of the Yarmouk River
Yarmouk River
The Yarmouk River is the largest tributary of the Jordan River. It drains much of the Hauran Plateau. It is one of three main tributaries which enter the Jordan between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. To the south, are the Jabbok/Zarqa and the Arnon/Wadi Mujib) rivers...
roughly 30 kilometres north of the city.
The battle was waged between the Islamic Caliphate
Rashidun
The Rightly Guided Caliphs or The Righteous Caliphs is a term used in Sunni Islam to refer to the first four Caliphs who established the Rashidun Caliphate. The concept of "Rightly Guided Caliphs" originated with the Abbasid Dynasty...
led by Umar
Umar
`Umar ibn al-Khattāb c. 2 November , was a leading companion and adviser to the Islamic prophet Muhammad who later became the second Muslim Caliph after Muhammad's death....
and the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
.
It set the stage for the departure of Byzantine armies from Greater Syria
Greater Syria
Greater Syria , also known simply as Syria, is a term that denotes a region in the Near East bordering the Eastern Mediterranean Sea or the Levant....
and the beginning of the expansion of the Islamic Caliphate.
Present-day
Irbid today combines the bustle of a provincial Middle EastMiddle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
ern town and the youthful nightlife of a typical college town.
University Street, which defines the western border of the Yarmouk University campus, is popular with locals as well as with the occasional foreign visitors who stop to relax in any of its numerous restaurants and cafés.
Though not usually a major tourist destination itself, Irbid is home to two notable museums: the Museum of Jordanian Heritage and the Jordan Natural History Museum, both on the campus of Yarmouk University
Yarmouk University
Yarmouk University is a university in Jordan. It was established in 1976. Located in the northern town of Irbid, it has a student body of roughly 31,000.The university has several international partnerships with overseas universities...
.
Furthermore, Irbid's strategic location in northern Jordan makes it a convenient starting point for tourists interested in seeing the northern Jordan Valley
Jordan Valley (Middle East)
The Jordan Valley forms part of the larger Jordan Rift Valley. It is 120 kilometers long and 15 kilometers wide, where it runs from Lake Tiberias in the north to northern Dead Sea in the south. It runs for an additional 155 kilometer south of the Dead Sea to Aqaba, an area also known as Wadi...
; visiting Umm Qais
Umm Qais
Umm Qais is a town in Jordan located on the site of the ruined Hellenistic-Roman city of Gadara . The town was also called Antiochia or Antiochia Semiramis and Seleucia...
, Beit Ras (Capitolias), Pella
Pella, Jordan
Pella is a village and the site of ancient ruins in northwestern Jordan. It is half an hour by car from Irbid, in the north of the country....
, Ajloun
Ajloun
Ajloun also written Ajlun is the capital town of the Ajloun Governorate . A hilly town in the north of Jordan, located 76 kilometers north west of Amman. It is noted for its impressive ruins the 12th century castle which known nowadays as Ajlun Castle...
, Umm el-Jimal
Umm el-Jimal
Umm el-Jimal is a village in Northern Jordan approximately 17 kilometers west of Mafraq. It is primarily notable for the substantial ruins of a Byzantine and early Islamic town which are clearly visible above the ground, as well as an older Roman village located to the southwest of the Byzantine...
, and other historical sites; or traveling on to Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
.
Geography
Climate
Irbid has a typical climate of the LevantLevant
The Levant or ) is the geographic region and culture zone of the "eastern Mediterranean littoral between Anatolia and Egypt" . The Levant includes most of modern Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, the Palestinian territories, and sometimes parts of Turkey and Iraq, and corresponds roughly to the...
region, the average highest ad lowest temperatures are given below.
Districts of Greater Irbid Municipality
Irbid is divided into 23 city districts forming smaller cities within the metropolitan sphere of influence of Irbid:| District | District | District | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Taybeh | 9 | Soom | 17 | Murow |
| 2 | Al Husn | 10 | Hakama | 18 | Mughayer |
| 3 | Al-Rabia | 11 | Hashemiyah | 19 | Naser |
| 4 | Al-Sareeh | 12 | Hawar | 20 | Rowdah |
| 5 | Barha | 13 | Huwwarah Huwwarah Huwwarah , also spelled Huwwara and Huwarrah, is a village in northern Jordan. It is situated in the Governorate of Irbid, and is one of many agricultural villages in the fertile mud plains of Hauran. The mud plains of Hauran bridge the gap between the Golan Heights in the west and the Sham desert... |
21 | Sal Area |
| 6 | Beit Ras | 14 | Kitim | 22 | Nu'aimah |
| 7 | Bushra | 15 | Kufr Jayez | 23 | Nuzha |
| 8 | Edun | 16 | Manarah ( hatim ) |
Cities, Towns, and Villages
Many villages surround the city of Irbid including: Al-Taybeh (الطيبة), Habaka
Habaka
Habaka is a small hill town in northern Jordan, located 75 km north of the capital Amman , and about 5 km south of Irbid . The region has a very fertile soil along with suitable climate allows the growing of wide variety of high quality crops. The main products are olives and grapes...
