Taji, Iraq
District in Baghdad Governorate, Iraq
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Taji is a district in the far north of Baghdad Governorate in central Iraq. It was formerly a subdistrict of Kadhimiya District and became a district on 22 January 2020. It consists of seven administrative divisions, has an area of 207 square kilometres, and had a population of 190,297 in 2022.[1]
Taji
التاجي | |
|---|---|
District | |
 2012 view over Taji | |
 Interactive map of Taji | |
  Taji Taji's location inside Iraq | |
| Coordinates: 33°30′33″N 44°14′03″E | |
| Country |  Iraq |
| Governorate | Baghdad Governorate |
| District | Taji District |
| District established | 22 January 2020 |
| Area | |
• Total | 207 km2 (80 sq mi) |
| Population (2022) | |
• Total | 190,297 |
| • Density | 919/km2 (2,380/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (AST) |
The Taji area begins immediately after the Baghdad Gate. The first areas include Al-Sabiyat, Arkiya, Fadil, Al-Tajiyat, and Al-Masabih, extending to the Dhira' Dijla Bridge. These areas are commonly known as Taji I, while the areas beyond the bridge are known as Taji II, and the Taji region extends northward until the area of Tarmiyah.
History
Al-Taji airfield, in the volatile Sunni Triangle, was originally an Iraqi Republican Guard base during the Saddam era. It was once a center for the manufacture of chemical weapons. Taji was also the location of the largest tank maintenance facility in Iraq. Al-Taji airfield came under American control following the US invasion and was subsequently renamed Camp Cooke.
Administrative divisions of Taji Subdistrict
The area of Taji Subdistrict is 388 square kilometers, equivalent to 155,200 dunams. It is bordered by the Tigris River to the east, Al-Tarmia District to the north, Al Anbar Governorate to the west, and the center of Kadhimiya District and Dhat Al-Salasil Subdistrict to the south.[2]
District subdivisions
According to a decision by the Minister of Planning in January 2020, Taji Subdistrict was upgraded to a district consisting of seven divisions. The district center is part of Division 7 (Al-Bur).[3]
| Division | Area (km²) | Population (2022) | Population (1997) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taji Center | 8.7 | 60,240 | 28,663 |
| 1 Al-Mazra'ah and Al-Hasiywah | 70.3 | 28,879 | 11,595 |
| 7 Al-Bur | 14.1 | 3,786 | 1,520 |
| 12 Al-Dhabai | 55.1 | 20,753 | 8,332 |
| 24 Abu Adham | 22.6 | 37,561 | 15,080 |
| 25 Hawr Al-Basha | 19.4 | 13,756 | 5,523 |
| 27 Al-Hammamiyat | 16.8 | 25,322 | 10,167 |
| Total district | 207 | 190,297 | 80,880 |
Taji Air Base
Taji Air Base is located about 30 km north of the city of Baghdad. It includes an airfield and a large military base that originally belonged to the Iraqi Republican Guard during the rule of Saddam Hussein.[4]
The base was one of the main military installations in Iraq and contained a large industrial complex supporting the Iraqi armed forces.[5]
According to reports and inspections conducted after the Gulf War, facilities in the Taji complex were linked to Iraq's programs for chemical weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.[6]
Taji was also the location of one of the largest tank maintenance and repair facilities in Iraq.[5]