Khoda Afarin County
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Khoda Afarin County شهرستان خداآفرین |
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|---|---|
| County | |
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 Location in East Azerbaijan Province |
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 Location of East Azerbaijan Province in Iran |
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| Country |
 Iran
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| Province | East Azerbaijan |
| Capital | Khomarlu |
| Bakhsh (Districts) | Central District, Minjavan District, Garamduz District |
| Population (2006) | |
| • Total | 34,461 |
| Time zone | IRST (UTC+3:30) |
| • Summer (DST) | IRDT (UTC+4:30) |
Khoda Afarin County (Persian: شهرستان خداآفرین) is a county in East Azerbaijan Province in Iran. The capital of the county is Khomarlu. At the 2006 census, the county's population was 34,461, in 7,492 families. The county is subdivided into three districts: the Central District, Minjavan District, and Garamduz District. The county has one city: Khomarlu. Until 2011, The county was a district of Kaleybar county. Before the Islamic Revolution, Khomarlu was merely a village which was distinguished from other villages for housing the headquarters of Royal Gendarmery. The notary office was located in Abbasabad village and operated by a cleric, who also acted as the spiritual authority of the whole district.
Before the Islamic Revolution of 1978, then a district of Ahar County, had a dynamic economy; the surplus agricultural products from fertile farmlands along Aras were exported to Ahar, and on the lush uplands large herds of sheep was a common sight. Of course, since the turbulent days of Azerbaijan Democratic Government, some residents were travelling to Tehran or Tabriz for seasonal work on construction projects, and by the late 1970s some of these migrant workers were established contractors. Accordingly, majority of active male population was spending half of the year in cities. The Islamic Revolution drastically changed social order. In the 1978–1979 period many of the migrant workers in Tehran constructed illegal dwellings on government lands at the North-East of Tehran and moved their families to the city. During the second big migration wave of the 1990s, most villages of the county were evacuated and residents settled in the shanty-towns at the South-West of Tehran. In recent years, some expatriates have returned and constructed decent houses. The county is already experiencing a construction boom. This has rapidly increased demand for construction workers. Moreover, the capital inflow to the county in anticipation of potential boom in Eco-tourism has resulted in launching many projects related to hotels and campgrounds.
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