Demographic Movements in the Township of Büyükçekmece

УПРАВЛЕНИЕ И ОБРАЗОВАНИЕ MANAGEMENT AND EDUCATION TOM V (2) 2009 VOL. V (2) 2009

DEMOGRAPHIC MOVEMENTS IN THE TOWNSHIP OF BÜYÜKÇEKMECE

Mesut Doğan

ДЕМОГРАФСКОТО РАЗВИТИЕ В ОБЩИНА БУЮКЧЕКМЕДЖЕ

Месут Доган

ABSTRAC: The township of Büyükçekmece is located in the European side of Istanbul. It is surrounded by the townships of Silivri in the west, Çatalca and Arnavutköy in the north, Esenyurt in the east with Beylikdüzü in the east and southeast and by the Marmara Sea in the south. Its population does not have a static structure, and so it is in a constant fluctuation. This fluctuation continues depending, apart from births and deaths, on migrations. Since the time of the existence of humans, political, economic, and socio-cultural developments have con- tinued in human life. These developments have affected the population in every way and have caused changes in its structure. Because of Istanbul’s expansion from center to periphery, Büyükçekmece, located in the western part of Istanbul, has been affected by this fact. Especially after 1985, it has been observed a great development in the population of Büyükçekmece. Today, with its economic life and tourism activities, this township, which has gained various functions because of the expansion of housing, will have an important place in the future. Key Words: Turkey, Büyükçekmece, Population, Development

The town Büyükçekmece, in the west of Is- as was in the past. When important areas are tanbul in Çatalca District of Marmara Region, is examined, it can be realized that multifunctional surrounded by Silivri in the west, Çatalca and areas are always attractive and tend to develop. Arnavutköy in the north, Esenyurt in the east and Throughout the history, Büyükçekmece became Beylikdüzü in the southeast and by the Marmara prominent for its assorted functions such as its Sea in the South. (Graphic 1) The Lake political, economic, transportation and tourism Büyükçekmece stretches in the north-south di- sides. The Lakes Büyükçekmece and rection. Two international roads pass across this Küçükçekmece, 12 km away from each other in town (TEM and E5) connecting Europe to Asia. the west of Istanbul, attract the attention of the Borders of the town, which changed frequently people because the Lake Büyükçekmece was in the recent past, cover 181 km2 today. The blocked by the sea, a cove formed out and its town was known as Athyra and Atira in the past. was invaded by the sea with the last transgres- While it was a district of the Cadi of Eyüp in the sion in the lake pleistocene, which formed an 17th century, it administratively became a part of estuary. A spit at its mouth which gradually pro- Çatalca District in 1876, a sub-district of Çatalca gressed and blocked its sea connection created in 1926 with the Proclamation of the Republic the Lake Büyükçekmece. In the south of the spit, and a town on 17 June 1897 by the law 3392 of a cove formed out, which is called “çekmece” Council of Ministers. By the temporary item 2 of (drawer). The cove which came into being at that Metropolitan Law dated 23 July 2004 and num- spot is larger than that of Küçükçekmece and it bered 5216 in the law “Foundation of new towns was called Büyükçekmece (the Large Drawer). in Metropolitan Municipalities” dated 22 March In fact the Lake Küçükçekmece is larger than the 2008. 2 (Beylikdüzü and Esenyurt) of the new Lake Büyükçekmece. The size of Büyükçekmece towns were from Büyükçekmece. is 12km2, where as that of Küçükçekmece is Büyükçekmece’s morphology is slightly 15km2. The adjectives were adhered according to mountainous due to its position in the Çatalca the size of the coves, not because of the size of Peninsula. The town, prominent for its role in the lakes. Those two lakes came into being transportation network, has a highly active and thanks to the separation of the old estuary and strategic position with its town functions. Its coves from the sea on the side of cordons geographical position makes it important today (Inandık, H. 1965, p.6). Our study area exhibits

66 the climatic characteristics of the South Marmara from the Balkans and the North in winter. The and is especially open to the climatic effects flora of Büyükçekmece is almost nonexistent.

Graphic 1. Büyükçekmece location map.

