Razavi Khorasan province

Province of Iran From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Razavi Khorasan provincemap

Razavi Khorasan province (Persian: استان خراسان رضوی)[a] is one of the 31 provinces of Iran, located in northeastern Iran. Its capital is the city of Mashhad, the second-most-populous city in Iran.[5]

Quick Facts Persian: استان خراسان رضوی, Country ...
Razavi Khorasan Province
Persian: استان خراسان رضوی
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From top to bottom and from left to right: Mashhad, Nishapur, Kalat, Chenaran, Sabzevar, Sarakhs, and Kashmar
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Location of Khorasan-e Razavi province within Iran
Coordinates: 35°47′N 58°42′E[1]
CountryIran
RegionRegion 5
CapitalMashhad
Counties34
Government
  Governor-generalGholam Hossein Mozaffari (Reformist)
Area
  Total
118,884 km2 (45,901 sq mi)
Highest elevation3,211 m (10,535 ft)
Lowest elevation299 m (981 ft)
Population
 (2016)[2]
  Total
6,434,501
  Estimate 
(2020)
6,871,000[3]
  Density54/km2 (140/sq mi)
DemonymKhorasani (Persian: خراسانی)
Time zoneUTC+03:30 (IRST)
Area code051
ISO 3166 codeIR-09
Main language(s)Persian
HDI (2017)0.781[4]
high · 19th
Websitehttp://ostandari.khorasan.ir/
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Razavi Khorasan is one of the three provinces that were created after the division of Khorasan Province in 2004. In 2014, it was placed in Region 5[6] with Mashhad as the location of the region's secretariat.

History

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Perspective

The Greater Khorasan has witnessed the rise and fall of many dynasties and governments in its territory throughout history. Various tribes of the Arabs, Turks, Kurds and Turkmens brought changes to the region time and time again.[7]

Ancient geographers of Iran divided Iran ("Ērānshahr") into eight segments of which the most flourishing and largest was the territory of Greater Khorasan. Esfarayen, among other cities of the province, was one of the focal points for residence of the Aryan tribes after entering Iran.

The Parthian Empire was based near Merv in Khorasan for many years. During the Sassanid dynasty, the province was governed by a Spahbod (Lieutenant General) called "Padgošban" and four margraves, each commander of one of the four parts of the province.

Khorasan was divided into four parts during the Muslim conquest of Persia, each section being named after one of the four largest cities, Nishapur, Merv, Herat, and Balkh.

In the year 651, the army of the Rashidun Caliphate conquered Khorasan. The territory remained under the rule of the Abbasid Caliphate until 820, followed by the rule of the Iranian Tahirid dynasty until 873, and the Samanid dynasty in 900.

Khorasan was the largest province of Iran until it was divided into three provinces on 29 September 2004. The provinces approved by the parliament of Iran (on 18 May 2004) and the Council of Guardians (on 29 May 2004) were Khorasan-e Razavi, North Khorasan, and South Khorasan.

Demographics

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Ethnicity

The major ethnic group in this region are Persians, there are other sizeable communities such as Khorasani Kurds, Khorasani Turks, Turkmens and Khorasani Baloch.[8]

Population

At the time of the 2006 National Census, the province's population was 5,515,980 in 1,426,187 households.[9] The following census in 2011 counted 5,994,402 people in 1,716,314 households.[10] The 2016 census measured the population of the province as 6,434,501 in 1,938,703 households.[2]

Administrative divisions

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The population history and structural changes of Razavi Khorasan province's administrative divisions over three consecutive censuses are shown in the following table.

More information Counties ...
Razavi Khorasan Province
Counties2006[9]2011[10]2016[2]
Bajestan[b]30,66431,207
Bakharz[c]53,58254,615
Bardaskan68,39272,62675,631
Chenaran108,533125,601155,013
Dargaz73,43974,32672,355
Davarzan[d]21,911
Fariman86,42893,93099,001
Firuzeh[e]42,73937,539
Golbahar[f]
Gonabad106,15880,78388,753
Joghatai[g]47,92049,175
Joveyn[g]54,13954,488
Kalat39,56038,23236,237
Kashmar146,536157,149168,664
Khaf108,964121,859138,972
Khalilabad44,99349,11151,701
Khoshab[h]37,91437,181
Kuhsorkh[i]
Mahvelat47,06848,90051,409
Mashhad2,848,6373,069,9413,372,660
Miyan Jolgeh[j]
Nishapur441,184433,105451,780
Quchan179,613179,714174,495
Roshtkhar57,24760,63260,689
Sabzevar429,187319,893306,310
Salehabad[k]
Sarakhs85,52489,95697,519
Sheshtamad[l]
Taybad143,205108,424117,564
Torbat-e Heydarieh261,917210,390224,626
Torbat-e Jam239,395262,712267,671
Torqabeh and Shandiz[m][n]58,48369,640
Zaveh[o]71,67767,695
Zeberkhan[p]
Total5,515,9805,994,4026,434,501
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Cities

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Mashhad
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Nishapur
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Sabzevar
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Torbat-e Heydarieh

According to the 2016 census, 4,700,924 people (over 72% of the population of Razavi Khorasan province) live in the following cities:[2]

