Zarqa Governorate (محافظة الزرقاء)
Governorate
Zarqa Governorate
Country	Jordan
Subdivisions	3  - Capital Department  - Russeifa Department  - Hashemiyya Department
Cities	Russeifa, Azraq
Capital	Zarqa
- coordinates	32°05′0″N 36°06′0″E / 32.083333°N 36.1°E / 32.083333; 36.1
Area	4,761.3 km2 (1,838 sq mi)
Population	910,800 (2010)
Density	191.3 / km2 (495 / sq mi)
Governor	Hamid Alsheyyab
Timezone	GMT +2
- summer (DST)	+3
Area code	+(962)5
Urban	94.5%
Rural	5.5%
Website: http://www.zarqa.gov.jo

The Zarqa River

Zarqa Governorate(Arabic محافظة الزرقاء Muħāfazat az-Zarqāʔ, local dialects ez-Zergā or ez-Zer'a) is the third largest governorate in Jordan by population. The capital of Zarqa governorate is Zarqa City, which is the largest city in the governorate. It is located 25 km east of the Jordanian capital Amman. The second largest city in the governorate is Russeifa.

Zarqa Governorte hosts the largest military and air bases for the Jordan armed forces in the kingdom.

History[link]

The city of Russeifa

The wetlands in Azraq

The Castle of Azraq

The Nabatean Palace Qasr al Hallabat

Qasr Amra, A World Heritage Site

The land of Zarqa Governorate has been inhabited since the Bronze Age, most prominent were the Ammonite kingdom and the Nabateans, who constructed the fort known as Qasr al Hallabat, which then was used as a fort by the Romans, and then as a desert palace by the Umayyads. The most significant historical remains are the Umayyad desert palaces, such as Qasr Amra, a World Heritage site, Qasr al Hallabat, Qasr Shabib in the center of the city of Zarqa, as well as the Castle of Azraq.

After the construction of the Hedjaz railway by the Ottoman Turks at the beginning of the 1900's, Zarqa became a strategically important hub that connects Damascus to Medina, the cities along the railway started flourishing. Later, Jordan's Arab Legion led by Glubb Pasha had its main bases in Zarqa.

Geography[link]

Zarqa Governorate borders Mafraq Governorate from the north and north east, Amman Governorate from the south and south west, Jerash and Balqa Governorates from the west. It also shares an international border with Saudi Arabia in its south eastern edge. Most of the area covered by the governorate constitutes part of the Syrian desert plateau. the heavily populated western regions of the governorate constitute part of the Zarqa River basin. The two cities of Zarqa and Russeifa are the second and fourth largest cities in Jordan.

Demographics[link]

The census of 2004 shows that the population of Zarqa Governorate for that year was 727,268 of whom 94.5% is considered urban population and 5.5% is a rural population. Jordanian citizens made up 97% of the population. The female to male ratio was 46% to 54%. The Jordanian Department of Statistics population estimate for the year 2010 is 910,800 with a female to male ratio of 48.25 to 51.75 and a population density of 191.3 persons per Km²

Administrative Divisions[link]

A Jordanian F-16 in the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Azraq

Zarqa Governorate is divided into three departments:

Economy[link]

Due to its close location to the populated cities in Jordan, Zarqa Governorate has the largest number of factories in Jordan, Jordan's only oil refinery plant is located in zarqa.

The largest air base in the country, Muwaffaq Salti Air Base is located in Azraq. Zarqa Governorate hosts three universities, Hashemite University^[3], Al-Balqa` Applied University-Zarqa College ^[4], and Zarqa Private University ^[5].

References[link]

1. ^ Jordan National Census of 2004 Table 3-1
2. ^ 2004 Census
3. ^ Hashemite University
4. ^ Al-Balqa' Applied University
5. ^ Zarqa Private University

	Jerash Governorate Balqa Governorate	Mafraq Governorate
	Amman Governorate		Mafraq Governorate
		Zarqa Governorate    East
			Al Jawf Province

v t e Governorates of Jordan North Region Irbid Jerash Ajloun Mafraq Central Region Amman Balqa Zarqa Madaba South Region Aqaba Karak Ma'an Tafilah files Dictionary Books Quotes Resources Portal

