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Irbid City مدينة إربد Arabella |
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| Nickname(s): Bride of the North in Arabic: عروس الشمال | |||
 
Irbid City
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| Coordinates: 32°33′0″N 35°51′0″E / 32.55°N 35.85°E | |||
| Country | Jordan | ||
| Province | Irbid Governorate | ||
| Founded | 5000 B.C. | ||
| Government | |||
| - Type | Municipality | ||
| - Mayor | Abdel Ra'ouf Al Tal | ||
| Area | |||
| - Metro | 410 km2 (158.30 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation [1] | 620 m (2,034 ft) | ||
| Population (2004)[2][3] | |||
| - City | 292,040 | ||
| - Metro | 650,000 | ||
| Time zone | GMT +2 | ||
| - Summer (DST) | +3 (UTC) | ||
| Area code(s) | +(962)2 | ||
| Website | http://www.irbid.gov.jo/ | ||
Irbid (Arabic: إربد), known in ancient times as Arabella, is the capital and largest city of the Irbid Governorate.
It is also a part of the second largest metropolitan area in Jordan 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. Irbid is nicknamed as 'Arus asShamaal (Arabic:عروس الشمال)(Bride of the North) because of its beauty and its location in the north of Jordan.
Irbid is the third largest city in Jordan by population (after Amman and Zarqa). Metropolitan Irbid is the second largest. Irbid Governorate, which includes the city of Irbid and surrounding cities and villages, 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.
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Artifacts and graves in the area show that Irbid has been inhabited since the Bronze Age. In the Hellenistic period, it 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 wines 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 introduction of Islam, the city became known as Irbid, and moved 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.
Irbid today combines the bustle of a provincial Middle Eastern 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 visitor who stops 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.
Irbid is divided into 23 administrative units. In Jordan there are many types of administrative units, like Nahias, Qadha's, and city districts.
| District | District | District | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Taybeh | 9 | Soom | 17 | Maru |
| 2 | Al Hisn | 10 | Hakama | 18 | Mughayer |
| 3 | Al-Rabia | 11 | Hashemiyah | 19 | Naser |
| 4 | Al-Sareeh | 12 | Hawar | 20 | Rowdah |
| 5 | Barha | 13 | Huwara [also transliterated Huwwarah] | 21 | Sal Area |
| 6 | Beit Ras | 14 | Kitim | 22 | Nu'aimah |
| 7 | Bushra | 15 | Kufr Jayez | 23 | Nuzha |
| 8 | Edun | 16 | Manarah |
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, Kufraan(كفرعان), Jumha, Kufryuba, Zahar, Qum, Sammou', Izmal, Kufrelma, Sawm, Saydoor, Sammaصما, Ibser Abu Ali, Assarieh, Aidoon, Al Hisn, Baleela, Kitim, Beit Ras, Dowgarah, En-Nu`aymeh, Habaka, Houfa Al-Westiyyah, Qumaim, Huwwarah, Imrawah, Ramtha, Sal, Samad, Shajara, Turrah, hatim, melka, foauta , Zoubia, Rehaba, Kharja, Dair yousef, Dair abos'eed, Dair yosef, kufor kefia, summer, e'nbeh, Dair Esse'neh (دير السعنة), Mandah,marw (مرو)Zabda, as well as the town of Malka (ملكا).
As of 2007, there were 70,000 registered students in Irbid's 10 universities and colleges, of whom 8,000 were international students from 47 countries.
The largest universities in Irbid are Albalqa University, Yarmouk University and Jordan University of Science and Technology. [4] This high concentration of institutions of higher education has played a key role in carving a unique identity of the city.
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 Guiness Book of World Records. Irbid is considered the cultural capital of Jordan. [5].
The Irbid-based club Al-Hussein Irbid was ranked fourth in the Jordanian football premier league in 2008. Its home matches are held in Prince 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 the 1999 Pan Arab Games.
Coordinates: 32°33′N 35°51′E / 32.55°N 35.85°E
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