More information City, Population ...
CityPopulation
Ahmadabad-e Sowlat8,326
Anabad6,186
Bajestan11,741
Bajgiran594
Bakharz9,044
Bar3,765
Bardaskan28,233
Bayg3,545
Bidokht5,501
Chapeshlu2,374
Chekneh1,381
Chenaran53,879
Dargaz36,762
Darrud5,717
Davarzan2,744
Dowlatabad9,329
Eshqabad1,993
Farhadgerd8,442
Fariman39,515
Feyzabad18,120
Firuzeh5,884
Golbahar36,877
Golmakan8,373
Gonabad40,773
Hemmatabad1,274
Jangal6,650
Joghatai9,268
Kadkan3,719
Kakhk4,625
Kalat7,687
Kariz11,102
Kashmar102,282
Khaf33,189
Khalilabad12,751
Kharv13,535
Kondor6,460
Lotfabad1,865
Mashhad2,987,323
Mashhad Rizeh10,105
Mazdavand1,241
Molkabad2,056
Nashtifan9,176
Nasrabad7,460
Neqab14,783
Nilshahr7,371
Nishapur264,375
Now Khandan2,634
Qadamgah3,010
Qalandarabad4,880
Qasemabad5,145
Quchan101,604
Razaviyeh8,850
Rivash5,687
Robat-e Sang1,551
Roshtkhar7,514
Rud Ab4,028
Sabzevar243,700
Salami7,555
Salehabad8,625
Sangan12,443
Sarakhs42,179
Sefid Sang6,129
Shadmehr3,825
Shahrabad2,083
Shahr-e Zow3,745
Shandiz13,987
Sheshtomad3,108
Soltanabad5,932
Taybad56,562
Torbat-e Heydarieh140,019
Torbat-e Jam100,449
Torqabeh20,998
Yunesi3,426
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The following sorted table lists the most populous cities in Razavi Khorasan according to 2016 Census results announced by Statistical Center of Iran.[2] After Mashhad, Nishapur, Sabzevar, and Torbat-e Heydarieh are the most populous cities of the province.

More information Rank, City ...
Most Populous Urban Areas in Razavi Khorasan Province[2]
Rank City County Population
1 Mashhad Mashhad 2,987,323
2 Nishapur Nishapur 264,375
3 Sabzevar Sabzevar 243,700
4 Torbat-e Heydarieh Torbat-e Heydarieh 140,019
5 Kashmar Kashmar 102,282
6 Quchan Quchan 101,604
7 Torbat-e Jam Torbat-e Jam 100,449
8 Taybad Taybad 56,562
9 Chenaran Chenaran 53,879
10 Sarakhs Sarakhs 42,179
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Archaeological sites

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Tomb of Ferdowsi

The main archeological sites discovered in this province include:

Kohandezh hills

Excavations conducted by an American team between 1935 and 1940 in Nishapur discovered museum-worthy objects, which were shared with the government of the Shah. The Metropolitan Museum of Art's publications[citation needed] document its own Nishapur ceramics from those excavations. For half a century after 1945 the site of Nishapur was ransacked to feed the international market demand for early Islamic works of art. Nowadays, the Kohandezh hills reveal the remains from those excavations.[citation needed]

Shadiyakh

Shadiyakh was an important palace in old Nishapur up to the 7th century, and became more important and populated after that. The palace was completely ruined in the 13th century. It was the home of notables such as Farid al-Din Attar, whose tomb is found in Shadiyakh.

Attractions

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Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad

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.

Besides these, Khorasan encompasses numerous religious buildings and places of pilgrimage, including the shrine of Imam Reza, Goharshad mosque and many other mausoleums and Imamzadehs which attract visitors to this province.

The Cultural Heritage of Iran lists 1179 sites of historical and cultural significance in all three provinces of Khorasan.

Some of the popular attractions of Khorasan-e Razavi are:

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Tomb of Ferdowsi in Mashhad

Mashhad

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Mausoleum of Omar Khayyám in Nishapur

Nishapur

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Tomb of Hadi Sabzevari in Sabzevar

Sabzevar

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Jameh Mosque of Kashmar in Kashmar
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Atashgah Castle in Kashmar

Kashmar

Khalilabad

  • Jameh Mosque of Khalilabad
  • Kondor castle
  • Kondor Ab anbars

Torbat-e Jam

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Qanats of Gonabad in Gonabad

Gonabad

Sarakhs

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Aliabad Tower in Bardaskan
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Firuzabad Tower in Bardaskan

Bardaskan

Bajestan

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Abbasabad Complex Taybad in Taybad

Taybad

Rivash

  • Qal'eh Dokhtar, Kuhsorkh
  • Nameq Village
  • Shahi Dam
  • Gabar Hesar castle
  • Baghdasht Peak
  • Band-e Qara Bathhouse
  • Natural Yakhchāl of Band-e Qara

Colleges and universities

See also

Media related to Razavi Khorasan Province at Wikimedia Commons

Notes

  1. Also romanized as Ostân-e Xorâsân-e Razavi; also خراسان مرکزی, romanized as Xorâsân-e Markazi; English: Central Khorasan Province
  2. Separated from Gonabad County after the 2006 census[11]
  3. Separated from Taybad County after the 2006 census[12]
  4. Separated from Sabzevar County after the 2011 census[13]
  5. Separated from Nishapur County after the 2006 census; established as Takht-e Jolgeh County[14]
  6. Separated from Chenaran County after the 2016 census[15]
  7. Separated from Sabzevar County after the 2006 census[16]
  8. Separated from Sabzevar County after the 2006 census[17]
  9. Separated from Kashmar County after the 2016 census[18]
  10. Separated from Nishapur County after the 2016 census[19]
  11. Separated from Torbat-e Jam County after the 2016 census[20]
  12. Separated from Sabzevar County after the 2016 census[21]
  13. Separated from Mashhad County after the 2006 census[22]
  14. Separated from Torbat-e Heydarieh County after the 2006 census[24]
  15. Separated from Nishapur County after the 2016 census[25]

References

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