Markazi province


Markazi province is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. Its capital is the city of Arak. The present borders of the province date to 1977, when the province was split into the current Markazi and Tehran provinces, with portions being annexed by Isfahan, Semnan, and Zanjan Provinces. In 2014, the province was placed in Region 4.

History

Markazi province was part of the Median Empire in the first millennium BC, which included all of the central and western parts of modern-day Iran. The region is considered to be one of the ancient settlements on the Iranian plateau. Numerous remaining ruins testify to the antiquity of this area.
In the early centuries of Islam, the name of the area was changed to Jibal or Kuhestan. By the early 10th century, Khorheh had become a famous city of Jibal province, followed by Tafresh and Khomein.
In recent times, the expansion of the north–south railroad and the establishment of major industries have helped boost development in the area.

Demographics

Ethnicity

Persians make up the majority of the province, but there are significant minorities of Azerbaijanis, Kurds, Lurs, etc.

Population

At the time of the 2006 National Census, the province's population was 1,326,826 in 364,155 households. The following census in 2011 counted 1,413,959 people in 426,613 households. The 2016 census measured the population of the province as 1,429,475 in 455,866 households.

Administrative divisions

The population history and structural changes of Markazi province's administrative divisions over three consecutive censuses are shown in the following table.
Counties200620112016
Arak602,971599,634591,756
Ashtian19,01117,10516,357
Delijan43,38848,98651,621
Farahan—30,04228,994
Khomeyn108,840107,368105,017
Khondab—58,26254,018
Komijan45,29639,34036,441
Mahallat48,45853,38155,342
Saveh235,843259,030283,538
Shazand118,789117,746117,571
Tafresh46,68025,91224,913
Zarandieh57,55057,15363,907
Total1,326,8261,413,9591,429,475

Cities

According to the 2016 census, 1,099,764 people live in the following cities:
CityPopulation
Arak520,944
Ashtian8,763
Astaneh7,166
Aveh3,906
Delijan40,902
Davudabad5,491
Farmahin5,756
Gharqabad5,375
Hendudur1,918
Javersiyan4,993
Karchan3,743
Khenejin3,235
Khomeyn72,882
Khondab7,810
Khoshkrud5,246
Komijan8,776
Mahajeran20,346
Mahallat43,245
Mamuniyeh21,814
Milajerd9,288
Naraq2,592
Nimvar7,507
Nowbaran3,334
Parandak6,886
Qurchi Bashi1,374
Razeghi826
Saruq1,345
Saveh220,762
Shahbaz7,536
Shazand21,181
Tafresh16,493
Tureh2,302
Zavieh6,027

Colleges and universities

  1. Arak University of Medical Sciences
  2. Arak University of Technology
  3. University of Arak
  4. Tafresh University
  5. Islamic Azad University of Khomein
  6. Islamic Azad University of Arak
  7. Islamic Azad University of Saveh
  8. Islamic Azad University of Farahan
  9. Islamic Azad University of Ashtian
  10. Islamic Azad University of Tafresh
  11. Farhangian University of Arak
  12. Energy University

Notable people

Many figures in Iranian history trace their origins to this province. namely: Mirza Abu'l-Qasem Qa'em-Maqam, Abbas Eqbal Ashtiani, Mirza Taqi Khan Amir Kabir, Mirza Bozorg Qa'em-Maqam, Mahmoud Hessabi, Ayatollah Khomeini, Ayatollah Araki, and many others.