This Jordanian location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

Coordinates: 31°50′N 36°50′E / 31.833°N 36.833°E / 31.833; 36.833

Zarqa City مدينة الزرقاء az-Zarqāʔ
—  City  —
A view from Zarqa city center
Zarqa City Location in Jordan
Coordinates: 32°05′N 36°06′E / 32.083°N 36.1°E / 32.083; 36.1
Country	Jordan
Governorate	Zarqa Governorate
Settled	1902
Municipality	1929
Government
• Type	Municipality
• Mayor	Muhammed Al-Gweri
Area
• Total	20 sq mi (60 km2)
Elevation	2,031 ft (619 m)
Population (2004)
• Total	395,227
Time zone	UTC+2 (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (UTC+3)
Area code(s)	+(962)5
Website	http://www.zm.gov.jo

Az-Zarqāʔ (Arabic: الزرقاء‎; BGN: Az Zarqāʼ; local pronunciation ez-Zergā, ez-Zer'a, or ez-Zarka) is a city in Jordan located to the northeast of Amman. Zarqa is the capital of Zarqa Governorate (Arabic محافظة الزرقاء Muħāfazat az-Zarqā). Its name means "the blue one".

Geography[link]

Zarqa is Jordan's industrial centre, located in the zarqa River basin, is home to over 50% of Jordanian factories. The growth of industry in the city is the result of low real estate costs and proximity to the capital, Amman, situated only 25 km south west of Zarqa. Although inhabited since the first century A.D., the city of Zarqa was established by immigrants from the Caspian Sea region at the beginning of the twentieth century, initially on the banks of the Zarqa River, the population grew steadily with the construction of the Hejaz railway by the ottomans. The bases of the Jordanian army, formerly called the Arab Legion, were located in Zarqa.

History[link]

The zarqa train station of the Ottoman-built Hejaz Railway

The Zarqa Trade Center

The first settlement in the city was in 1902 by Chechen immigrants who were displaced from the wars between the Ottoman and Russian Empires. They settled along the Zarqa River. At that time a station on the Hejaz railway was built in the new settlement, this railway station turned Zarqa into an important hub. On April 10, 1905 the Ottoman governor issued a decree that allowed the Chechen immigrants to own lands which they settled on. The population then quickly grew in size. On November 18, 1928 the new Jordanian government issued a decree to establish the first municipal council for Zarqa.

After the Transjordan Frontier Force was formed in 1926, military bases were constructed in the city by the British army, and the city later became known as the "military city".^[1] The headquarters of Jordan's Arab Legion was in Zarqa.

Demographics[link]

With an estimated metropolitan population of about 700,000 in 2010, Zarqa has the third largest metropolitan population in Jordan after Amman and Irbid, whilst the city of Zarqa has the second largest population after Amman with a population of about 500,000.

Districts of Greater Zarqa Municipality[link]

A view from Zarqa city center

The Engineering Building in Zarqa Private University

The city of Zarqa is divided into five districts that all together have an area of about 60 km², and another two districts within the radius of influence of the city.

Economy and Infrastructure[link]

The Amman-Zarqa highway

In Zarqa city centre at night

A residential neighborhood in Zarqa

Transportation[link]

Zarqa is connected by the Hejaz railway to Amman to the south and to Syria to the north. A new railway is currently under construction to connect Amman with Zarqa. Zarqa lies on the international highway that connects Saudi Arabia with Syria, and on the international Amman-Baghdad highway.

Industry[link]

Several facilities that are vital to Jordan's economy are based in Zarqa, such as Jordan's only oil refinery plant. According to the Zarqa Chamber of Commerce, 10% of Jordan's total exports in 2011 came from Zarqa Governorate amounting to more than 512 million US$. ^[2] Leather and Garment products constituted about 52% of Zarqa'a exports, followed by chemical, agricultural and pharmaceutical products.

Education[link]

There are three universities in Zarqa, the largest of which is Hashemite University, other community colleges and research centers are based in Zarqa such as the Al-Zarqa Educational & Investment: Hashemite University,^[3] Al-Balqa` Applied University-Zarqa College,^[4] and Zarqa Private University.

See also[link]

Jordan portal

• Railway stations in Jordan
• Abu Musab al-Zarqawi

References[link]

External links[link]

• Zarqa Discussion Forum (Arabic)

Coordinates: 32°05′N 36°06′E / 32.083°N 36.1°E / 32.083; 36.1

v t e Governorates of Jordan North Region Irbid Jerash Ajloun Mafraq Central Region Amman Balqa Zarqa Madaba South Region Aqaba Karak Ma'an Tafilah files Dictionary Books Quotes Resources Portal