Razavi Khorasan province

Razavi Khorasan Province
استان خراسان رضوی (Persian)
Province
Tomb of Ferdowsi
Mausoleum of Attar of Nishapur
Tomb of Hadi Sabzevari
Sun Palace
Imam Reza shrine
Ayne khane
Mausoleum of Omar Khayyám
From top to bottom and from left to right: Tomb of Ferdowsi, Mausoleum of Attar of Nishapur, Tomb of Hadi Sabzevari, Sun Palace, Imam Reza shrine, Mofakham's House of Mirrors, and Mausoleum of Omar Khayyám
Location of Khorasan-e Razavi province within Iran
Location of Khorasan-e Razavi province within Iran
Coordinates: 35°47′N58°42′E / 35.783°N 58.700°E / 35.783; 58.700[1]
CountryIran
RegionRegion 5
CapitalMashhad
Counties34
Government
 • Governor-generalGholam Hossein Mozaffari (Reformist)
Area
 • Total
118,884 km2 (45,901 sq mi)
Highest elevation
(Mount Binalud)
3,211 m (10,535 ft)
Lowest elevation
(Sarakhs)
299 m (981 ft)
Population
 (2016)[3]
 • Total
6,434,501
 • Estimate 
(2020)
6,871,000[2]
 • Density54.1242/km2 (140.181/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/

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]

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

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

Population

At the time of the 2006 National Census, the province's population was 5,515,980 in 1,426,187 households.[8] The following census in 2011 counted 5,994,402 people in 1,716,314 households.[9] The 2016 census measured the population of the province as 6,434,501 in 1,938,703 households.[3]

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.[10]

Religion

According to the 2016 census, the Muslim population of Razavi Khorasan was 6,409,180,[11] most of whom are followers of Shia Islam,[12] with the shrine of the 8th Shi'ite Imam being located in Mashhad. A significant Sunni population also inhabit the province,[12] forming the majority in cities such as Torbat-e-Jam[12] and Taybad.[13] Additionally, the 2016 census recorded that there were 7,159 Christians, 961 Zoroastrians and 135 Jews living in the province, with an additional 1,073 being recorded as following other faiths, and a further 15,993 not stating their religion.[14]

Administrative divisions

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

Razavi Khorasan Province
Counties2006[8]2011[9]2016[3]
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

Cities

Mashhad
Nishapur
Sabzevar
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:[3]

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

The following sorted table lists the most populous cities in Razavi Khorasan according to 2016 Census results announced by Statistical Center of Iran.[3] After Mashhad, Nishapur, Sabzevar, and Torbat-e Heydarieh are the most populous cities of the province.

Most Populous Urban Areas in Razavi Khorasan Province[3]
Rank City County Population
1 MashhadMashhad2,987,323
2 NishapurNishapur264,375
3 SabzevarSabzevar243,700
4 Torbat-e HeydariehTorbat-e Heydarieh140,019
5 KashmarKashmar102,282
6 QuchanQuchan101,604
7 Torbat-e JamTorbat-e Jam100,449
8 TaybadTaybad56,562
9 ChenaranChenaran53,879
10 SarakhsSarakhs42,179

Archaeological sites

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 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.

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

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:

Tomb of Ferdowsi in Mashhad

Mashhad

Mausoleum of Omar Khayyám in Nishapur

Nishapur

Tomb of Hadi Sabzevari in Sabzevar

Sabzevar

Jameh Mosque of Kashmar in Kashmar
Atashgah Castle in Kashmar

Kashmar

Khalilabad

Torbat-e Jam

Gonabad

Sarakhs

Aliabad Tower in Bardaskan
Firuzabad Tower in Bardaskan

Bardaskan

Bajestan

Abbasabad Complex Taybad in Taybad

Taybad

Rivash

Colleges and universities

Notable people

Ferdowsi
Ferdowsi
Nader Shah
Nader Shah
Omar Khayyam
Omar Khayyam
Al-Ghazali
Al-Ghazali
Jabir ibn Hayyan
Jabir ibn Hayyan
Ali Shariati
Ali Shariati
Abu Muslim
Abu Muslim
Nasir al-Din al-Tusi
Nasir al-Din al-Tusi
Ebrahim Raisi
Ebrahim Raisi
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf
Anousheh Ansari
Anousheh Ansari
Mohammad-Taqi Bahar
Mohammad-Taqi Bahar
Mohammad-Reza Shajarian
Mohammad-Reza Shajarian
Mahmoud Dowlatabadi
Mahmoud Dowlatabadi
Mohammad-Reza Shafiei Kadkani
Mohammad-Reza Shafiei Kadkani
Khodadad Azizi
Khodadad Azizi
Jami
Jami
Hossein Wahid Khorasani
Hossein Wahid Khorasani
Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi
Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi
Reza Kianian
Reza Kianian
Nizam al-Mulk
Nizam al-Mulk
Ali Sayyad Shirazi
Ali Sayyad Shirazi

