Kerman province () is the largest of the 31 provinces of Iran. Its capital is the city of Kerman.

The province is in the southeast of Iran. In 2014 it was placed in Region 5. Mentioned in ancient times as the Achaemenid satrapy of Carmania, Kerman province has an area of , encompassing nearly 11% of the land area of Iran.http://www.sci.org.ir/content/userfiles/_sci_en/sci_en/sel/year85/f1/CS_01_4.HTM

History

In ancient times, Kerman was known as Carmania. According to a text from the 8th century commonly attributed to the Armenian historian Movses Khorenatsi, present-day Kerman province was situated in the southern quarter of the Sasanian Empire. The main city of the region from the Sasanian era to the 10th century was Sirjan.

Early Muslim geographers considered the area as part of the hot climatic zone and the mountainous interior as home of predatory people including the Kufečs (or Kofejān). Hamdallah Mustawfi stated that predatory beasts roamed the area which by then had undergone forestation.

During the Arab conquest of Iran, a part of the Iranian population of Kirman was nomadic, such as the Baloch who lived in the western mountains. The Arabs also dealt with Baloch, who had seemingly occupied many parts of Kerman just before the arrival of the Arabs.

In the 13th century it came under the rule of the Qutlugh-Khanids founded by ethnic Khitans, than under the Mongol Empire. It was under the Timurid empire in 15th century.

Demographics Language The main languages of Kerman province are standard Persian (95%) and Garmsiri and Achomi Persian dialects. Smaller languages include, Turkic dialects and a Persian Median-type dialect spoken by the Jewish and Zoroastrian communities.

The Iranian dialects of Kerman province are close enough to each other to be held to constitute but a single Kermani dialect - which, in turn, is sufficiently close to Standard Persian as to be mutually intelligible with it.

Population At the time of the 2006 National Census, the province's population was 2,584,834 in 612,996 households. The 2011 census recorded a population of 2,938,988 people (1,482,339 male and 1,456,649 female) in 785,747 households. Urban areas accounted for 1,684,982 people, whereas 1,242,344 lived in rural vicinities; 6,082 were non-residents. The 2016 census measured the population of the province as 3,164,718 in 932,721 households.

According to demographic data from 2008, the tribes of Kerman, of various origins, included Al-e Sa'idi, Khorasani, Balochi, Kuh-e Panji, Qarachi, Ma'sumi-Shul, Bichaqchi, Soleymani, Afshar, Lori, Taheri, Fathi, Narubi, and Jebalbarezi.سیری در جغرافیای استان کرمان: با تکیه بر مسائل طبیعی (زلزله)، انسانى، تاریخی، اقتصادی، حسین کلانتری خاندانی، 2008, pp. 204, ISBN 9789649908243. The most significant nomadic tribal groups among them were the Baloch, Jebalbarezi, and Afshar.

The capital city of Kerman, with a population of 537,718, comprises about 29% of the provincial urban population of 1.85 million, being the most developed and largest city of the province.

Administrative divisions

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

+ Kerman Province Counties 2006 2011 2016 Anar — 35,295 36,897 Anbarabad 113,751 85,942 82,438 Arzuiyeh — 41,979 38,510 Baft 138,847 75,940 84,103 Bam 277,835 195,603 228,241 Bardsir 84,543 73,738 81,983 Fahraj — 68,038 67,096 Faryab — 34,417 34,000 Gonbaki — — — Jazmurian — — — Jiroft 181,300 277,748 308,858 Kahnuj 102,269 86,290 95,848 Kerman 654,052 722,484 738,724 Kuhbanan 24,465 21,721 21,205 Manujan 63,270 64,528 65,705 Narmashir — 58,229 54,228 Qaleh Ganj 69,008 76,376 76,495 Rabor — 34,392 35,362 Rafsanjan 291,417 287,921 311,214 Ravar 38,539 40,295 43,198 Rigan — 66,335 88,410 Rudbar-e Jonubi 86,747 104,421 105,992 Shahr-e Babak 100,192 90,495 103,975 Sirjan 239,455 267,697 324,103 Zarand 119,144 129,104 138,133 Total 2,584,834 2,938,988 3,164,718

Cities

According to the 2016 census, 1,858,587 people (over 58% of the population of Kerman province) live in the following cities:

