Ar-Ramtha, colloquially transliterated as ar-Romtha, is a city situated in the far northwest of Jordan near the border with Syria. It covers 40km2 in a flat location 30 km north-east of Jordan River and Irbid. In the 2017, ar-Ramtha had a population of approximately 164,211, making it the eleventh largest city in Jordan, and the second in Irbid Governorate, and the city has grown since then. It is part of the Ar-Ramthā district of the Irbid Governorate.
The stable climate in ar-Ramtha and its surrounding areas attracted many animals to live in neighborhood of ar-Ramtha, as well the simple conditions for managing a stable long life there attracted humans to make those regions their earliest choices to gather in groups of hunters and to live in rocky caves. Artifacts and graves in the area show that ar-Ramtha has been inhabited since the Bronze Age, but the lack of study of the region gives us no exact information about when humans had selected the land for living.
Roman era
The Roman Empire utilized ar-Ramtha as a remote hub to cross-link their colonies. The ruins of buildings and ancient Roman antiquities have been discovered at different parts of ar-Ramtha. During the Islamic expansion, ar-Ramtha, which was in the Hauran territory, was a port for Muslim scholars crossing between Syria and the Hejaz. Historically and sociologically, the city is the twin to Daraa city in Syria, which is located on just the other side of the border.
In 1596 it appeared in the Ottoman tax registers under the name of Ramta, being part of the nahiya of Butayna in the Qadaa Hauran. It had an entirely Muslim populationconsisting of 16 households and 3 bachelors. They paid a fixed tax-rate of 40% on agricultural products, including wheat, barley, summer crops, goats and bee-hives; a total of 2,740 akçe. Half of this was waqf income.
Biblical references
During the battle of Ramoth Gilead between Israel and Arameans, Ahab of Israel joined Jehoshaphat in the battle but was mortally wounded by an arrow and died. Later in an incident occurred when Ahaziah and Joram fought against Hazael, king of Syria and Joram was wounded. In this city, Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat, was anointed by one of the sons of the prophets.
Geography
North west of ar-Ramtha is the second largest source of shale oil in Jordan, which if it is used in producing oil, can enhance economics in Jordan significantly.
Climate
Ar-Ramtha experiences a Mediterranean climate, it has four wonderful seasons with huge variety of life's colors. The summer is hot and long, but it has cool nights. Temperatures range in summer from –. Spring and fall temperatures are ideal for a human's body, they range from –. The winter sees nighttime temperatures sometimes below, with snowfall once or twice a year. The yearly average number of days with rain is 77. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Romtha was −18 °C in the blizzard of 1992.
Economy
Ar-Ramtha's economy relies on commerce and import and export trading. The Al Hassan industrial estate houses several outsourcing companies supported by foreign shareholders with most of the products sold to American and European markets.