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[15]
  3. ^Separated from Taybad County after the 2006 census[16]
  4. ^Separated from Sabzevar County after the 2011 census[17]
  5. ^Separated from Nishapur County after the 2006 census; established as Takht-e Jolgeh County[18]
  6. ^Separated from Chenaran County after the 2016 census[19]
  7. ^ abSeparated from Sabzevar County after the 2006 census[20]
  8. ^Separated from Sabzevar County after the 2006 census[21]
  9. ^Separated from Kashmar County after the 2016 census[22]
  10. ^Separated from Nishapur County after the 2016 census[23]
  11. ^Separated from Torbat-e Jam County after the 2016 census[24]
  12. ^Separated from Sabzevar County after the 2016 census[25]
  13. ^Separated from Mashhad County after the 2006 census[26]
  14. ^Formerly Binalud County[27]
  15. ^Separated from Torbat-e Heydarieh County after the 2006 census[28]
  16. ^Separated from Nishapur County after the 2016 census[29]

References

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  2. ^"جمعیت". amar.org.ir.
  3. ^ abcdefCensus of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1395 (2016): Razavi Khorasan Province. amar.org.ir (Report) (in Persian). The Statistical Center of Iran. Archived from the original(Excel) on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
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  15. ^Davodi, Parviz (29 October 2019) [Approved 18 September 1386]. Approval letter regarding reforms of national divisions in Razavi Khorasan province, Gonabad County. rc.majlis.ir (Report) (in Persian). Ministry of the Interior, Political-Defense Commission of the Government Board. Proposal 93023/42/4/1; Notification 161409/T38028K. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2023 – via Islamic Parliament Research Center of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
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  17. ^Rahimi, Mohammad Reza (30 June 2012). "Davarzan County was added to the map of national divisions; with some changes in the geography map of Razavi Khorasan province". isna.ir (in Persian). Ministry of the Interior, Council of Ministers. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023 – via Iranian Students' News Agency.
  18. ^Davodi, Parviz (26 November 2014) [Approved 20 September 1386]. Approval letter regarding reforms of national divisions in Razavi Khorasan province, Nishapur County. rc.majlis.ir (Report) (in Persian). Ministry of the Interior, Political-Defense Commission of the Government Board. Proposal 93023/42/4/1; Notification 161416/T35368K. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2023 – via Islamic Parliament Research Center.
  19. ^Jahangiri, Ishaq (c. 2023) [Approved 11 August 1399]. Changes in national divisions in the case of Chenaran County, Razavi Khorasan province. qavanin.ir (Report) (in Persian). Ministry of the Interior, Council of Ministers. Proposal 68717. Archived from the original on 29 April 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2023 – via Laws and Regulations Portal of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
  20. ^Davodi, Parviz (c. 2014) [Approved 18 September 1386]. Approval letter regarding the reforms of national divisions in Razavi Khorasan province, Sabzevar County. rc.majlis.ir (Report) (in Persian). Ministry of the Interior, Political-Defense Commission of the Government Board. Proposal 130413/42/4/1; Notification 161474/T32507K. Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2023 – via Islamic Parliament Research Center.
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  23. ^Mokhbar, Mohammad (c. 2023) [Approved 11 December 1401]. Changing the center of Eshqabad Rural District, Miyan Jolgeh District of Nishapur County, Razavi Khorasan province to Raisi village and the center of Belharat Rural District to Rigi village. qavanin.ir (Report) (in Persian). Ministry of the Interior, Board of Ministers. Proposal 51670. Archived from the original on 2 July 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023 – via Laws and Regulations Portal of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
  24. ^Jahangiri, Ishaq (c. 2023) [Approved 15 July 2017]. Letter of approval regarding reforms and divisional changes in Razavi Khorasan province. qavanin.ir (Report) (in Persian). Ministry of the Interior, Council of Ministers. Proposal 75509. Archived from the original on 8 May 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2024 – via Laws and Regulations Portal of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
  25. ^Jahangiri, Ishaq (c. 2020) [Approved 21 February 2019]. Letter of approval regarding the national divisions of Razavi Khorasan province. rc.majlis.ir (Report) (in Persian). Ministry of the Interior, Council of Ministers. Proposal 129353; Notification 17279/T55048H. Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2023 – via Islamic Parliament Research Center of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
  26. ^Davodi, Parviz (18 September 1386). "Approval letter regarding the reforms of country divisions in Razavi Khorasan province, Mashhad County". Islamic Parliament Research Center (in Persian). Ministry of Interior, Political-Defense Commission of the Government Board. Archived from the original on 23 November 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  27. ^Mokhbar, Mohammad (23 July 2022) [Approved 16 March 1401]. Resolution on changing the name of Binalud County, Khorasan province to Torqabeh and Shandiz County. sdil.ac.ir (Report) (in Persian). Ministry of the Interior, Cabinet of Ministers. Proposal 20319; Notification 48358/T59824AH. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2025 – via Shahr Danesh Legal Research Institute.
  28. ^Davodi, Parviz (28 October 2019) [Approved 28 July 2018]. Approval letter regarding the creation of Zaveh County with the center of Dowlatabad city under the citizenship of Razavi Khorasan province. rc.majlis.ir (Report) (in Persian). Ministry of the Interior, Council of Ministers. Proposal 78561/42/1/4; Notification 141605/T31734H. Archived from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2023 – via Islamic Parliament Research Center of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
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