Uşak
Uşak | |
|---|---|
    .jpg)   From top to bottom, left to right: Atatürk Monument; Liberation Monument and Atatürk Statue; Ulu Mosque; Historic Uşak houses; Uşak city center; Taşyaran Valley Nature Park; Bird's-eye view of Uşak | |
 Logo | |
  Uşak Location within Turkey  Uşak Location within Turkey Aegean | |
| Coordinates: 38°40′40″N 29°24′15″E / 38.67778°N 29.40417°E | |
| Country | Turkey |
| Province | Uşak |
| District | Uşak |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Özkan Yalım (CHP) |
| Elevation | 906 m (2,972 ft) |
| Population (2022)[1] | 236,366 |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (TRT) |
| Postal code | 64000 |
| Area code | 0276 |
| Website | www |
Uşak (Turkish pronunciation: [ˈuʃak]) is a city in the interior part of the Aegean Region of Turkey. It is the seat of Uşak Province and Uşak District.[2] Its population is 236,366 (2022).[1]
Uşak is located 210 km (130 mi) from İzmir, the region's principal metropolitan center and port city. Benefiting from its location at the crossroads of the Central Anatolian plateau and the coastal Aegean Region, and from a climate and agricultural production incorporating elements of both of these zones, Uşak has also traditionally had a strong industrial base. Uşak was the first city in Turkey to have an urban electricity network, and the first city where a collective labor relations agreement was signed, during the Ottoman era, between leather industry employees and workers. It was here that the first factory of Republican Turkey, a sugar refinery, was set up through a private sector initiative among local businessmen. The tradition of industriousness continues today around two industrial zones.
History
[edit]The first known organized states to have ruled over the region of present-day Uşak were the Phrygians in the eastern portion and the Lydians in the west during the 7th century BC. The ancient settlement near the site of modern Uşak was known as Temenothyrae (Greek: Τεμενόθυραι), a town of ancient Lydia and later Phrygia that remained inhabited during the Roman and Byzantine periods.[3][4] The city was also previously known by its Greek name Ousákeion (Οὐσάκειον).[5] The Karun Treasure, discovered by clandestine treasure hunters in Uşak in 1965, and whose smuggling outside Turkey and subsequent retrieval decades later from New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art made international headlines, gives an indication of the high degree of civilization attained by these Anatolian states. The region of Lydia was later taken over by the Persian Empire in the 6th century BC and by Alexander the Great and his successors as of the 4th century. Thereafter, Uşak was ruled successively by the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Seljuks, the Germiyanids and finally the Ottoman Empire (as of 1429).
Later, following Turkish conquest and domination over the area, the city became known by its Turkish name of Uşak; which means "servant." From 1867 until 1922, Uşak was part of Hüdavendigâr vilayet.
.jpg)
Uşak was occupied by the Greek Army between 28 August 1920 and 1 September 1922. During the Greek retreat, Greek general Nikolaos Trikoupis was captured near Uşak at the village of Göğem, today buried under a dam reservoir.
Uşak was a district center within Kütahya Province until 1953, when Uşak Province was constituted and Uşak became its provincial capital.
Education
[edit]Uşak is an important educational centre in the province and is home to the public Uşak University, which was established in 2006. The university has contributed to the city's academic, cultural and economic life through its faculties, research centres and student population.[6]
In addition to higher education, the city serves as a regional centre for secondary and vocational education, attracting students from surrounding districts.[7]
Economic history
[edit]At least since the 17th century there was trade between Uşak and the Dutch republic as reflected in the rug shown thrown over the bannister in Vermeer's painting "The Procuress." The rug was probably produced in Uşak, covers a third of the painting and shows medallions and leaves.[8]
In the early 20th century, mercury was discovered in Uşak.[10] The town also manufactured carpet.[11]
Among other district centers in Uşak Province, Banaz is the largest and is notable for its varied agricultural production as well as for its forests, while Ulubey's canyon is a natural site attracting many visitors.
