Marvdasht

Marvdasht (in Persian مرودشت) is a city in Fars province of Iran

Historical Background

Marvdasht is as ancient of the history of Iran and the vast Persian empire. The persepolis is in the vicinity of the city and few kilometers farther Naghsh-e-Rostam, Naghsh-e-Rajab and the ruins of the ancient city of Estakhr are reminicent of the glorious history of the city.Archeological excavations have shown that millenniums before Darius decided to choose the plains of Rahmat Mount for the construction of the majestic Persepolis Palaces, civilized populations had been living in the Marvdasht Plains.

But the city itself does not have a long history and has been built in 20th century. After the Pahlavi government built the sugar factory in 1935 (1314), the city gradually developed around the factory and each year it absorbed an enormous population leaving nearby villages or abandoning nomadic life and settling in the flourishing city. People from farther areas also migrated to Marvdasht. To the end of Pahlavi dynasti, other factories such as the petrochemical complex, Azmayesh (producing househould appliances and intended to be biggest in the middle east), Charmineh leather factory, Fars meat complex and Dadli biscuit company were constructed around the city and as a huge workforce was required, the population of Marvdasht increased and it became the second most populated city in Fars province and was called the industrial city of the province.But the city did not just excell in industry, the fertile lands around Marvdasht have turned it into a center of agriculture in Iran and it has surpassed other Iranian areas in producing wheat, maize, tomato, cucumber and other agricultural products.

The Name of the City

The historians have said that Marvdasht was originally the name of one the neighborhoods of the ancient city of Estakhr and gradually the whole area was called Marvdasht. On the other hand, some have argued that Marv was a plant which grew in the area and that is why the suffix "Dasht" which in Persian means Plain was added to the word to designate the plains in the area.

Geographical Features

Marvdasht is one of the northern cities and also counties of Fars province. The city is located 45 kilometers north of Shiraz and has an altitude of 1620 meters above the sea level. The county has an area of 3687 square kilometers and neighbors Arsenjan in the east, Pasargad in the north, Khorambid and Eghlid in the northwest, Sepidan in the southwest and Shiraz in the south. There are three cities in the county: Marvdasht, Seydan and Kamfirouz. Marvdasht as a county is divided into four districts: Central, Kamfirouz, Doroudzan and Seydan. Marvdasht has a cold weather in the hilly areas and moderate climate in other regions.

Language

The language spoken on the streets and in the majority of houses is Persian, but a dialect of Turkish (mingled with Persian) is spoken by the ethnic Turks at home.

Population

The city had an estimated population of 128,944 in 2005.[1] The county of Marvdasht has a population of 333813 people.

Higher Education

The city has three universities: Islamic Azad University (Marvdasht Branch), Fars Science and Research University (دانشگاه علوم و تحقيقات فارس) and Payam-e-Nour university.