Der Abi Saeed (Arabic: دير أبي سعيد) is a city in Irbid Governorate in Jordan. It is named after a historic Christian chapel ('Der' in Arabic) in the place where the city is built. The city gained importance in the early 20th century after the formation of a self-governing body following the fall of the Ottoman Empire. Der Abi Saeed is the administrative center of the Koura Department, one of the nine departments of Irbid Governorate.
Der Abi Saeed
دير أبي سعيد | |
---|---|
City | |
Coordinates: 32°30′9″N 35°41′32″E / 32.50250°N 35.69222°E | |
Grid position | 214/212 |
Country | Jordan |
Province | Irbid Governorate |
Government | |
• Type | Municipality |
Population (2015)[1] | |
• Total | 29,590 |
Time zone | GMT +2 |
• Summer (DST) | +3 |
Area code | +(962)2 |
Geography
editThe city is located in the Jordanian part of the Houran Plateau, about 25 km (16 mi) to the southwest of the city of Irbid in the province of Irbid Governorate, and about 83 km (52 mi) to the north from Jordan's capital Amman.
History
editIn 1838 Der Abi Saeed's inhabitants were predominantly Sunni Muslims.[2]
The Jordanian census of 1961 found 1,927 inhabitants in Deir Abu Sa'id.[3]
Districts
editThe municipality of Der Abi Saeed includes eight districts:
- Der Abi Saeed
- Kafr Al-Maa
- Al-Samt
- Marhaba
- Abu Alqain
- Jeffin
- Ashrafiyeh
- Tibnah
References
editBibliography
edit- Government of Jordan, Department of Statistics (1964). First Census of Population and Housing. Volume I: Final Tables; General Characteristics of the Population (PDF).
- Robinson, E.; Smith, E. (1841). Biblical Researches in Palestine, Mount Sinai and Arabia Petraea: A Journal of Travels in the year 1838. Vol. 3. Boston: Crocker & Brewster.