Karahalli
Encyclopedia
Karahallı is a town and district of Uşak Province
in the inner Aegean region of Turkey
. Karahallı district area neighbors those of two other districts of the same province to the north, namely Ulubey
and Sivaslı
, and to the south those of two districts depending Denizli Province
which are Çivril
and Bekilli
.
Karahallı center is at a distance of 62 km (39 mi) from the province center of Uşak
lying to its north. The district has fourteen depending villages, namely; Alfaklar, Buğdaylı, Beki, Çoğuplu, Çokaklı, Delihıdırlı, Dumanlı, Duraklı, Külköy
, Kaykıllı, Kırkyaren, Kavaklı, Karayakuplu and Paşalar.
The district area is crossed by Banaz Stream and is divided roughly equally between agricultural lands and woodland, mostly oaks.
The name of the town makes reference to its founder, the 14th century Turkmen
bey
Kara Halil. The township was made into a district in 1953, simultaneous to the separation of Uşak Province from Kütahya Province
, and Uşak
's becoming a province seat.
There is a recently built dam and its reservoir, which is arranged into a recreational area that stands out notably by the presence of an ancient bridge, possibly associated with the Lydians
and the Persians, and the Royal Road
, although research specific to the bridge is yet to be made. It is built over Banaz Stream (Banaz Çayı) which later joins Büyük Menderes River and the locality is called Clandras or Klandras.
The ancient site of Pepuza
, proclaimed as new Jerusalem in the traditions of Montanism
, sometimes referred to as the lost sect of Christianity
(mid-2nd century) is located within the boundaries of Karahallı district, and is an important visitor's attraction.
Another important ancient construction is Cılandıras Bridge over Banaz Stream.
In Ottoman
times, the township was an important center for textile
products, made especially of wool
woven following Turkish traditions. Weaving activity is still pursued in an intensive manner with the presence of more than a thousand electric power loom
s across the district.
Cultivation of grapes intended for production of wine in the nearby center of Bekilli is also an important economic activity.
The region of Karahallı experienced considerable levels of outside immigration in recent decades, both towards other centers of its region and towards Europe
. People who originate in Karahallı and live outside the district now outnumber those living in Karahallı.
Among notable natives is Azra Akın
, Miss World
in 2002, herself born in the Netherlands
, but whose father, the former Eskişehirspor
player Nazmi Akın, is from Karahallı.
Usak Province
Uşak is a province in western Turkey. Its adjacent provinces are Manisa to the west, Denizli to the south, Afyon to the east, and Kütahya to the north. The provincial capital is Uşak, and its traffic code is 64. The province covers an area of 5,341 km² and has a population of 335,860...
in the inner Aegean region of Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. Karahallı district area neighbors those of two other districts of the same province to the north, namely Ulubey
Ulubey
Ulubey may refer to;*Ulubey, Ordu, a district of Ordu Province, Turkey*Ulubey , Uşak, a district of Uşak Province, Turkey...
and Sivaslı
Sivasli
Sivaslı is a town and district of Uşak Province in the inner Aegean region of Turkey. Sivaslı district area neighbors those of four other districts of the same province from north to south, clockwise Karahallı, Ulubey, Uşak central district, and Banaz and ranges Sandıklı district of Afyonkarahisar...
, and to the south those of two districts depending Denizli Province
Denizli Province
Denizli Province is a province of Turkey in Western Anatolia, on high ground above the Aegean coast. Neighbouring provinces are Uşak to the north, Burdur, Isparta, Afyon to the east, Aydın, Manisa to the west and Muğla to the south. It is located between the coordinates 28° 30’ and 29° 30’ E and...
which are Çivril
Çivril
Çivril is a town and district of Denizli Province in the inner Aegean region of Turkey. Çivril district area neighbors those of two districts of Uşak Province to its north, namely Sivaslı and Karahallı, and four districts of Afyonkarahisar Province from the north-east to the south which are,...
and Bekilli
Bekilli
Bekilli is a town and a district of Denizli Province in the inner Aegean region of Turkey. Bekilli district area neighbors the district areas of Çal and Çivril, both also depending Denizli to the west, south and east, and those of two districts of Uşak Province to the north, namely Ulubey and...
.
