Karak Governorate

Karak Governorate (محافظة الكرك)
Governorate
Karak Governorate within Jordan.
Country Jordan
Cities Mu'tah, Rabba, Qatraneh
Capital Al Karak
Area 3,495 km2 (1,349 sq mi)
Population 249,100 (2012)
Density 71.3/km2 (185/sq mi)
Timezone UTC+2
 - summer (DST) +3
Area code +(962)3
The Kerak crusader castle in Al Karak is one of the largest castles in the Levant region

Karak (Arabic: الكرك) 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.

History

Ancient history

The land of Karak Governorate was the home of the Kingdom of Moab, during the first millenium BC. Their capital and stronghold is believed to be near the city of Al Karak, which was known as the Qir of Moab.

For a brief period of time, the land of Karak Governorate came under Persian rule, and then the Nabateans took control of it, until the Romans invaded the Levant region and occupied their capital, Petra. After the coming of the Byzentines, they established a vassal state ruled by the Ghassanids. The city of Mu'tah was the site of the first clash between the Muslim Arabs and the Byzantine Empire at the Battle of Mu'tah in 629 AD.

With the coming of the crusaders, the Principality of Kerak was established, after which Kerak was a center front between the Ayyubids and the crusaders.

Modern history

From the 15th century until 1917, Karak was under Ottoman rule, then the Emirate of Transjordan. After the creation of the administrative governorates system in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Kerak Became a governorate on June 16, 1966, with Waheeb Al-Bitar as its first governor.

Geography

The land of Karak Governorate is situated along the south eastern coast of the Dead Sea and the mountain chain known as the Mountains of Moab. Wadi Mujib, biblically known as Arnon River, flows through the mountains of Karak Governorate and ends in the Dead Sea. The cities in the governorate are located at elevations ranging from over 1000 meters above sea level in the South Mazar Department to 800 meters above sea level in the northern departments to about 330 meters below sea level at Ghor Al-Safi Department. The governorate is connected to the rest of Jordan by two highways:

Demographics

In 2004, according to the Jordan National Census of that year, the population of the Karak Governorate was 204,185, i.e. 4% of the population of Jordan. The male-to-female ratio was 50.6 to 49.4, Jordanian citizens made up 95.42% Among the Jordanian citizens the male-to-female ratio was 50.38 to 49.62. Of the non-Jordanians, the male-to-female ratio was 55.19 to 44.81. The estimated population as of 2010 is about 239,000.[1][2] The next census is scheduled for 2014

Demographics of Karak Governorate 2004 Census [3]2010 Estimate
Female to Male ratio49.4% to 50.6%49.4% to 50.6%
Jordanian citizens to foreign nationals95.42% to 4.58%NA
Urban population34.78%35%
Rural population65.22%65%
Total population204,185238,600

Education

Mutah University is the only university in the governorate, located in the city of Mu'tah, and is one of the largest universities in Jordan by number of students.[4]

Administrative departments

Karak Governorate is divided into 10 departments according to article 7 of the 46th Administrative Divisions System of 2000:

Departments of Karak Governorate by population (2004 census)


Capital Department

South Mazar Department

South Aghwar Department

Qasr Department

Ghor Al-Mazra'a Department

Department Arabic name Areas Population [5] Administrative Center


Faqou' Department

Aii Department

Moab Department

Qatraneh Department

Moujeb Department

1 Capital Department (Al-Qasabah) لواء قصبة الكرك includes the city of Al Karak and 35 other towns and villages 64,850 Al Karak
2 South Mazar Department لواء المزار الجنوبي includes 30 towns and villages 57,191 Mu'tah
3 South Aghwar Department لواء الاغوار الجنوبية includes seven towns and villages 32,446 Safi
4 Al-Qasr Department لواء القصر includes nine towns and villages 20,860 Rabba
5 Ghor Al-Mazra'a Department قضاء غور المزرعة includes six towns and villages 12,743 Ghor Al-Mazra'a
6 Faqou' Department لواء فقوع includes six towns and villages 12,178 Faqou'
7 Aii Department لواء عي includes four towns and villages 9,711 Aii
8 Moab Department قضاء مؤاب includes five towns and villages 9,692 Husseiniya
9 Qatraneh Department لواء القطرانة includes four towns and villages 6,949 Qatraneh
10 Moujeb Department قضاء الموجب includes five towns and villages 5,818 Mugheer
Source: وزارة الداخلية - الأردن Jordanian ministry of interior
Nahias of Karak

References

  1. http://www.sabeq-jordan.org/SABEQ_Public/sabeq_public_master_Arabic.aspx?Site_Id=5&Page_Id=759 Al-Karak
  2. DoS Jordan
  3. Jordan National Census of 2004 Table 3-1
  4. Mutah University
  5. 2004 census

Coordinates: 31°09′53″N 35°45′43″E / 31.16472°N 35.76194°E / 31.16472; 35.76194

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