Irbid إربد | |
|---|---|
City | |
 | |
 Flag | |
| Nickname: Bride of the North | |
  Irbid | |
| Coordinates:32°33′0″N35°51′0″E / 32.55000°N 35.85000°E /32.55000; 35.85000 | |
| Grid position | 230/217 |
| Country |  Jordan |
| Governorate | Irbid Governorate |
| Founded | 7000 BC |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipality |
| • Mayor | Nabeel Al-Kofahi |
| Area | |
• City | 410 km2 (160 sq mi) |
| • Metro | 1,572 km2 (607 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 620 m (2,034 ft) |
| Population (2020) | |
• City | 569,068 |
| • Density | 1,400/km2 (3,600/sq mi) |
| • Metro | 2,003,800[2] |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (GMT) |
| • Summer (DST) | +3 |
| Area code | +(962)2 |
| Website | www |
Irbid (Arabic:إِربِد), known in ancient times asArabella orArbela (Άρβηλα inAncient Greek), is the capital and largest city ofIrbid Governorate. It has the second-largest metropolitan population inJordan afterAmman, with a population of around 2,003,800.[3] As a city, Irbid is Jordan's third-largest, after Amman andZarqa.
Irbid is located about 70 kilometres (43 mi) north of Amman on the northern ridge of theGilead, equidistant fromPella,Beit Ras (Capitolias), andUm Qais, and approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) south of theSyrian border.
Irbid was built on successiveEarly Bronze Age settlements and was possibly thebiblical Beth Arbel and the Arbila of theDecapolis, a Hellenistic league of the 1st-2nd century BCE. The population of Irbid swelled in the late 19th century, and prior to 1948 it served as a significant centre of transit trade.[4]
The city is a major ground transportation hub between Amman,Syria to the north, andMafraq to the east. The Irbid region is also home to several colleges and universities. The two most prominent universities areJordan University of Science and Technology andYarmouk University.
The original spelling was probably ארבאל, a name that also appears inHosea 10:14. This name persisted among Jews and was later transmitted to the Arabs. Greek sources from the same periods also confirm this, often featuring a final 'a', which might indicate an official version of the name.[5]
Artifacts and graves in the area show that Irbid was inhabited in theBronze Age. Pieces of pottery and wall stones found atTell Irbid were estimated to be made in the year 3200 B.C.[6] A city wall dated to around 1300-1200 BC.
In theHellenistic period, Irbid, then known asArabella was a major trade center. Before the advent ofIslam, Arabella was famous for producing some of the bestwines in the ancient world. The area in the region had extremely fertile soil and moderate climate, allowing the growing of high quality grapes.[7][8][9]
After the Muslim conquests, the city came under the rule of theRashidun Caliphate and became known as Irbid, at which time it shifted from wine toolive oil production. Wheat was also an important product in the area.[10]
In 1596 it appeared in theOttomantax registers named asIrbid, situated in thenahiya (subdistrict) of Bani Juhma, part of theHauran Sanjak. It had 72 households and 35 bachelors; allMuslim. The villagers paid a fixed tax-rate of 25% on agricultural products; including wheat (22,500akçe), barley, summer crops, fruit trees, goats and bee-hives; in addition to a market toll. The total tax was 38,116akçe.[11]
In 1838,Eli Smith noted Irbid (Arbela) as being a place withSunni Muslim.[12]
The Jordanian census of 1961 found 44,585 inhabitants in Irbid.[13]
Irbid today combines the bustle of a provincialMiddle Eastern town and the youthful nightlife of a typical college town.[citation needed] The city is home to four major universities: Yarmouk University, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid National University and Jadara University. In addition, it is home for two campuses of Balqa Applied University and several private colleges. 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 by to relax in any of its numerous restaurants and cafés that open late into the night.
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 ofYarmouk University. Furthermore, Irbid's strategic location in northern Jordan makes it a convenient starting point for tourists interested in seeing the northernJordan Valley; visitingUmm Qais, Beit Ras (Capitolias),Pella,Ajloun,Umm el-Jimal and other historical sites; or traveling on toSyria.
Irbid is situated in northern Jordan, on a fertileplateau. As of 2010, the city of Irbid encompassed an area of 30 km2, with 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 gardens occupied 1% of the total city area.
