North Khorasan Province

North Khorasan Province (, Ostān-e Khorāsān-e Shomālī) is one of the 31 provinces of Iran, located in the northeastern part of the country. The capital of the province is the city of Bojnord. North Khorasan is one of the three provinces that were created after the division of Khorasan in 2004. Khorasan was the largest province of Iran until it was divided into three provinces on September 29, 2004. The provinces approved by the parliament of Iran (on May 18, 2004) and the Council of Guardians (on May 29, 2004) were Razavi Khorasan, North Khorasan, and South Khorasan. At the time of the National Census of 2006, the population of the province was 791,930 in 198,626 households. The following census in 2011 counted 867,727 people in 240,885 households. In 2014 it was placed in Region 5. At the time of the most recent census in 2016, the population had dropped slightly to 863,092 in 254,747 households. History Greater Khorasan has witnessed the rise and fall of many dynasties and governments in its territory throughout history. Various tribes of Persians, Arabs, Turks, Kurds and Turkmens have brought change to the region time and time again. Ancient geographers of Iran divided Iran into eight segments, of which the largest was the territory of Greater Khorasan. Esfarayen, among other cities of the province, was one of the focal points for settlement by Aryan tribes entering Iran.