Tavas

Tavas
District and municipality
Map showing Tavas District in Denizli Province
Tavas Location in Turkey Show map of Turkey Tavas Tavas (Turkey Aegean) Show map of Turkey Aegean
Coordinates: 37°34′22″N 29°04′17″E
Country	Turkey
Province	Denizli
Government
• Mayor	Kadir Tatık (CHP)
Area	1,432 km^2 (553 sq mi)
Elevation	941 m (3,087 ft)
Population  (2022)[1]	41,712
• Density	29/km^2 (75/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+3 (TRT)
Postal code	20500
Area code	0258
Website	www.tavas.bel.tr

Tavas is a municipality and district of Denizli Province, Turkey.^[2] Its area is 1,432 km²,^[3] and its population is 41,712 (2022).^[1] It is on a wide plain on the road to Muğla, near to the district of Kale (and often the two are linked in one breath Kale-Tavas).

History

The area has been occupied for a long time, proven by the presence of the mound of Medet Höyük, which appears to date back to the Bronze Age (but which has not been thoroughly excavated or researched). Many civilizations have settled here including the Hittites, Phrygians, Persians, Ancient Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines.

In antiquity this land south of the Menderes River was part of the region of Caria and was controlled from the nearby castle of Kale (known as Tabae in antiquity).

In the 18th century emigrants from Circassia settled in Garipköy and Sarıabat villages.

Tavas was reported as having a timber industry in 1920.^[4]

Composition

There are 50 neighbourhoods in Tavas District:^[5]

• Akıncılar
• Akyar
• Alpa
• Altınova
• Avdan
• Aydoğdu
• Baharlar
• Bahçeköy
• Balkıca
• Çağırgan
• Çalıköy
• Çiftlikköy
• Damlacık
• Denizoluğu
• Dereağzı
• Derinkuyu
• Ebecik
• Garipköy
• Gökçeler
• Gümüşdere
• Güzelköy
• Hırka
• Horasanlı
• Karahisar
• Kayaca
• Kayapınar
• Keçeliler
• Kızılca
• Kızılcabölük
• Kozlar
• Medet
• Nikfer
• Orta
• Ovacık
• Pınarlar
• Pınarlık
• Samanlık
• Sarıabat
• Seki
• Sofular
• Solmaz
• Tekkeköy
• Ulukent
• Vakıf
• Yahşiler
• Yaka
• Yeni
• Yeşilköy
• Yorga
• Yukarıboğaz

Tavas today

Like in Denizli, there are textile and clothing industries in the area, and the town also produces leblebi (dried chick peas). This is a rural area and many of the young generation have migrated to the Aegean coast or to larger cities in search of careers (they have a reputation for canny business nous). The remaining people are mainly aging and conservative, there are a great number of mosques on the skyline.

Tavas is a small town providing a bank and other essential facilities to the surrounding villages. There is little in the way of entertainment or social amenities (a few cafes and a couple of internet cafes), although the local pizza pide is much admired.

People commonly deal with agriculture. Tobacco and chickpeas are most planted products.

There is a well-known folk dance Tavas Zeybeği, which is always performed at wedding parties in the town.

Tavas is one of the leading places in grain cultivation in Turkey's agriculture.^[6]

References

1. "Address-based population registration system (ADNKS) results dated 31 December 2022, Favorite Reports" (XLS). TÜİK. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
2. Büyükşehir İlçe Belediyesi, Turkey Civil Administration Departments Inventory. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
3. "İl ve İlçe Yüz ölçümleri". General Directorate of Mapping. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
4. Prothero, G.W. (1920). Anatolia. London: H.M. Stationery Office. p. 97.
5. Mahalle, Turkey Civil Administration Departments Inventory. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
6. Gazete, Banka (17 November 2021). "Yüzde 50 hibeli hububat tohumu dağıtıldı". Gazetebanka.com. Retrieved 17 November 2021.