Urmia

Urmia, Uromieh, Uromiyeh, Oroomieh, Orumiyeh, or Orumiye (ارومیه in Persian), previously Rezaieh or Rezaiyeh (رضائیه), is a city (1991 pop. 357,399) in northwestern Iran, and the center of the West Azarbaijan province; situated on the western side of Urmia Lake.

Oromiyeh University has a large accredited college of Agriculture. Urmia is situated in a fertile region where fruit (apples and grapes) and tobacco are grown. Many families have apple plantations of various sizes.

Most inhabitants of Urmia are Iranian Azerbaijanis and Kurds, but other minoritites like Armenians, Persians and Assyrians also live there. Some people believe that the prophet Zoroaster has risen from Urmia.

Urmia consists of five parts: Urmia, Oshnaviyeh, Naghadeh, Somay Baradoost, and Silvan.

Urmia was captured by Oghuz Turks in the 11th century, sacked by the Seljuk Turks in 1184. later occupied a number of times by the Ottoman Turks.

Iran's first Christian mission was established in Urmia in 1835. By 1900, Christians made up more than 40% of Urmia's population. After half a century of American Christian missionary work in Iran, the growing numbers of missionaries created need for the United States to establish diplomatic relations with Iran. The first US Minister arrived in June 1883. US consulates were established at Tehran and Tabriz, but elsewhere American missionaries continued to depend on Great Britain for consular assistance. Most Christians fled in July 1918 when the Ottomans tried to regain control of Azarbaijan from anti-muslim Assyrians who were also engaged in violent civil strife with Iranians and Kurds.

Urmia is also where the first ever traces of wine among any civilization were found.