 It had a population of 72,562 in 1914.In May 1892, a proposal was made for a regional government centered in Ma'an (previously known as Sanjak of Ma'an founded in 1579 as part of Eyalet of Damascus) which was approved in August.In mid-1895, the centre of this mutasarrifiyya was moved to Karak, marking the southernmost extent of Ottoman rule in the vilayet of Syria.