(حبكا),Kufr-Rahta( كفررحتا ), Al-Mazar Al-Shamali (المزار الشمالي), Bushra or Bishra (بشرى ), Hareema (حريما), Alal( علعال ), Kufrasad,kufr_Asad (كفرأسد) ..North of Irbid , Kufraan(كفرعان), Jumha, Kufryuba, Zahar, Qum, Sammou', Izmal, Kufrelma, Sawm, Saydoor, kufersoom, Sama al-Rousan (سما الروسان), Ibser Abu Ali, Assarieh, Aidoon, Al Hisn, Baleela, Kitim, Beit Ras(بيت راس), Dowgarah, En-Nu`aymeh, Habaka, Houfa Al-Westiyyah, Qumaim, Huwwarah, Imrawah, Ramtha, Sal, Samad, Shajara, Turrah, hatim (حاتم العودات ), melka, foauta , Zoubia, Rehaba, Kharja, Dair yousef, Dair abos'eed, Dair yosef, kufor kefia, summer, e'nbeh, Bayt Yafa (بيت يافا) Dair Esse'neh (دير السعنة), Mandah, Marw
Marw, Jordan
The village of Murrow is one of the main villages in Irbid and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.Murrow, a Jordanian village is located to the north-east of the city of Irbid, about 7 km to the east of the village of Beit Ras....
قرية مرو Zabda, as well as the town of Malka (ملكا), Bait Idis (بيت ايدس).
Education
As of 2007, there were 70,000 registered students in Irbid's 10 universities, community colleges and institutes, of whom 8,000 were international students from 47 countries.This high concentration of institutions of higher education has played a key role in carving a unique identity of the city.
The largest universities in Irbid are:
- Al-Balqa` Applied UniversityAl-Balqa` Applied UniversityAl-Balqa` Applied University is a government-supported university located in Salt, Jordan, was founded in 1997, a distinctive state university in the field of Bachelor and Associate degree Applied Education, at the capacity of more than 21,000 student distributed into 10,000 at the Bachelor...
(Irbid campus) - Yarmouk UniversityYarmouk UniversityYarmouk University is a university in Jordan. It was established in 1976. Located in the northern town of Irbid, it has a student body of roughly 31,000.The university has several international partnerships with overseas universities...
- Jordan University of Science and TechnologyJordan University of Science and TechnologyThe Jordan University of Science and Technology , often abbreviated JUST, is a comprehensive, state-supported university located on the outskirts of Irbid at Ar Ramtha region, in northern Jordan....
- Irbid National UniversityIrbid National UniversityIrbid National University is a private university in Irbid in Jordan. It was established in 1994.-Colleges:there are six colleges in the university:* College of Sharei'a and Law* College of Literature and Arts...
- Jadara UniversityJadara UniversityJadara University is a university located in Irbid- Jordan.It was established in 2005, it gives undergraduate and masters degrees in Arabic, and English literature, science, and information technology.- Academics:...
Economy
Most of the city's economy is based on the services sector, that is directly or indirectly related to the higher education institutions in the city, as an example there are 26 book publishing companies in the city. The number of internet cafes per capita is the highest in the world that took Irbid to the Guinness Book of World Records. Irbid is considered the cultural capital of Jordan.. There is one Qualifying Industrial ZoneQualifying Industrial Zone
Qualifying Industrial Zones are industrial parks that house manufacturing operations in Jordan and Egypt. They are a special free trade zones established in collaboration with Israel to take advantage of the free trade agreements between the United States and Israel...
in Irbid.
Sports
The Irbid-based club Al-Hussein (Irbid)Al Hussein Irbid
Al-Hussein is a football club based in Irbid which competes in the Jordan League.Al-Hussein participated in the 2005 AFC Cup, winning its group. The club has never won the Jordan League or Jordan FA Cup, but are three-time winners of the Jordan FA Shield and winners of the 2003 Jordan Super Cup...
was ranked fourth in the Jordanian football premier league in 2008.
Its home matches are held in Prince Hassan Youth City's Stadium.
The other major football club in Irbid is Al-Arabi. Established in 1945, it is one of the oldest athletic clubs in the country.
As of 2008, there are 22 cultural and sport clubs registered in Irbid.
Irbid hosted the 1999 Pan Arab Games
1999 Pan Arab Games
August 15 and August 31, 1999. 5504 athletes from 21 countries participated in events in 26 sports. the opening ceremony that took place in Al Hussein Youth City Stadium was officially opened by King Abdullah II.-Medals won by country:-Group A:--------...
.