Deyr County () is in Bushehr province, Iran. Its capital is the city of Bandar-e Deyr.

Etymology According to some historians Deyr was named after a Jewish synagogue located in the heart of Deyr.جعفر حميدي، فرهنگنامه بوشهر، وزارت فرهنگ وارشاد اسلامی‌، طهران، 1380ش، مادة "دير". رحيم جمالي، شناسنامه شهرهاى استان بوشهر، قلم آشنا، طهران، 1381ش، ص191 The word Deyr is probably derived from the Hebraic word (דייר) which means resident.

History The village of Bardestan was converted to a city in 2010. In 2012, the village of Dowrahak rose to city status as well. In 2013, Owli Rural District was created in the Central District, and Abdan Rural District and the city of Abdan were separated from it in the formation of Abdan District, which was divided into two rural districts, including the new Sar Mastan Rural District.

Demographics Language and ethnicity Some historians believe that Deyr County was exclusively inhabited by Jews, but over the years Muslims settled in the county, and a large proportion of Deyr county's Jews converted to Islam during the Safavid dynasty. The population nowadays is Muslim; the Jewish inhabitants left the county in 1979. Persians and Arabs are the major ethnicities in Deyr. Its citizens speak various forms of Persian languages, including Persian and the local Deyr dialect.

Population At the time of the 2006 National Census, the county's population was 48,488 in 10,036 households. The following census in 2011 counted 52,523 people in 12,779 households. The 2016 census measured the population of the county as 60,612 in 16,403 households.

Administrative divisions

Deyr County's population history and administrative structure over three consecutive censuses are shown in the following table.

+ Deyr County Population Administrative Divisions 2006 2011 2016 Central District 39,119 42,765 40,970 Abdan RD 1,668 1,698 Howmeh RD 12,939 8,621 2,963 Owli RD 1,960 Abdan (city) 6,058 6,211 Bandar-e Deyr (city) 18,454 20,157 24,083 Bardestan (city) 6,078 7,112 Dowrahak (city) 4,852 Abdan District 8,529 Abdan RD 954 Sar Mastan RD 748 Abdan (city) 6,827 Bord Khun District 9,369 9,758 11,113 Abkosh RD 3,954 4,222 4,352 Bord Khun RD 1,115 1,160 1,428 Bord Khun (city) 4,300 4,376 5,333 Total 48,488 52,523 60,612

Overview

Location Deyr county is one of the ten counties of Bushehr province. It has an area of 4000 km2. Deyr County is bounded by the Persian Gulf to the west and south; Tangestan County and Dashti County to the north; and Kangan County and Jam County to the east.

The highest point in the county is Mount Drang at 1,223 m. Natural gas is extracted in the county. Wheat, tomatoes, corn, and other grains are grown. There is a local fishing industry.

The county includes three small towns and four villages, and several small islands such as Ommolkorm Island (area: 12 km2) and Nakhilu Island (area: 6 km2).

Climate and water Deyr County has a climate that is mostly arid or semiarid. It has a very hot and humid summer, with temperatures increasing to 47 °C on occasion. Mond River is the only river in Deyr county, and there is plenty of spring water.

Flora and fauna Deyr county has various mammal and bird species, such as camels, deer, foxes, rabbits, owls, hawks and flamingos, and caracals, striped hyenas, wolves and jackals rarely can be seen. Mond natural reservation has an area of 537 km2, conserving local animals and plants.

In literature Lorimer in his famous work, Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, wrote that Deyr consists partly of stone houses and partly of huts, and is protected by a fort with towers. The population was about 5,500 people, including some Al-Nasur, some Bahrainis, and some Jews, but the bulk of the people claim to have come originally from Kufah.Lorimer. Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf Oman and Central Arabia. Government Printing, Calcutta, (1908). V2 p361-362

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