# Ismayilli District

Ismayilli District (Azerbaijani: İsmayıllı rayonu) is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. It is located in the north of the country, in the Mountainous Shirvan Economic Region. The district borders the districts of Qabala, Quba, Goychay, Kurdamir, Agsu, Shamakhi, and the Russian Republic of Dagestan. Its capital and largest city is Ismayilli. As of 2020, the district had a population of 87,400. It is believed that this district was named after a highly respected elder and philanthropist in the community, Ismayil Baghiyev.

## History

Ismayilli district was created with the center in the Ismayilli village on November 21, 1931. Before the establishment of the district, one of its parts was in Goychay district, another one in Shamakhi district and the smallest part within Shaki district. Ismayilli district has a number of ancient historical monuments. Significant measures are taken for the development of tourism. The Ismayilli city had been a village until 1959, a settlement until 1967, and after that, it was transformed into a city.
The territory, like all the northern lands of Azerbaijan, was part of the Caucasian Albanian state in the 4th century B.C. Mehran Gyrdyman from the dynasty of Sasanian even created his own kingdom on the territory. Albanian rulers Varaz Grigor and his son Djavanshir (616-681) were also from the dynasty of Mihranids. The Gyrdyman state was ruled by the most prominent ruler of Albania Djavanshir in 638–670. The ruins of the residence built by him on the Aghchay river 4 km from Talystan village are still famous as the Djavanshir tower.
A number of settlements, especially Lahydj and Basgal settlements, Ivanovka, Galadjyg, Talystan and Diyarly villages are notable for their ancient history and special beauty. Lahij and Basgal were declared the reserves of history and culture.

## Geography

The district covers an area of 2074 km$^2$. It borders Quba in the north, Shamakhi in the east, Aghsu in the southeast, Kurdamir in the south, Goychay in the southwest and Gabala in the west.
Ismayilli district includes one city, two settlements and 106 villages. These settlements are controlled by 34 territorial representations and 67 municipalities.
The landscape is mainly composed of mountains. Altitudes vary between 200 and 3629 meters (Babadagh) above sea level. The area is passed by the Goychay, Gyrdyman, Akhokh, Ayrichay, Sulut and other rivers, Yekekhana and Ashygbayram artificial ponds.
The district covers 2,158.75 km$^2$ with 220.58 km$^2$ of winter and 135.55 km$^2$ of summer pastures. The lands used in agriculture account for 966.3 km$^2$ including 36.263 km$^2$ of fertile land.
Woodlands account for 667.99 km$^2$. The district accounts for the State Reserve of Ismayilli. Part of the district is included in the Shahdagh National Park.
Ismaiyilli district has a rich nature. The forests are composed of oak, hornbeam, beech-tree, alder-tree, birch-tree, poplar, pear, spoke and other trees. Such fauna as elk, mountain goat, chamois, deer, roe deer, bear, boar, lynx, fox, wolf, squirrel, coon, pheasant, partridge, eagle, falcon, tetra and others are found in the forests.

