North Khorasan Province
استان خراسان شمالی
Province
Location of North Khorasan province in Iran
Location of North Khorasan province in Iran
Coordinates: 37°28′34″N 57°19′54″E / 37.4761°N 57.3317°E / 37.4761; 57.3317
CountryIran
RegionRegion 5
CapitalBojnord
Counties9
Government
 • Governor-generalMohammad-Reza Hossein-Nejad
 • MPs of Assembly of ExpertsGholamreza Fayazi and
Habibollah Mehman Navaz
 • Representative of the Supreme LeaderReza Nouri
Area
 • Total28,434 km2 (10,978 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)[1]
 • Total863,092
 • Density30/km2 (79/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+03:30 (IRST)
Main languagesPersian
Kurdish
Turkmen
Khorasani Turkic
HDI (2017)0.745[2]
high · 29th

North Khorasan Province (Persian: استان خراسان شمالی, Ostān-e Khorāsān-e Shomālī) is one of the 31 provinces of Iran, located in the northeast of the country. The capital of the province is the city of Bojnord. North Khorasan is one of the three provinces that were created after the division of Khorasan in 2004. Khorasan was the largest province of Iran until it was divided into three provinces on September 29, 2004. The provinces approved by the parliament of Iran (on May 18, 2004) and the Council of Guardians (on May 29, 2004) were Razavi Khorasan, North Khorasan, and South Khorasan.

At the time of the National Census of 2006, the population of the province was 791,930 in 198,626 households.[3] The following census in 2011 counted 867,727 people in 240,885 households.[4] In 2014 it was placed in Region 5.[5] At the time of the most recent census in 2016, the population had dropped slightly to 863,092 in 254,747 households.[1]

History

Greater Khorasan has witnessed the rise and fall of many dynasties and governments in its territory throughout history. Various tribes of Persians, Arabs, Turks, Kurds and Turkmens have brought change to the region time and time again. [6] Ancient geographers of Iran divided Iran into eight segments, of which the largest was the territory of Greater Khorasan. Esfarayen, among other cities of the province, was one of the focal points for settlement by Aryan tribes entering Iran.

The Parthian empire was based near Merv in Khorasan for many years. In Parthian times, Esfarayen was one of the important villages of Nishapur.

During the Sassanid dynasty, the province was governed by a Spahbod (Lieutenant General) called "Padgoosban" and four margraves, each commander of one of the four parts of the province.

In the year 651, the army of Islamic Arabs invaded Khorasan. The territory remained in the hands of the Abbasid clan until 820, followed by the rule of the Iranian Taherid clan in the year 896 and the Samanid dynasty in 900. Khorasan was divided into four parts during the Muslim conquest of Persia, each section being named after the four largest cities; Nishapur, Merv, Herat, and Balkh.

Mahmud of Ghazni conquered Khorasan in 994 and in the year 1037 Tuğrul Beg, the first of the Seljuq empire rulers, conquered Nishapur.

Mahmud Qaznavi retaliated against the invaders several times, and finally, the Qaznavi Turks defeated Sultan Sanjar. But there was more to come, as in 1157 Khorasan was conquered by the Khwarazmids. In 1220 was annexed by the Mongols of Genghis Khan. When in 1226 the great conqueror finally died, Khorasan was inherited by his son Tolui and then by Tolui's son Hulegu, the first emperor of the Mongolic Ilkhanate of Persia.

In the 14th century, a flag of independence was hoisted by the Sarbedaran movement in Sabzevar, and in 1368, Khorasan came into the hands of Tamerlane.

In 1507, Khorasan was occupied by Uzbek tribes. After the death of Nader Shah in 1747, it was occupied by the Afghans.

In 1824, Herat became independent for several years when the Afghan Empire was split between the Durranis and Barakzais. The Persians sieged the city in 1837, but the British assisted the Afghans in repelling them. In 1856, the Persians launched another invasion, and briefly managed to recapture the city; it led directly to the Anglo-Persian War. In 1857 hostilities between the Persians and the British ended after the Treaty of Paris was signed, and the Persian troops withdrew from Herat.[7] Afghanistan reconquered Herat in 1863 under Dost Muhammad Khan, two weeks before his death.[8]

Administrative divisions

North Khorasan Province Population History
Administrative Divisions2006[3]2011[4]2016[1]
Bam and Safiabad County1———
Bojnord County322,309365,896324,083
Esfarayen County119,152127,012120,513
Faruj County48,74352,36449,271
Garmeh County2—24,59925,475
Jajarm County57,34936,89836,673
Maneh County3———
Raz and Jargalan County4——59,210
Samalqan County591,884103,944101,727
Shirvan County152,493157,014146,140
Total791,930867,727863,092
1Separated from Esfarayen County[9]
2Separated from Jajarm County[10]
3Separated from Maneh and Samalqan County[11]
4Separated from Bojnord County[12]
5Formerly Maneh and Samalqan County[11]