Transport
[edit]Uşak occupies a strategic position between the Aegean coast and the interior of Anatolia. The city lies on the D-300 highway, an important east–west transportation corridor linking İzmir with central Turkey. Road transport plays a major role in passenger travel and the movement of industrial goods.[12]
Uşak is also connected to the national railway network, with rail services linking the city to İzmir and other parts of western Anatolia. Its transportation infrastructure has contributed significantly to its industrial and commercial development.[13]
Culture
[edit]Uşak possesses a diverse cultural heritage shaped by the succession of civilizations that have inhabited the region, including the Phrygians, Lydians, Romans, Seljuks and Ottomans. Traditional folk music, handicrafts, oral literature and local customs remain important elements of the city's cultural identity.[14]
The city is also associated with a variety of traditional crafts, including carpet weaving, textile production and leatherworking, which have contributed to its cultural and economic history.[15]
Tourism
[edit]Tourism in Uşak is largely based on its archaeological heritage, natural landscapes and museums. The city is known for the Karun Treasure, a collection of Lydian artefacts recovered from the region and displayed in the Uşak Museum. Nearby archaeological sites associated with the Lydian and Phrygian civilizations further contribute to the city's tourism appeal.[16]
Natural attractions in the province, including canyons, historic bridges and traditional rural landscapes, also attract visitors throughout the year.[17]
Demographics
[edit]Uşak is one of the principal urban centres of the interior Aegean Region. The city has experienced steady population growth since the second half of the twentieth century, driven by industrial development, educational institutions, and its role as the administrative centre of the province. The urban population has expanded through migration from surrounding rural districts, contributing to the city's economic and social development.[18]
The population of Uşak has increased steadily during the early twenty-first century, reflecting the city's role as the administrative, industrial and educational centre of the province.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 178,684 |
| 2013 | 194,172 |
| 2017 | 213,372 |
| 2022 | 229,463 |
Geography
[edit]The city of Uşak consists of 29 neighbourhoods, including Kurşunluk and Muharremşah.[20]
Climate
[edit]Uşak has a Mediterranean (Köppen: Csa)[21] or an oceanic climate (Trewartha: Doak),[22] with cool, wet, regularly snowy winters and hot, dry summers.
Highest recorded temperature:41.9 °C (107.4 °F) on 18 August 2023
Lowest recorded temperature:−19.9 °C (−3.8 °F) on 5 January 1942[23]
| Climate data for Uşak (1991–2020, extremes 1939–2023) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 18.3 (64.9) |
23.6 (74.5) |
27.0 (80.6) |
30.0 (86.0) |
34.5 (94.1) |
36.6 (97.9) |
40.2 (104.4) |
41.9 (107.4) |
36.6 (97.9) |
32.6 (90.7) |
26.6 (79.9) |
21.8 (71.2) |
41.9 (107.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 7.3 (45.1) |
8.9 (48.0) |
12.5 (54.5) |
17.0 (62.6) |
22.5 (72.5) |
27.3 (81.1) |
31.2 (88.2) |
31.5 (88.7) |
26.8 (80.2) |
20.9 (69.6) |
14.6 (58.3) |
9.2 (48.6) |
19.1 (66.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 2.6 (36.7) |
3.7 (38.7) |
6.7 (44.1) |
11.0 (51.8) |
15.9 (60.6) |
20.4 (68.7) |
24.0 (75.2) |
24.2 (75.6) |
19.5 (67.1) |
14.2 (57.6) |
8.4 (47.1) |
4.3 (39.7) |
12.9 (55.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −1.1 (30.0) |
−0.3 (31.5) |
1.8 (35.2) |
5.4 (41.7) |
9.6 (49.3) |
13.2 (55.8) |
16.3 (61.3) |
16.6 (61.9) |
12.5 (54.5) |
8.5 (47.3) |
3.8 (38.8) |
0.7 (33.3) |
7.3 (45.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −19.9 (−3.8) |
−15.0 (5.0) |
−12.5 (9.5) |
−6.2 (20.8) |
−1.0 (30.2) |
2.9 (37.2) |
7.4 (45.3) |
6.8 (44.2) |
2.0 (35.6) |
−4.8 (23.4) |
−11.8 (10.8) |
−18.9 (−2.0) |
−19.9 (−3.8) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 64.3 (2.53) |
65.2 (2.57) |
55.9 (2.20) |
65.6 (2.58) |
48.7 (1.92) |
27.5 (1.08) |
17.7 (0.70) |
12.4 (0.49) |
20.7 (0.81) |
50.2 (1.98) |
59.0 (2.32) |
77.3 (3.04) |
564.5 (22.22) |
| Average precipitation days | 9.03 | 9.3 | 8.8 | 9.2 | 8.07 | 4.27 | 2.57 | 2.07 | 3.4 | 5.93 | 6.13 | 10.1 | 78.9 |
| Average snowy days | 6.07 | 6.47 | 3.13 | 0.27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.07 | 0.87 | 3.07 | 19.95 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 74.1 | 70.6 | 66.3 | 62.9 | 60.5 | 55.3 | 47.8 | 47.6 | 52.5 | 62.0 | 67.5 | 75.1 | 61.8 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 111.6 | 107.4 | 145.7 | 177.0 | 232.5 | 282.0 | 297.6 | 282.1 | 243.0 | 189.1 | 120.0 | 99.2 | 2,287.2 |