Irbid has ahot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa), common in theLevant region. Summers are hot at days with warm nights, while winters are cool and wet, with two snowy days on average.
| Climate data for Irbid (1985–2014) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 13.4 (56.1) | 14.3 (57.7) | 17.7 (63.9) | 22.8 (73.0) | 27.2 (81.0) | 30.0 (86.0) | 31.5 (88.7) | 31.8 (89.2) | 30.1 (86.2) | 26.7 (80.1) | 20.7 (69.3) | 15.5 (59.9) | 23.5 (74.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 9.4 (48.9) | 10.0 (50.0) | 12.9 (55.2) | 17.9 (64.2) | 21.1 (70.0) | 24.0 (75.2) | 25.8 (78.4) | 26.2 (79.2) | 24.6 (76.3) | 21.3 (70.3) | 15.6 (60.1) | 11.1 (52.0) | 18.3 (65.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 5.3 (41.5) | 5.7 (42.3) | 8.0 (46.4) | 11.3 (52.3) | 14.9 (58.8) | 17.9 (64.2) | 20.1 (68.2) | 20.5 (68.9) | 19.0 (66.2) | 15.8 (60.4) | 10.5 (50.9) | 6.7 (44.1) | 13 (55) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 101.5 (4.00) | 110.5 (4.35) | 69.6 (2.74) | 20 (0.8) | 6.4 (0.25) | 1.6 (0.06) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.7 (0.03) | 13.9 (0.55) | 58.4 (2.30) | 81.9 (3.22) | 464.5 (18.3) |
| Average precipitation days | 11.3 | 10.6 | 9.4 | 4.6 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 3.2 | 6.0 | 9.6 | 57.1 |
| Source: Jordan Meteorological Department[14] | |||||||||||||
Irbid is divided into 23 city districts forming smaller cities within the metropolitan sphere of influence of Irbid:
| District | District | District | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al'al | 9 | Foa'ra | 17 | Maru |
| 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 | 21 | Sal Area |
| 6 | Beit Ras | 14 | Kitim | 22 | Nu'aimah |
| 7 | Bushra (Jordan) | 15 | Kufr Jayez | 23 | Nuzha |
| 8 | Edun | 16 | Manarah ( hatim ) |
Many villages surround the city of Irbid including:
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.[15] 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:
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Private Schools in Irbid (sorted by alphabetical order):
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 theGuinness Book of World Records.[22] Irbid is considered the cultural capital of Jordan.[23] There is oneQualifying Industrial Zone in Irbid.
The Irbid-based clubAl-Hussein (Irbid) was ranked fourth in the Jordanian football premier league in the year 2008. Its home matches are held inPrince Hasan 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 the1999 Pan Arab Games.
Irbid Governorate is part of the Jordan Trail, a 675-kilometer long-distance hiking route that runs from Um Qais in the north to Aqaba in the south. The trail is recognized as one of the most significant adventure tourism experiences in Jordan, connecting historical, cultural, and natural landscapes.
The northern section of the Jordan Trail in Irbid Governorate includes:
Um Qais to Ziglab (1st official section of the trail, passing through lush valleys and ancient ruins)Ziglab to Beit Idis (offering panoramic views of Jordan’s greenest landscapes)Beit Idis to Rasoun (featuring historical Ottoman-era villages and forested areas)Hiking in Irbid provides diverse terrains, from fertile valleys to forested mountains, with access to archaeological sites, traditional Jordanian villages, and local homestays. The Jordan Trail segment in this region is known for its scenic beauty and cultural encounters, making it a favorite among long-distance hikers.
Irbid is home to Dur Mursud, also known asTal Ziraa (Tall Zira'a), an important climbing destination located in Wadi Arab. In addition to its archaeological significance, the hill has become a popular site for outdoor enthusiasts. Developed by Jordanian climber Hakim Tamimi, this crag features multiple bolted climbing routes, offering challenges for various skill levels.
Notable routes include:
Beit el Bumeh (6a)Jardane's Huny (5c+)Wadi Arab Delights (6b+)The site attracts both local and international climbers, drawn to its unique limestone formations and the combination of adventure and history. However, climbers are advised to check for bolt maintenance before attempting routes.
Dur Mursud/Tal Ziraa is also recognized for its archaeological importance, with evidence of settlements dating back thousands of years. More information on the site's history can be found on the Tall Zira’a Wikipedia page.
Irbid istwinned with:
[1][2][3][4]<ref>{{cite web |title=Jordan Trail
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