| Coordinates | 34°14′19″N108°21′52″N |
|---|---|
| Official name | Irbid City, Jordan |
| Other name | Arabella |
| Native name | مدينة إربد |
| Nickname | Bride of the North in Arabic: عروس الشمال |
| Settlement type | City |
| Pushpin map | Jordan |
| Coordinates region | JO |
| Subdivision type | Country |
| Subdivision name | Jordan |
| Subdivision type1 | Province |
| Subdivision name1 | Irbid Governorate |
| Government type | Municipality |
| Leader title | Mayor |
| Leader name | Abdel Ra'ouf Al Tal |
| Established title | Founded |
| Established date | 5000 B.C. |
| 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 |
| Timezone dst | +3 |
| Area code | +(962)2 |
| Elevation m | 620 |
| Elevation ft | 2034 |
| Elevation footnotes | |
| Website | http://www.irbid.gov.jo/ |
Irbid (), known in ancient times as Arabella or Arbela , is the capital and largest city of the Irbid Governorate. It also has the second largest metropolitan population in Jordan after Amman, 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.
The city of Irbid is the third largest city in Jordan by population (after Amman and Zarqa). Metropolitan Irbid is the second largest. The province of Irbid Governorate 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.
After the Muslim conquests, it came under the rule of the Muslim Empire, the city became known as Irbid, and shifted 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.
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.
{| class="wikitable" |- ! ! District ! ! District ! ! District |- | 1 |Al-Taybeh | 9 | Soom | 17 | Murow |- ا hatim (حاتم العودات ) | 2 |Al Husn | 10 | Hakama | 18 | Mughayer |- | 3 | Al-Rabia | 11 | Hashemiyah | 19 | Naser |- | 4 | Al-Sareeh | 12 | Hawar | 20 | Rowdah |- | 5 | Barha | 13 | Huwwarah | 21 | Sal Area |- | 6 | Beit Ras | 14 | Kitim | 22 | Nu'aimah |- | 7 | Bushra | 15 | Kufr Jayez | 23 | Nuzha |- | 8 | Edun | 16 | Manarah ( hatim ) | |17 |}tqbal
district]] shopping center in Irbid]]
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,kufr_Asad (كفرأسد) Al Omari family ..North of Irbid , Kufraan(كفرعان), Jumha, Kufryuba, Zahar, Qum, Sammou', Izmal, Kufrelma, Sawm, Saydoor, kufersoom, Sama al-Rousan (سما الروسان), Ibser Abu Ali, Assarieh, Aidoon, Al Hisn, Baleela, Kitim, Beit Ras(بيت راس), Dowgarah, En-Nu`aymeh, Habaka, Houfa Al-Westiyyah, Qumaim, Huwwarah, Imrawah, Ramtha, Sal, Samad, Shajara, Turrah, hatim (حاتم العودات ), melka, foauta , Zoubia, Rehaba, Kharja, Dair yousef, Dair abos'eed, Dair yosef, kufor kefia, summer, e'nbeh, Bayt Yafa (بيت يافا) Dair Esse'neh (دير السعنة), Mandah, Marw قرية مرو الصامدة Zabda, as well as the town of Malka (ملكا), Bait Idis (بيت ايدس).
Category:Populated places in Jordan Category:Irbid Governorate Category:Palestinian refugee camps in Jordan
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