| Mean daily sunshine hours | 3.6 | 3.8 | 4.7 | 5.9 | 7.5 | 9.4 | 9.6 | 9.1 | 8.1 | 6.1 | 4.0 | 3.2 | 6.3 |
| Source 1: Turkish State Meteorological Service[24] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: NOAA (humidity),[25] Meteomanz(snow days 2000-2014)[26] | |||||||||||||
Uşak carpets
[edit]
In pre-industrial times, Uşak was already a major center of production and export, particularly of Ushak carpets. Ushak carpets are also called Holbein carpets in reference to the 16th century painter Hans Holbein the Younger who depicted them in minute detail in his paintings, reflecting their popularity in European markets. The level of international popularity attained by Uşak's carpets became such that the word "Ushak" is considered an English word of Turkic origin.[27]
Although Uşak's carpet patterns have evolved since then, large-scale weaving still continues and the name of the city still has an important presence in the market for carpets, both hand-woven and industrial. On the other hand, the district of Eşme, which is also in Uşak Province, is famous for its kilims.
Twin cities
[edit]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Address-based population registration system (ADNKS) results dated 31 December 2022, Favorite Reports" (XLS). TÜİK. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ↑ İl Belediyesi Archived 2015-07-06 at the Wayback Machine, Turkey Civil Administration Departments Inventory. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ↑ "UŞAK". TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Temenothyra". Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ Bulut, Gizem; Bozkurt, M. Zahid; Tuzlacı, Ertan (2017). "The preliminary ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Uşak (Turkey)". Marmara Pharmaceutical Journal. 21 (2): 305–310. doi:10.12991/marupj.300795. hdl:11424/241697.
- ↑ "About Uşak University". Uşak University. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Uşak Şehrinde Okullara Erişebilirliğin Coğrafi Bilgi Sistemleri ile Analizi". Journal of History Culture and Art Research. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ Onno Ydema (1991) Carpets and their Datings in Netherlandish Paintings, 1540 - 1700, p. 43, 44, 145. ISBN 90-6011-710-7
- ↑ Onno Ydema (1991) Carpets and their Datings in Netherlandish Paintings, 1540 - 1700, p. 43, 44, 145. ISBN 90-6011-710-7
- ↑ Prothero, G. W. (1920). Anatolia. London: H.M. Stationery Office. p. 106.
- ↑ Prothero, G.W. (1920). Anatolia. London: H.M. Stationery Office. p. 110.
- ↑ "Transportation Systems and Uşak". Doğu Coğrafya Dergisi. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Transportation Systems and Uşak". Doğu Coğrafya Dergisi. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Uşak İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü – Kültür". Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Cultural Landscapes Values of Uşak Province". Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "About Uşak". GoTürkiye. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Uşak İli'nin Destinasyon Markalaşma Analizi ve Strateji Önerileri". Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Address-based Population Registration System Results". TÜİK. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Uşak (Merkez) Population Statistics". CityPopulation.de (based on State Institute of Statistics, Republic of Türkiye). Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ Mahalle Archived 2015-07-06 at the Wayback Machine, Turkey Civil Administration Departments Inventory. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- ↑ Meteocorne (Köppen Climate Classification)
- ↑ Meteocorne (Trewartha Climate Classification)
- ↑ "İllerimize Ait Genel İstatistik Verileri". mgm.gov.tr (in Turkish). Meteoroloji Genel Müdürlüğü. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
- ↑ "Resmi İstatistikler: İllerimize Ait Mevism Normalleri (1991–2020)" (in Turkish). Turkish State Meteorological Service. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ↑ "World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — Usak". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ↑ "Usak - Weather data by months". Meteomanz. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
- ↑ Merriam-Webster Unabridged - Ushak A heavy woolen oriental rug tied in Ghiordes knots and characterized by bright primary colors and an elaborate medallion pattern.
- Uşak's Population Is Increasing: A Look at TÜİK's March 2023 Report There is a population increase in Uşak, a district in Turkey. Turkish Statistical Institute reports were shared
- The population of servants is increasing Archived 2024-09-26 at the Wayback Machine
| Municipalities | |
|---|---|
| Villages |
|
| International | |
|---|---|
| Other | |