Karahallı center is at a distance of 62 km (39 mi) from the province center of Uşak
Usak
Uşak is a city in the interior part of the Aegean Region of Turkey. The city has a population of 180,414 and is the capital of Uşak Province. The mayor is Ali Erdoğan ....
lying to its north. The district has fourteen depending villages, namely; Alfaklar, Buğdaylı, Beki, Çoğuplu, Çokaklı, Delihıdırlı, Dumanlı, Duraklı, Külköy
Külköy, Karahalli
Külköy, also known as Kül, is a town in the Karahallı district of the Uşak province in Turkey, in the Aegean Region. It is about 4 km away from the town of Karahallı. The village has a primary school. There is drinking water and a sewerage network....
, Kaykıllı, Kırkyaren, Kavaklı, Karayakuplu and Paşalar.
The district area is crossed by Banaz Stream and is divided roughly equally between agricultural lands and woodland, mostly oaks.
The name of the town makes reference to its founder, the 14th century Turkmen
Oghuz Turks
The Turkomen also known as Oghuz Turks were a historical Turkic tribal confederation in Central Asia during the early medieval Turkic expansion....
bey
Bey
Bey is a title for chieftain, traditionally applied to the leaders of small tribal groups. Accoding to some sources, the word "Bey" is of Turkish language In historical accounts, many Turkish, other Turkic and Persian leaders are titled Bey, Beg, Bek, Bay, Baig or Beigh. They are all the same word...
Kara Halil. The township was made into a district in 1953, simultaneous to the separation of Uşak Province from Kütahya Province
Kütahya Province
Kütahya Province is a province in the Aegean region of Turkey. It is 11,889 km² in size, and the population is 590,496 . In 1990, Kütahya had a population of 578,020.-Districts:...
, and Uşak
Usak
Uşak is a city in the interior part of the Aegean Region of Turkey. The city has a population of 180,414 and is the capital of Uşak Province. The mayor is Ali Erdoğan ....
's becoming a province seat.
There is a recently built dam and its reservoir, which is arranged into a recreational area that stands out notably by the presence of an ancient bridge, possibly associated with the Lydians
Lydians
The Lydians were the inhabitants of Lydia, a region in western Anatolia, who spoke the distinctive Lydian language, an Indo-European language of the Anatolian group....
and the Persians, and the Royal Road
Royal Road
The Persian Royal Road was an ancient highway reorganized and rebuilt by the Persian king Darius the Great of the Achaemenid Empire in the 5th century BC. Darius built the road to facilitate rapid communication throughout his very large empire from Susa to Sardis...
, although research specific to the bridge is yet to be made. It is built over Banaz Stream (Banaz Çayı) which later joins Büyük Menderes River and the locality is called Clandras or Klandras.
The ancient site of Pepuza
Pepuza
Pepuza was an ancient town in Phrygia, Asia Minor...
, proclaimed as new Jerusalem in the traditions of Montanism
Montanism
Montanism was an early Christian movement of the late 2nd century, later referred to by the name of its founder, Montanus, but originally known by its adherents as the New Prophecy...
, sometimes referred to as the lost sect of Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
(mid-2nd century) is located within the boundaries of Karahallı district, and is an important visitor's attraction.
Another important ancient construction is Cılandıras Bridge over Banaz Stream.
In Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
times, the township was an important center for textile
Textile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
products, made especially of wool
Wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....
woven following Turkish traditions. Weaving activity is still pursued in an intensive manner with the presence of more than a thousand electric power loom
Power loom
A power loom is a mechanized loom powered by a line shaft. The first power loom was designed in 1784 by Edmund Cartwright and first built in 1785. It was refined over the next 47 years until a design by Kenworthy and Bullough, made the operation completely automatic. This was known as the...
s across the district.
Cultivation of grapes intended for production of wine in the nearby center of Bekilli is also an important economic activity.
The region of Karahallı experienced considerable levels of outside immigration in recent decades, both towards other centers of its region and towards Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. People who originate in Karahallı and live outside the district now outnumber those living in Karahallı.
Among notable natives is Azra Akın
Azra Akin
Azra Akın is a Dutch born Turkish model and actress. She is a beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss World 2002 and Miss Turkey 2002.-Biography:...
, Miss World
Miss World
The Miss World pageant is the oldest surviving major international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951...
in 2002, herself born in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, but whose father, the former Eskişehirspor
Eskisehirspor
Eskişehirspor is a football club in Eskişehir, Turkey. Also known as Kırmızı Şimşekler or The Star of Anatolia. The club was founded in 1965 and started a football revolution in Anatolia. Eskişehirspor started a long term stay in the first league in Turkey when they were founded. This term lasted...
player Nazmi Akın, is from Karahallı.
See also
- PepuzaPepuzaPepuza was an ancient town in Phrygia, Asia Minor...