Cities

According to the 2016 census, 484,346 people (over 56% of the population of North Khorasan province) live in the following cities: Ashkhaneh 25,104, Ava 3,993, Bojnord 228,931, Chenaranshahr 3,380, Daraq 4,926, Eivar 3,994, Esfarayen 59,490, Faruj 12,061, Garmeh 10,933, Hesar-e Garmkhan 1,499, Jajarm 19,580, Lujali 1,481, Pish Qaleh 2,001, Qazi 2,428, Qushkhaneh 996, Raz 5,029, Safiabad 3,427, Sankhvast 2,077, Shirvan 82,689, Shoqan 2,313, Titkanlu 3,835, and Ziarat 4,179.[1]

North Khorasan today

North Khorasan province is one of the most diverse territories in Iran today, largely reflecting the ethnic make-up of Iran. Most people in North Khorasan are Shia Muslims, who are often Khorasani Kurds, Persians, Khorasani Turks and so on, although there is also a small minority of Sunnis who generally are Turkmen.[13][14] There used to be a sizeable population of Lurs inhabiting this province, however, most returned to their native area in western Iran as there are no signs of them in the province today.[15]

Previously, there used to be a sizeable community of Arabs who settled in the area during the Arab invasion of Iran. However, by 1875 they had intermarried so extensively with Persians and Turks that they were indistinguishable, having largely abandoned the Arab language and culture in favour of the local one.[16]

Culture

Jalalal-din castle in Jajarm

Attractions

This province contains many historical and natural attractions, such as mineral water springs, small lakes, recreational areas, caves, and protected regions, and various hiking areas. Most of the historical relics are from the Qajar era, as earthquakes continue to ravage older relics.

The Cultural Heritage Organization of Iran lists 1,179 sites of historical and cultural significance in all three provinces of Khorasan.

Some of the popular attractions of North Khorasan are:

Colleges and universities

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1395 (2016)". AMAR (in Persian). The Statistical Center of Iran. p. 28. Archived from the original (Excel) on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  2. ↑ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
  3. 1 2 "Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1385 (2006)". AMAR (in Persian). The Statistical Center of Iran. p. 28. Archived from the original (Excel) on 20 September 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1390 (2011)" (Excel). Iran Data Portal (in Persian). The Statistical Center of Iran. p. 28. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  5. ↑ "همشهری آنلاین-استان‌های کشور به ۵ منطقه تقسیم شدند (Provinces were divided into 5 regions)". Hamshahri Online (in Persian). 22 June 2014 [1 Tir 1393, Jalaali]. Archived from the original on 23 June 2014.
  6. ↑ http://cskk.org/en/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=7
  7. ↑ Avery, Peter; Hambly, Gavin; Melville, Charles, eds. (1991). The Cambridge History of Iran (Vol. 7): From Nadir Shah to the Islamic Republic. Cambridge University Press. pp. 183, 394–395. ISBN 978-0521200950.
  8. ↑ Ewans (2002). Afghanistan: A short History of its People and Politics. Perennial. pp. 77. ISBN 006-050508-7.
  9. ↑ "Explaining the details of changes in country divisions in North Khorasan". Mehr News (in Persian). Ministry of Interior, Board of Ministers. 12 February 2023. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  10. ↑ Davoodi, Parviz (28 July 1387). "Divisional changes and reforms in North Khorasan province". Laws and Regulations Portal of the Islamic Republic of Iran (in Persian). Ministry of Interior, Cabinet of Ministers. Archived from the original on 7 January 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  11. 1 2 Mokhbar, Mohammad (7 August 2023). "Approval letter regarding country divisions in North Khorasan and Golestan provinces". RRK (in Persian). Ministry of Interior, Board of Ministers. Archived from the original on 9 August 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  12. ↑ Rahimi, Mohammad Reza (29 September 2013). "Distributional changes in North Khorasan province". Laws and Regulations Portal of the Islamic Republic of Iran (in Persian). Ministry of Interior, Cabinet of Ministers. Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  13. ↑ Surveying and measurement plan of indicators of public culture of the country: North Khorasan Province, publication 2012 (National Bibliography Number: 2879739) Retrieved 10 December 2017
  14. ↑ Shia and Sunni people of North Khorasan Province showed their empathy and sympathy to the world Retrieved 10 December 2017
  15. ↑ The ethnic groups in Northern Khorasan, "", accessed in March 2014.
  16. ↑ "C. M. MacGregor, Narrative of a Journey through the Province of Khorassan, London, 1879, p. 141 ", accessed in March 2014.
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