Irbid

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Irbid City
native_name = مدينة إربد
nickname = Bride of the North (عروس الشمال)

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imagesize = 250px
image_caption =


pushpin_

pushpin_label_position =
subdivision_type =Country
subdivision_name = Jordan
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = Irbid Governorate
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Abdel Ra'ouf Al Tal
area_magnitude = 1 E8
area_metro_km2 = 410
area_metro_sq_mi = 158.30
population_as_of = 2004
population_total = 292,040
population_metro = 650,000
population_footnotes = [ [http://www.irbid.gov.jo/ بلدية اربد الكبرى::الصفحة الرئيسية ] ] [http://world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&dat=32&geo=-110&srt=npan&col=aohdq&pt=c&va=&srt=pnan] |timezone =GMT +2
utc_offset =
timezone_DST = +3
latd=32 |latm=33 |lats=0 |latNS=N
longd=35 |longm=51 |longs=0 |longEW=E
area_code = +(962)2
elevation_m = 620
elevation_ft = 2034
elevation_footnotes = [ [http://i-cias.com/e.o/irbid.htm Irbid ] ]
website = http://www.irbid.gov.jo/

Irbid ( _ar. إربد), known in ancient times as Arabella, is The capital and largest city of the Irbid Governorate, it is also the third largest city in Jordan 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 the seat of the Irbid Governorate. While Irbid is the third largest city in Jordan in terms of population, the population of the governorate of Irbid (which includes the city of Irbid and surrounding cities and villages) is the second largest. The city has a bustling community and is a major ground transportation hub between Amman, Syria to the north, and Mafraq to the east. Irbid is nicknamed as (عروس الشمال)'Arus asShamaal (Bride of the North) because of its beauty and its location in the north of Jordan.

The Irbid region is also home to several colleges and universities, of which the two most prominent are Jordan University of Science and Technology and Yarmouk University.

History

Artifacts and graves in the area show that Irbid has been inhabited since the Bronze Age. 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, with the moderate climate allowing the growing of high quality grapes.

In the Hellenistic period, it was a major trade center and the birthplace of Nittai of Arbela.

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 Battle of Yarmouk, a decisive battle across 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.

Present-day

Irbid today combines the bustle of a provincial Middle Eastern town and the youthful nightlife of a typical college town, while being less affected by the urbanization and growth that have impacted larger cities such as Amman. Fact|date=June 2007

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. 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. University Street is also well-known because it is less than 1 km long but has more than 130 Internet cafés, making it number one in the world in Internet cafés by densityFact|date=March 2007. 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 hosted the 1999 Pan Arab Games.

Districts of Greater Irbid Municipality

Irbid is divided into 23 administrative units, unlike the United States, where the smallest standard administrative unit is the county, in Jordan there are many types of administrative units, like Nahias, Qadha's, and city districts.

Education

Irbid is an educational city, there are 70,000 registered students in Irbid's 10 universities and colleges, of whom 8000 are international students from 47 countries (2007). The biggest universities in Irbid are Yarmouk University and Jordan University of Science and Technology. [ [http://www.sabeq-jordan.org/SABEQ_Public/sabeq_public_master_Arabic.aspx?Site_Id=6&Page_Id=769 تقرير الخط الاساسي الاقتصادي لاربد-2007 ] ] This high concentration of higher education institutions played a key role in carving a unique identity of the city, for example the University Street has the highest number of internet cafes in the world. Fast food business also flourished in the city.Although the number of academic institutions is high in the city, it is still lacking the cooperation between the universities and the different economical sects for research and development. As indicated by the no presence of any effective research and development center existing in Irbid.

ports

As of 2008, There are 22 cultural and sport clubs registered in Irbid, some of them play in the Jordanian football premiere league. For the year 2008, the Irbid-based club Al-Hussein Irbid was ranked forth in the Jordanian football premier league. Its home matches are held in Prince Hasan Youth City's stadium.

External links

* [http://www.irbid.gov.jo/ Greater Irbid Municipality]
* [http://www.daleelirbid.com/ Irbid Guide]
* [http://www.irbidnews.com/ Irbid News]
* [http://www.just.edu.jo/ Jordan University of Science and Technology]
* [http://www.yu.edu.jo/ Yarmouk University]
* [http://www.inu.edu.jo/ Irbid University]
*Irbid Governorate
* [http://www.ruhhal.co.cc/ Al Jamal Student Housing]

References