Amman Governorate

Officially known as Muhafazat al-Asima (Arabic محافظة العاصمة, English translation: The Capital Governorate), Amman Governorate is one of the governorates - locally known as muhafazat - in Jordan. This governorate's capital is the City of Amman, It is also Jordan's capital. The administrative center of the governorate as well as all government offices and parliament are located in the Abdali district.

The Capital Governorate has the largest population of the 12 governorates of Jordan. It borders Zarqa Governorate from the north and north east, the governorates of Balqa and Madaba from the west, Kerak and Ma'an governorates from the south. It also shares an international border with Saudi Arabia from the east.

History

The land covered by the Capital Governorate has been inhabited since the prehistoric age, ruins of civilizations as early as 7250 BC have been discovered at 'Ain Ghazal near Amman, the site itself is one of the largest prehistoric settlements in the Middle East.

Amman was the capital and strong hold of the Ammonites, which they called Rabbath Ammon, the Ammonites ruled almost the entire land of the Capital Govrnorate. After the Romans took control of the region, Amman was renamed as Philadelphia, and was one of the ten Roman Decapolis cities. Following the Arab Muslim conquests, Philadelphia reclaimed the name Amman. The Byzantine site at Umm ar-Rasas was designated as a World Heritage Site in 2004.

Geography

The climate of the Capital Governorate is that of the Eastern Mediterranean climate. However since Amman is located on a hilly plateau, the average annual precipitation and temperature generally may vary significantly from one location to another, even within the city of Amman. For instance, it may be snowing in the Sweileh district which has an elevation of 1050 m above sea level, but cloudy with no rain in the Amman city center, which has an elevation of 780 m. The Capital Governorate is the third largest governorate in Jordan by area, and the largest by population.

Demographics

The Jordan national census of 2004 indicates that the total population of the Capital Governorate was 1,942,066 growing from 1,576,238 in the 1994 census at an average annual growth of 2.1%^[1]. Estimates of the year 2009 put the population at about 2,380,000. However this estimate is based on natural growth rate, and does not take into account the influx of Iraqi refugees after the invasion of Iraq. Other estimates put the population of the Capital Governorate at about 2.5~2.8 millions. The next census is scheduled to be held in 2014.

Administrative Divisions

Article 4 of the administrative divisions system of the Jordanian Ministry of Interior states that the Capital Governorate is divided into nine departments,^[3] five of these departments include the districts of Metropolitan Amman.

Towns and villages

`Abdun, Abu `Alandah, Adh Dhuhaybah, Al `Al, Al `Amiriyah, Al `Arid, Al `Arudah, Al Bahhath, Al Bassah, Al Bunayyat al Janubiyah, Al Bunayyat ash Shamaliyah, Al Hawwasiyah, Al Hummar, Al Jizah, Al Jubayhah, Al Judayyidah, Al Jumayyil, Al Juwayyidah, Al Lubban, Al Mabrak, Al Mahattah, Al Manakhir, Al Mathluthah, Al Muqabalayn, Al Mushaqqar, Al Mushayrifah, Al Mushayrifah, Al Muwaqqar, Al Qartu`iyah, Al Qastal, Al Qunaytirah, Al Qurayyat, Al Quwayjiyah, Al Quwaysimah, Al Yadudah, `Ammuriya, An Naqubah, An Nuwayjis, `Ara`ir, Ar Rabahiyah, Ar Rajib, Ar Riwaq, Ash Shufatah, Ash Shumaysani, Ash Shuqayq, As Samik, As Saqrah, Ath Thughrah, `Atruz, At Tunayb, Barazin, Barzah, Barzah, Bayt Zir`ah, Biddin, Bilal, Buqay` al Qababi`ah, Dab`ah, Dhiban, Dhuhaybah, Dulaylat al Hama'idah, Dulaylat al Mutayrat, Halaq ash Shuqayq, Hawwarah, Hisban, `Iraq al Amir, Jalul, Jawa, Juraynah, Khilda, Khirbat `Assaf, Khirbat as Sahilah, Khirbat Badran, Khirbat Khaww, Khirbat Siran, Khuraybat as Suq, Kufayr Abu Sarbut, Kufayr al Wakhyan, Kufayrat Abu Khinan, Madaba, Ma`in, Manja, Marka, Mukawir, Mulayh, Murayjimat Ibn Hamid, Natl, Na`ur, Qasr al Hallabat, Qubur `Abd Allah, Qurayyat Falhah, Qurayyat Nafi`, Qurayyat Salim, Rujaym Salim, Rujm ash Shami, Rujm ash Shara'irah, Sahab, Shunat Ibn `Adwan, Sufah, Sumiya, Suwaylih, Tabarbawr, Tila` al `Ali, Umm al `Amad, Umm al Birak, Umm al Hanafish, Umm al Kundum, Umm al Qanafidh, Umm ar Rasas, Umm as Summaq, Umm Juraysat, Umm Nuwarah, Umm Qusayr, Umm Qusayr, Umm Rummanah, Umm Shujayrah al Gharbiyah, Umm Zuwaytinah, `Urjan al Gharbiyah, `Urjan ash Sharqiyah, `Uyun adh Dhi'b, Wadi as Sir, Yajuz, Zaba'ir `Udwan, Zuwayza

Education

As of 2010, there were 24 universities and community colleges in the Capital Governorate, the University of Jordan is the oldest university established in the governorate, it is also Jordan's first university,^[5] other universities are the Arab Open University^[6] which is owned and run by the Arab League and Princess Sumaya University for Technology which was named after Princess Sumaya of Jordan.^[7] Petra University was ranked 20th in the Arab World by Webometrics,^[8] Philadelphia University (Jordan) is the largest private university in the Capital Governorate.^[9]

External links

• Maplandia.com

References

1. ^ DOS Jordan 1994 Census
2. ^ Jordan National Census of 2004 Table 3-1
3. ^ Ministry of Interior Administrative Devisions
4. ^ 2004 Census
5. ^ University of Jordan
6. ^ Arabou-jo.edu
7. ^ Princess Sumaya University for Technology
8. ^ University of Petra, Jordan
9. ^ Philadelphia University