Ar-Ramtha مدينة الرمثا | |
|---|---|
City | |
 The City Hall | |
 Flag | |
  Ar-Ramtha | |
| Coordinates:32°33′32″N36°0′53″E / 32.55889°N 36.01472°E /32.55889; 36.01472 | |
| Grid position | 245/218 |
| Country | Jordan |
| Province | Irbid Governorate |
| District | Ar-Ramtha District |
| Municipality established | 1927 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipality |
| • Mayor | Hussein Abu Ashshih |
| Elevation | 502 m (1,647 ft) |
| Population (2015)[1] | |
• Total | 155,693 |
| Time zone | GMT +2 |
| • Summer (DST) | +3 |
| Area code | +(962)2 |
| Website | http://www.ramthacity.gov.jo |
Ar-Ramtha (Arabic:الرَّمثا,romanized: ar-Ramṯā), colloquially transliterated asAr-Romtha (Arabic:الرُّمثا,romanized: ar-Rumṯā), is a city situated in the far northwest ofJordan near theborder withSyria. It covers 40 km2 on a plain 30 km northeast of theJordan River andIrbid. In 2017, Ar-Ramtha had a population of approximately 164,211, making it the eleventh largest city inJordan, and the second inIrbid Governorate, and the city has grown since then.[2] It is part of theAr-Ramtha district of theIrbid Governorate.[3][4]
The origin of the name Ar-Ramtha is debated. Some claim it is named after a localdesert plant,al-ramath (Arabic:الرمثا). Manybiblical archaeologists identify Ar-Ramtha with the ancientIsraelite city ofRamoth-Gilead,Hebrew for "Heights ofGilead"; in that case, the present-day Arabic name mightpreserve the Biblical Hebrew one.[5][6]
During theRoman andByzantine periods, Ar-Ramtha was known as Ramatha.
The stable climate in ar-Ramtha and its surrounding areas attracted many animals to live in neighborhood of ar-Ramtha, as well the simple conditions for managing a stable long life there attracted humans to make those regions their earliest choices to gather in groups of hunters and to live in rocky caves.
Artifacts and graves in the area show that ar-Ramtha has been inhabited at least since theBronze Age, but the lack of study of the region gives us no exact information about when humans had selected the land for living.
Ar-Ramtha might be the location of theIsraelite city ofRamoth-Gilead, a Levitical city and city of refuge east of the Jordan River, mentioned several times in theHebrew Bible.[5][6]According to theBooks of Kings, Ramoth-Gilead was the location of a battle betweenKingdom of Israel andAram Damascus. During the battle, KingAhab of Israel joined KingJehoshaphat 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 whereAhaziah of Israel andJehoram of Judah fought againstHazael, king of Aram Damascus, and Jehoram was wounded. In this city,Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat, was anointed byElisha.
The Roman Empire utilized ar-Ramtha as a remote hub to cross-link their colonies. The ruins of buildings and ancient Roman antiquities have been discovered at differentparts of ar-Ramtha. During thespread of Islam, ar-Ramtha, which was in theHauran territory, was a port for Muslim scholars crossing between Syria and theHejaz. Historically and sociologically, the city is the twin toDaraa city in Syria, which is located on just the other side of the border.[citation needed]
In 1596 it appeared in theOttomantax registers under the name ofRamta, being part of thenahiya of Butayna in theQadaa Hauran. It had an entirely Muslim population consisting of 16 households and 3 bachelors. They paid a fixed tax-rate of 40% on agricultural products, including wheat, barley, summer crops, goats and bee-hives; a total of 2,740akçe. Half of this waswaqf income.[7]
The Jordanian census of 1961 found 10,791 inhabitants in Ramtha.[8]The city has grown to a population of 263,680 in 2021. Due to its location, Ramtha played a significant role in helping refugees fleeing theSyrian Civil War to Jordan.
North west of ar-Ramtha is the second largest source of shale oil in Jordan,[9] which if it is used in producing oil, can enhance economics in Jordan significantly.
Ar-Ramtha experiences aMediterranean climate (Csa~Dsa). The summer is hot and long (four months in average), but it has cool nights. Temperatures range in summer from 27 °C (81 °F) – 33 °C (91 °F). Spring and fall temperatures are ideal for a human's body, they range from 17 °C (63 °F) – 23 °C (73 °F). The winter sees nighttime temperatures sometimes below0 °C (32 °F), with snowfall once or twice a year. The yearly average number of days with rain is 77. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Romtha was −18 °C in the blizzard of 1992.
| Climate data for Romtha/Irbid (1982–2008) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 12.3 (54.1) | 13.8 (56.8) | 23.2 (73.8) | 25.6 (78.1) | 25.7 (78.3) | 30.4 (86.7) | 33.4 (92.1) | 36.1 (97.0) | 32.5 (90.5) | 26.9 (80.4) | 18.2 (64.8) | 12.7 (54.9) | 36.1 (97.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 3.0 (37.4) | 5.9 (42.6) | 12.0 (53.6) | 18.7 (65.7) | 23.6 (74.5) | 25.5 (77.9) | 27.7 (81.9) | 32.3 (90.1) | 26.1 (79.0) | 20.5 (68.9) | 13.6 (56.5) | 7.2 (45.0) | 18.0 (64.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −4.9 (23.2) | −2.5 (27.5) | 2.3 (36.1) | 8.8 (47.8) | 9.4 (48.9) | 14.6 (58.3) | 19.7 (67.5) | 18.4 (65.1) | 14.8 (58.6) | 8.5 (47.3) | 5.3 (41.5) | 0.5 (32.9) | 7.9 (46.2) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −20.7 (−5.3) | −4.6 (23.7) | 0.2 (32.4) | 3.6 (38.5) | 5.5 (41.9) | 8.0 (46.4) | 10.2 (50.4) | 14.8 (58.6) | 9.1 (48.4) | 2.4 (36.3) | −7.5 (18.5) | −13.7 (7.3) | −20.7 (−5.3) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 163.0 (6.42) | 230.7 (9.08) | 86.0 (3.39) | 55.3 (2.18) | 27.1 (1.07) | 6.1 (0.24) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 12.1 (0.48) | 46.3 (1.82) | 83.5 (3.29) | 114.0 (4.49) | 824.1 (32.46) |
| Source:[10] | |||||||||||||
Ar-Ramtha's economy relies on commerce and import and export trading. The Al Hassan industrial estate houses several outsourcing companies supported by foreign shareholders with most of the products sold to American and European markets.[citation needed]
Before the outbreak of war in Syria in 2011, Ramtha's economy depended in large part on imports, both licit and illicit, with Syria. These goods were imported by so-called "bahhara" (sailors), Jordanian drivers permitted to enter Syria. Since 2011, this trade has dried up, causing increases in unemployment and poverty in Ramtha.[11]
The city is famous for the inherited ritual-poetries recited in wedding ceremonies and public affairs.Dabke is an Arab folk dance native to Ar-Ramtha. Prominent artists from Ar-Ramtha includeHussein Al-Salman,Lil ZeeJo - (Husam El-Zubi),Malik Allaham,Najem Al-Salman,Suliman Athamneh,Hala Athamneh, andMitaab Al-Saggar.[citation needed]
This city has two sports clubs,Al-Ramtha SC, a football club which is also a member of the premiumJordan League, andIttihad Al-Ramtha, another football club which is a member in the first division in Jordanian Football League.
The city is home to theJordan University of Science and Technology, which includes a large University hospital,KAUH that provides medical treatment in the region, and offers chances to medical students in the university to intern and learn during their study years.
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