# Al-Hajar al-Aswad

> city in Syria

**Wikidata**: [Q1822816](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1822816)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Hajar_al-Aswad)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/al-hajar-al-aswad

## Summary

Al-Hajar al-Aswad is a city located in Syria, situated in the Al-Hajar Al-Aswad Subdistrict. With a population of 101,827 residents as of 2013, it represents one of Syria's significant urban settlements, positioned at coordinates 33.458°N latitude and 36.305°E longitude at an elevation of 668 metres above sea level.

## Key Facts

- **Official Name:** الحجر الأسود (Al-Hajar al-Aswad / "The Black Stone")
- **Country:** Syria
- **Administrative Division:** Located in Al-Hajar Al-Aswad Subdistrict
- **Population:** 101,827 (recorded in 2013)
- **Coordinates:** Latitude 33.458055555556°, Longitude 36.305277777778°
- **Elevation:** 668 metres above sea level
- **Classification:** City, big city, populated place in Syria
- **Geonames ID:** 8419677
- **GNS Unique Feature ID:** 11635403
- **Freebase ID:** /m/02qgh1c
- **Wikipedia Availability:** Available in 18 language versions (Arabic, Aramaic, Kurdish, German, English, Persian, French, Kazakh, Mazandani, Dutch, Norwegian, Polish, Russian, Scots, Ukrainian, Urdu, Vietnamese, Chinese)
- **Sitelink Count:** 18
- **TDV Encyclopedia of Islam Identifier:** hicr--semud

## FAQs

**What type of settlement is Al-Hajar al-Aswad?**

Al-Hajar al-Aswad is classified as a city and big city in Syria, functioning as a populated place within the Al-Hajar Al-Aswad Subdistrict administrative division.

**What is the population of Al-Hajar al-Aswad?**

The city had a recorded population of 101,827 residents according to 2013 census data.

**Where is Al-Hajar al-Aswad located geographically?**

The city is located at coordinates 33.458°N latitude and 36.305°E longitude in Syria, situated at an elevation of 668 metres above sea level.

**What does the name Al-Hajar al-Aswad mean?**

The name "Al-Hajar al-Aswad" translates to "The Black Stone" in Arabic (الحجر الأسود), referring to the area's historical or geographical characteristics.

**In what languages is information about Al-Hajar al-Aswad available?**

Wikipedia articles exist in 18 languages including Arabic, English, French, German, Russian, Persian, and Chinese, among others.

## Why It Matters

Al-Hajar al-Aswad matters as one of Syria's notable urban centers, representing the country's demographic and administrative structure. As a city with a population exceeding 100,000 residents, it serves as a residential, commercial, and potentially industrial hub within the Al-Hajar Al-Aswad Subdistrict. The city's strategic geographic positioning at approximately 33.46°N latitude and 36.31°E longitude places it within Syria's populated heartland, making it relevant for understanding regional population distribution, urban planning, and administrative organization. Its inclusion in the TDV Encyclopedia of Islam with the identifier hicr--semud suggests historical or cultural significance within Islamic scholarship and regional heritage.

## Notable For

- Population exceeding 100,000 residents, qualifying it as a significant urban center in Syria
- Multilingual Wikipedia presence across 18 language versions, indicating international awareness and interest
- Classification as a "big city" rather than merely a town or village
- Documentation in the TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, suggesting historical or cultural significance
- Elevation of 668 metres above sea level, positioning it in an elevated region of Syria

## Body

### Geographic and Administrative Context

Al-Hajar al-Aswad is situated in Syria, specifically within the Al-Hajar Al-Aswad Subdistrict, which represents an administrative division within the country. The city occupies coordinates at 33.458055555556° North latitude and 36.305277777778° East longitude, placing it in Syria's interior regions. The elevation of 668 metres above sea level characterizes the city's topography, situating it in an elevated area that influences local climate and geography.

### Demographics and Population

According to 2013 census data, Al-Hajar al-Aswad had a population of 101,827 residents. This population figure establishes the city as a substantial urban center within Syria, ranking it among populated places in the country. The population statistics were sourced from Russian Wikipedia documentation with a specific reference identifier linking to the original data source.

### Classification and Status

The entity is classified as a city, big city, and populated place in Syria. This multi-faceted classification reflects its significance within the Syrian urban hierarchy. The classification system used draws from Wikidata's instance-of property, which categorizes the settlement across multiple administrative and demographic categories.

### Nomenclature and Aliases

Al-Hajar al-Aswad is known by multiple names and aliases. The official name appears as الحجر الأسود in Arabic script. Additional aliases include "Al-Hajar al-Aswad" and "حي الحجر الأسود" (Hay al-Hajar al-Aswad, meaning "Al-Hajar al-Aswad Neighborhood"). The name translates to "The Black Stone" in English, a designation that likely derives from historical or geographical features of the area.

### International Identification and References

The city maintains several unique international identifiers across different knowledge bases and geographic databases. The Geonames ID is 8419677, while the GNS Unique Feature ID is 11635403. The Freebase ID is /m/02qgh1c, assigned through Wikidata's property system with a 2013 publication date reference. These identification systems enable cross-referencing across global geographic and knowledge databases.

### Wikipedia and Multilingual Coverage

Al-Hajar al-Aswad has a Wikipedia presence in 18 different language versions, demonstrating international recognition and interest. The available language versions include Arabic (ar), Aramaic (arz), Kurdish (ckb), German (de), English (en), Persian (fa), French (fr), Kazakh (kk), Mazandani (mzn), Dutch (nl), Norwegian (nn), Polish (pl), Russian (ru), Scots (sco), Ukrainian (uk), Urdu (ur), Vietnamese (vi), and Chinese (zh). The sitelink count of 18 reflects this multilingual presence across Wikimedia projects.

### Scholarly Documentation

The city appears in the TDV Encyclopedia of Islam (Türkiye Diyanet Vakfı İslam Ansiklopedisi) with the identifier hicr--semud. This scholarly reference indicates that Al-Hajar al-Aswad has been documented in Islamic encyclopedic literature, suggesting historical or cultural significance within the context of Islamic scholarship and regional history.

### Administrative Hierarchy

Al-Hajar al-Aswad is positioned within a specific administrative structure in Syria, falling under the Al-Hajar Al-Aswad Subdistrict. This hierarchical organization reflects Syria's system of administrative divisions, where subdistricts typically group multiple populated places together under broader district and governorate structures.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013