Karak Governorate

Karak (Arabic: الكرك) is one of the governorates of Jordan, located south-west of Amman, Jordan's capital. Its capital is Al-Karak. It s bordered by Madaba and the Capital governorates to the north, Ma'an Governorate to the east, Tafilah Governorate to the south, and the Dead Sea to the west.

Karak Governorate
محافظة الكرك
Karak Governorate within Jordan.
Karak Governorate within Jordan.
CountryJordan
CapitalAl Karak
Area
  Total3,495 km2 (1,349 sq mi)
Population
 (2012)
  Total249,100
  Density71/km2 (180/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2
  Summer (DST)+3
Area code+(962)3
HDI (2017)0.733[1]
high · 5th

History

Ancient history

The land of Karak Governorate was the home of the Kingdom of Moab, during the first millennium 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 territory came under Persian rule, then the Nabateans took control of it, until the Romans invaded the Levant and occupied their capital, Petra. In the 4th century, a Roman legion, the Legio IV Martia, had a headquarter fortress at Betthorus (now el-Lejjun) in Karak.[2] Around 530 the Byzantine Empire established a vassal state ruled by the Ghassanids. The city of Mu'tah was the site of the first clash between the Muslim Arabs under Muhammad and the Byzantines at the Battle of Mu'tah in 629 AD.

The Kerak crusader castle in Al Karak is one of the largest castles in the Levant region

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, and then later under the Emirate of Transjordan. After the creation of the administrative governorates system in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Karak became a governorate on 16 January 1966,[3] 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.[4][5] Muslim form the majority of the Karak Governorate with 70% of its total population and Christians are 30% of its population. Karak presents a practical model of peaceful coexistence between Muslim and Christians. The next census is scheduled for 2014

Demographics of Karak Governorate2004 Census [6]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

The population of districts according to census results:[7]

DistrictPopulation
(Census 1994)
Population
(Census 2004)
Population
(Census 2015)
Karak Governorate169,770204,185316,629
Al-Āghwār al-Janūbī...32,44654,867
Al-Mazār al-Janūbī42,24857,19195,124
Al-Qaṣr16,58720,86029,407
Al-Qaṭrāneh...6,94910,896
'Ayy...9,7118,152
Faqū'e10,08412,17816,806
Qaṣabah al-Karak...64,850101,377

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.[8]

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
Capital Department
Sauth Mazar Department
South Mazar Department
South Aghwar Department
South Aghwar Department
Qaser Department
Qasr Department
Gour Al-Mazra'a Department
Ghor Al-Mazra'a Department

Department Arabic name Areas Population [9] Administrative Center

Faqou' Department
Faqou' Department
Aii Department
Aii Department
Moab Department
Moab Department
Qatraneh Department
Qatraneh Department
Moujeb Department
Moujeb Department

1Capital Department (Al-Qasabah)لواء قصبة الكركincludes the city of Al Karak and 35 other towns and villages64,850Al Karak
2South Mazar Departmentلواء المزار الجنوبيincludes 30 towns and villages57,191Mu'tah
3South Aghwar Departmentلواء الاغوار الجنوبيةincludes seven towns and villages32,446Safi
4Al-Qasr Departmentلواء القصرincludes nine towns and villages20,860Rabba
5Ghor Al-Mazra'a Departmentقضاء غور المزرعةincludes six towns and villages12,743Ghor Al-Mazra'a
6Faqou' Departmentلواء فقوعincludes six towns and villages12,178Faqou'
7Aii Departmentلواء عيincludes four towns and villages9,711Aii
8Moab Departmentقضاء مؤابincludes five towns and villages9,692Husseiniya
9Qatraneh Departmentلواء القطرانةincludes four towns and villages6,949Qatraneh
10Moujeb Departmentقضاء الموجبincludes five towns and villages5,818Mugheer
Source: وزارة الداخلية - الأردن Jordanian ministry of interior

References

  1. "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
  2. S. Thomas Parker, 2016, "Forty Years with ACOR", ACOR Newsletter vol 28.2 Winter 2016, page 9;G. Lankester Harding, 1959, The Antiquities of Jordan, p. 50.
  3. "Karak Governorate". moi.gov.jo. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
  4. http://www.sabeq-jordan.org/SABEQ_Public/sabeq_public_master_Arabic.aspx?Site_Id=5&Page_Id=759 Archived 2011-07-27 at the Wayback Machine Al-Karak
  5. DoS Jordan
  6. Jordan National Census of 2004 Table 3-1 Archived 2011-07-22 at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Jordan: Administrative Division, Governorates and Districts". citypopulation.de. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  8. Mutah University
  9. 2004 census Archived 2011-07-22 at the Wayback Machine

31°09′53″N 35°45′43″E

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