City Population Aminshahr 4,413 Anar 15,532 Anbarabad 18,185 Anduhjerd 4,041 Arzuiyeh 6,868 Baft 34,517 Baghin 10,407 Bahreman 5,265 Balvard 3,534 Bam 127,396 Baravat 22,761 Bardsir 25,152 Bezenjan 4,517 Boluk 5,304 Chatrud 5,860 Darb-e Behesht 10,670 Dashtkar 3,234 Dehaj 5,045 Dow Sari 4,130 Ekhtiarabad 9,840 Fahraj 6,876 Faryab 4,863 Golbaf 9,205 Golzar 5,445 Gonbaki 7,210 Hamashahr 3,311 Hanza 1,452 Hojedk 1,007 Jebalbarez 6,750 Jiroft 130,429 Jowzam 3,436 Jupar 3,607 Kahnuj 52,624 Kazemabad 4,060 Kerman 537,718 Khanuk 2,628 Khatunabad 5,471 Khursand 8,252 Khvajeh Shahr 2,478 Kian Shahr 4,543 Koshkuiyeh 7,644 Kuhbanan 10,761 Lalehzar 4,429 Mahan 19,423 Manujan 15,634 Mardehek 2,870 Mes-e Sarcheshmeh 5,967 Mohammadabad 20,720 Mohiabad 3,930 Najafabad 20,164 Narmashir 5,222 Negar 7,600 Nezamshahr 2,426 Nowdezh 5,562 Qaleh Ganj 13,169 Pariz 8,005 Rabor 13,263 Rafsanjan 161,909 Ravar 22,729 Rayen 10,286 Reyhan Shahr 4,580 Rudbar 14,747 Safayyeh 2,478 Shahdad 5,217 Shahr-e Babak 51,620 Sirjan 199,704 Yazdan Shahr 5,607 Zangiabad 8,568 Zarand 60,370 Zeh-e Kalut 6,835 Zeydabad 9,112

Most populous cities The following sorted table, lists the most populous cities in Kerman. RankCityCountyPopulation1KermanKerman537,7182SirjanSirjan199,7043RafsanjanRafsanjan161,9094JiroftJiroft130,4295BamBam127,3966ZarandZarand60,3707KahnujKahnuj52,6248Shahr-e BabakShahr-e Babak51,6209BaftBaft34,51710BardsirBardsir25,152

Geography

The altitudes and heights of the province are the continuation of the central mountain ranges of Iran. They extend from the volcanic folds beginning in Azerbaijan and, by branching out in the central plateau of Iran, terminate in Baluchestan. These mountain ranges have brought about vast plains in the province. The Bashagard and Kuhbonan Mountains are the highest in this region and include peaks such as Toghrol, Aljerd, Palvar, Sirach, Abareq and Tahrood. Other ranges that stretch out from Yazd to Kerman and Challeh-ye-Jazmoorian include high peaks like Hazaran which is 4,501 meters above sea level (ASL), Kuh-e Shah 4,402 meters ASL, Joupar, Bahr Aseman and Khabr mountain in Khabr National Park and others.

Most of the province is largely steppe or sandy desert, although there are some oases where dates, oranges (said to be the best in Iran), and pistachios are cultivated. In antiquity "Carmanian" wine was famed for its quality [Strabo XV.2.14 (cap. 726)]. The province is dependent on qanats (underground water channels) for its irrigation. In the central parts, Mount Hezar is the highest peak, 4501 meters above sea level.

Kerman is prone to natural disasters. A recent flood for example, unearthed the archeological ancient city of Jiroft, in the south of Kerman province. Arg-é Bam on the other hand, the world's largest adobe structure, was destroyed in an earthquake in December 2003. On February 22, 2005, a major earthquake killed hundreds of residents in the town of Zarand and several nearby villages in north Kerman.

Economy As of 1920, the province was known for the quality of its caraway.

Arg e Jadid, is a specially designated economic zone of Iran, located in Kerman province.

The Gol Gohar mine, the largest iron mine in Iran, is located in Kerman province.

Education

Colleges and universities Kerman province contains the following universities: Jiroft University Kerman University of Medical Sciences Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman Sirjan University of Technology

See also Kirman (Sasanian province) (related to the Islamic Consultative Assembly)

Carmania (satrapy) Dalfard

Notes

References

External links

(Bibliography) Kerman Specially Designated Economic Zone