Fuheis

Fuheis الفحيص Fuhais
City
Fuheis Location in Jordan
Coordinates: 32°01′N 35°46′E / 32.017°N 35.767°E / 32.017; 35.767
Grid position	223/157
Country	Jordan
Governorate	Balqa Governorate
Municipality established	1962
Government
• Type	Municipality
• Mayor	Jamal Hattar
Area
• Metro	7 sq mi (17 km2)
Population  (2020)[1]
• City	21,413
• Religions	60% Greek Orthodox 35% Catholics 5% other mainly Sunni Muslims.
Time zone	GMT +2
• Summer (DST)	+3
Area code(s)	+(962)6
Website	http://www.fuheis.gov.jo

Fuheis (Arabic: الفحيص) is a city in the central Jordanian governorate of Balqa, just 20 kilometers northwest^[2] of Amman. The city has 21,413 residents of whom more than 95% are Christians. It lies in Wadi Shueib (Valley of Jethro) between Salt and Amman, approximately 850 meters above sea level.

The population of Fuheis was estimated to be 21,413 in 2020, with a male-to-female ratio of 52:48.

Jordanian citizens make up 87% of the population. According to a national census in 2015, the population was 18,916. The census of that year shows that there were 4,658 households in the city with an average of 4.06 persons per household, lower than the national average of 4.82 persons per household.^[3] The population of Fuheis increases to about 20,000 in the summer, as many city residents who have emigrated to the United States and Europe return for their summer vacations. The city's elevation renders it cool enough to spend the summer comfortably.^[4]

Fuheis is also famous for its traditional habits from singing and dancing (dabke), and for depending on its farms.^[5]

History[]

In 1838 Fuheis was noted located east of Al-Salt.^[6]

The Jordanian census of 1961 found 2,946 inhabitants in Fuheis,^[7] of whom 2,391 were Christians.^[8]

Economy and development[]

Fuheis' economy has historically centered around agriculture. Most of Fuheis' population works in agriculture, trade, cement industry, service industry, and civil or office jobs. The olive industry is important to Fuheis' economy, along with orchards and vineyards. The cement factory - Jordan's largest - is by far the largest industry in Fuheis, employing about 70% of the town's population. Among its most important villages are al-Rahwa, Ras al-Jundi, and al-Suqariah, known for their farms and trees.^[9]

In 2010, German researchers from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research implemented a demonstration facility for decentralised wastewater technology in Fuheis. The project was handed over to the management of Al-Balqa` Applied University.^[10]

Religion[]

Approximately 60% of the city's population belong to Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch, 35% are members of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Sunni Muslims and Armenian Orthodox Christians make up the rest 5% of the population. The Latin Parish of Fuheis established a secondary school during the Ottoman Period in 1885. Students of this school learned Arabic, Religion and Math. The school has since expanded, remaining open until today.^[11]

Heritage and archaeology[]

Archaeological excavations in Fuheis uncovered a circular building from white limestone which dates back to the Iron Age and the Byzantine age. This building was repurposed as a church in the Ayyubid and Mamluk periods, and within the building is a blueprint of the church in addition to a number of graves that were built in the church's land. The excavations suggest that the area's water sources may have drawn many to the region or that the settlement had a military purpose. The ruins are surrounded by small dug wells and enclosed water closets which were connected by a spout carved from rock. In the same area, excavators found a carving on basalt rock in Greek letters and crosses carved into limestone.^[12]

Culture[]

al-Ruwaq[]

Fuheis' al-Ruwaq district boasts hundred-year-old stone cottages, preserved by a Jordanian who bought an art gallery in the area and proceeded to buy several cottages in the area, converting them to art-and-craft shops.^[13]

Fuheis festival[]

Fuheis Festival is an annually held event in Fuheis, and it is considered to be the second biggest festival in Jordan, after Jerash Festival.

They have celebrated their silver jubilee in 2016, where they have welcomed bands and artists from Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Lebanon to perform in concerts and poetry evenings.

Several artists and singers from across the region were invited to perform in the city, like: Wadih El Safi, Melhem Barakat, Sabah Fakhri, Fares Karam, Moeen Charif, Omar Al-Abdallat, George Kurdahi, Najwa Karam, and many more, and the variety of night events and activities attracts around 10,000 to 30,000 visitors yearly.

List of mayors of Fuhais[]

See also[]

• Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch
• Jordanian Christians

References[]

Bibliography[]

External links[]

• Fuheis.net

Coordinates: 32°01′N 35°46′E / 32.017°N 35.767°E / 32.017; 35.767[1]fuheis net

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