Khalkhal, Iran

The central part of Khalkhal city has been known by several names throughout history. Some of these historical or alternative names include:

• Herowabad (هروآباد)
• Hero Abad
• Heroabad
• Hirow (Azerbaijani: هیرو)

These names are documented in historical sources and local references.^[4]

At the time of the 2006 National Census, the city's population was 38,521 in 9,619 households.^[6] The following census in 2011 counted 41,165 people in 11,213 households.^[7] The 2016 census measured the population of the city as 39,304 people in 11,501 households.^[3]

According to Vladimir Minorsky, the name Khalkhāl may indicate a connection with the ancient Kharkhar kingdom, which existed somewhere in the eastern Zagros Mountains in Neo-Assyrian times.^[8]: 62

The 14th-century author Hamdallah Mustawfi listed Khalkhal in his Nuzhat al-Qulub as forming part of the tuman of Ardabil.^[9] He described it as "formerly a fair-sized town" that had declined to a mere village by his time.^[9] He wrote that Khalkhal had succeeded the earlier city of Firuzabad as the capital of its province after Firuzabad itself had declined.^[9] Mustawfi wrote that the Khalkhal province comprised about 100 villages and had four districts: Khāmidah-Bīl, Sajasrūd, Anjīlābād, and Mīsjīn.^[9] It was assessed for a tax value of 30,000 dinars.^[9] Water from a spring on a nearby mountain powered two watermills, which provided enough irrigation for the surrounding fields.^[9] Mustawfi said its pastures were "excellent" and hunting grounds were "numerous and well-stocked with game" and wrote that the district was known for producing yogurt (māst) that was "so thick it has to be cut with a knife, as though it were cheese".^[9]

• Lerd Village
• Khalkhal Khanate

Media related to Khalkhal at Wikimedia Commons

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