Geography
The region was both coastal and mountainous, and home to a majorly rural, highly heterogeneous population. During the French Mandate period, society was divided by religion and geography: the landowning families of the port city of Latakia, and 80% of the population of the city, were Sunni Muslim. However, more than 90% of the population of the province was rural, 62% being Alawite peasantry.
The southern border was with Lebanon, the northern border with the Sanjak of Alexandretta where Alawites made up a large number of the population. To the west was the Mediterranean coast. The border to the east with Syria was roughly along the An-Nusayriyah Mountains and the Orontes River running from north to south. Modern-day Latakia Governorate and Tartus Governorate roughly encompass what was the Alawite State, both governorates having majority Alawite populations; however, parts of modern-day Al-Suqaylabiyah District, Masyaf District, Talkalakh District and Jisr ash-Shugur District (now in neighbouring governorates) also belonged to it.
Read more about this topic: Alawite State
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