## Demographics

Its population was 86,100 persons on January 1, 2018. Azerbaijanis are the overwhelming majority. Tats, Armenians, Russians and Lezgians are other ethnic groups of Ismayilli District.
| Ethnic group | 1939 Census | 1939 Census | 1959 Census | 1959 Census | 1970 Census | 1970 Census | 1979 Census | 1979 Census | 1999 Census | 1999 Census | 2009 Census | 2009 Census |
| Ethnic group | Population | % | Population | % | Population | % | Population | % | Population | | Population | % |
| Azerbaijanis | 30 234 | 57.65% | 28 889 | 71.02% | 39 171 | 75.92% | 43 627 | 78.96% | 61 190 | 84.82% | 68 448 | 86.28% |
| Lezgins | 3 149 | 6.00% | 3 255 | 8.00% | 4 883 | 9.46% | 5 788 | 10.48% | 7 722 | 10.70% | 8 076 | 10.18% |
| Russians | 4 460 | 8.50% | 4 017 | 9.88% | 3 768 | 7.30% | 3 213 | 5.82% | 2 514 | 3.49% | 2 024 | 2.55% |
| Kurds | 4 | 0.01% | ... | ... | 1 | 0.01% | ... | ... | 382 | 0.53% | 498 | 0.63% |
| Meskhetian Turks | 1 | 0.01% | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | 244 | 0.34% | 194 | 0.25% |
| Ukrainians | 157 | 0.30% | ... | ... | 58 | 0.11% | ... | ... | 25 | 0.03% | 9 | 0.01% |
| Tatars | 21 | 0.04% | ... | ... | 25 | 0.05% | 8 | 0.01% | 22 | 0.03% | 7 | 0.01% |
| Jews | 300 | 0.57% | 46 | 0.11% | 15 | 0.03% | 155 | 0.28% | 15 | 0.02% | 7 | 0.01% |
| Mountain Jews | 300 | 0.57% | 46 | 0.11% | 217 | 0.42% | 155 | 0.28% | 15 | 0.02% | 7 | 0.01% |
| Armenians | 6 683 | 12.74% | 4 038 | 9.93% | 3 308 | 6.41% | 2 377 | 4.30% | 5 | 0.01% | ... | ... |
| Avars | 4 | 0.01% | ... | ... | 4 | 0.01% | 8 | 0.01% | ... | ... | ... | ... |
| Georgians | 9 | 0.02% | 6 | 0.01% | 13 | 0.02% | 7 | 0.01% | ... | ... | ... | ... |
| Udi people | 7 250 | 13.82% | ... | ... | ... | ... | 2 | 0.01% | ... | ... | ... | ... |
| Tat people | 7 250 | 13.82% | ... | ... | 40 | 0.08% | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
| Germans | 46 | 0.09% | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
| Talysh people | 37 | 0.07% | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
| Others | 90 | 0.17% | 428 | 1.05% | 93 | 0.18% | 64 | 0.12% | 25 | 0.03% | 67 | 0.08% |
| Total | 52 445 | 100% | 40 679 | 100% | 51 596 | 100% | 55 249 | 100% | 72 144 | 100% | 79 330 | 100% |

### Population

According to the Annual report of the State Statistics Committee, the total population in 2000 was 73,000. In 2018, this indicator increased by 13,100 people.
The population of district at the beginning of the year, thsd. persons :
| | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
| Ismayilli region | 73,0 | 73,6 | 74,2 | 74,9 | 75,6 | 76,4 | 77,1 | 77,8 | 78,6 | 79,2 | 80,0 | 80,9 | 81,7 | 82,4 | 83,1 | 84,0 | 84,9 | 85,5 | 86,1 | 86,7 | 87,4 | 87,9 |
| urban population | 15,4 | 15,6 | 15,8 | 16,0 | 16,3 | 16,5 | 16,7 | 16,9 | 17,1 | 17,3 | 17,4 | 17,6 | 17,7 | 26,7 | 26,9 | 27,2 | 27,6 | 27,8 | 27,9 | 28,1 | 28,4 | 28,6 |
| rural population | 57,6 | 58,0 | 58,4 | 58,9 | 59,3 | 59,9 | 60,4 | 60,9 | 61,5 | 61,9 | 62,6 | 63,3 | 64,0 | 55,7 | 56,2 | 56,8 | 57,3 | 57,7 | 58,2 | 58,6 | 59,0 | 59,3 |

### Language

* Azerbaijani
* Tati
* Lezgian
* Russian

## Media

The sociopolitical newspaper Girdyman was established in 2002 and is issued twice or thrice a month in 500 editions. It was founded by the executive body of the district and the creative collective of the publishing house. It was registered by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan with registration number 120.
The publication of a local newspaper commenced in 1934. It was called Yeni Ismayilly from 1934 to 1966, Zehmetkesh from 1966 to 1991 and Djavanshir yurdu from 1991.
The radio station of the district was registered in the head department for mass media under the State Press Committee and started operating on February 10, 1993. It aims to provide the residents of Ismayilly with daily sociopolitical news, entertaining programs and programs for children, ads, announcements and other programs. It transmits its programs thirty minutes a day except for Saturday and Sunday.
It is the executive body of the district. It has previously operated as a ten-minute news bulletin in a local newspaper.