[citation needed] At least since the era of the Zand dynasty, Zanjan and its surrounding areas were called Khamseh.

[7] It has been said that when Karim Khan Zand left Ardabil and Khalkhal to suppress Zaki Khan in Kashan, he entered Zanjan, and in Abhar he delegated the governorship of three areas of Mahal-e Khamseh to Zolfagharkhan-e Sultan Irluy-e Afshar.

[10] In addition, Mirza Abolhasan Khan Shirazi in his travelogue in the year 1229 Hijri (around 1814) mentions Khamseh.

[11] Among European travellers, the first person who used the name Khamseh for the province where Zanjan was located was Pierre Amédée Jaubert, sent by Napoleon Bonaparte to visit Fath Ali Shah's court, and in the year 1804 visited Zanjan city.

The population history and structural changes of Zanjan province's administrative divisions over three consecutive censuses are shown in the following table.

The railway and highway that connect Iran's capital city Tehran to Tabriz and Turkey pass through the province.

Agriculture is the principal occupation, and crops include rice, corn (maize), oilseeds, fruits, and potatoes.

[16] In the scientific world, Zanjan is the home of IASBS, one of the most productive research centers of the country.

[17] Zanjan is known for its handicrafts, such as knives, traditional sandals called charoogh, and malileh (a handcraft made with silver wires).

Zanjani artists produce many objects, like decorative dishes and their special covers, as well as silver jewelry.