Büyükçekmece with its position, dating back The Hun Emperor Atilla seized Büyükçekmece to the ancient times, contains important trans- in 447 BC, which was then included within the portation routes and borders the sea and has fer- borders of the Roman Empire. The area, being on tile lands, which increased the invasions in the the migration route, became the land of the East- area. Transportation and commercial activities ern Roman Empire, in other words “Byzantine are greatly interdependent. These activities sup- Empire”, after the division of the Roman Empire port each other and go hand in hand. Favourable in 395 AD. Büyükçekmece got affected by the transportation attracted industrial and commer- invasion attempts of the Avar Turks in the 7th cial activities until the last administrative divi- Century and of Bulgaria in the 9th century. Our sion. Our study area was used as a game and a study area, seized by the Pechenegs in 1090, winter quarter in the pre-Republic period, dam- became an important resort and accommodation aged by the invasions because of its geographical centre of Anatolian Seljuks’ Armies. After the position. Consequesntly, historical buildings also Ottoman Empire crossed over to Rumelia, got damaged. Büyükçekmece, called Athyra and population movements from Anatolia to the west Atira, was founded as a colony in the 7th century occurred. It was negatively affected by the Otto- BC and ruled by the Thracians for a long time. man-Russian War (1829), the Balkan Wars

67 (1912-1913) and the World War I (1914-1918). sometimes in small and sometimes in large num- As is known, wars always have negative effects bers in a geographical area. Interregional migra- on the settlement. Due to its strategic position, tion and birth rates lead to population move- our study area got socio-economically affected, ments. Positive or negative conditions a settle- too. Because it is an active route, some transpor- ment provides directly affect the population and tation difficulties used to be faced especially the opportunities. Our study area has always when the water of the lake rose up in the rain attracted the attention of the people in terms of spell. Therefore, Mimar Sinan (Sinan the Archi- population movements with its transportation tect) constructed a bridge by the decree of opportunities, fertile agricultural lands, and Kanuni Sultan Süleyman. The bridge was used closeness to Istanbul, which is a social, cultural, till the end of 1950s and Mimar Sinan Bridge economic and political centre. The town got was restored and left out of service after E5 highly urbanized as a result of the different func- started to run. Büyükçekmece with an important tions which gained importance after the Indus- transportation capacity from past to the present trial Revolution and differentiation of various possesses routes active throughout the history. types from each other in terms of function be- The most important and active one is Belgrad- came possible (Göney, 1995, p.50). Industrial Istanbul direction. This road used to start in Bel- movements, which took place in our country grad and reach the historical peninsula after after 1950, resulted in great changes and devel- passing across Niş-Sofia-Meriç plain, Filibe opment, visible differences in the geographical Edirne, Havsa, Babaeski, Lüleburgaz, Büyük- area, variations of the functions to make the life karıştıran, Çoğlu, Ereğli, Silivri, Büyükçekmece, easier, change in the construction style, founda- Küçükçekmece and Yedikule. The other active tion of entertainment and resting places, more road, which is Tuna-Burgaz-Istanbul route, used extensive daily population flows. Although mi- to pass through Thrace, the south of Kırıkkale on gration takes place depending on industrializa- the Black Sea coastline towards Pınarhisar and tion in economically developed countries, set- got connected to the road above after Sinekli tlements grow in parallel with the natural popu- (Mansel, 1938, pp. 6-7). Rhegion (Küçükçek- lation growth especially in the underdeveloped mece) as an important small castle in the early countries. The developmental opportunities of a Middle Age, located westward from Byzantine, settlement are highly interrelated with its geo- along the northern coast of the Propontis and graphical position and regional conditions. small Athyra (Büyükçekmece) Port founded at Socio-economic development of the settlements the mouth of a namesake creek in its west. There is dependent upon the positive and negative ef- was Selymbria on the same coastline (Sevin, fects the nature poses. In our country, the urban 2001, p.21, Ankara). These three cities still pre- coverage and the effect of a settlement are ex- serve their past positions. Especially, panding over a large area as a result of the non- Büyükçekmece is important because it connects agricultural sectors in the settlements growing the others to each other. The increase in the level with the increasing population. Commercial, of the lakes and creek in winter used to affect the transportation, tourism, educational, social and transportation negatively. Partial asphalting of cultural functions emerge as a result of the ur- the road in 1934 caused minor changes in its banization in Büyükçekmece and these functions economy. This change manifested itself in the became effective in every walk of life. Generally replacement of cereals by fruit and vegetables in economically developing countries, there is a and foundations producing dairy products. This flow from rural areas to urban ones, which re- caused an increase in the tomato, pearl onion, sults from financial problems (of land ownership, melon, maize, anarsa (Gürpınar) vineyards, and natural and economic conditions) and from the livestock feeding and as a result meadows ap- fact that cities provide employment with its ur- peared (Akgün 1997, p. 85).Tourism which ban functions offered by urban industries started in the late 1975 caused the second house (Tümertekin, 1994, p. 171). Industrial move- ownership and increased the population as a ments which started in Büyükçekmece in 1985 result. gave rise to a population movement, new dwell- ings were built and commercial and entertain- General Features Of The Population ment centres were founded. Industry institutions provide employment to meet the labour need People have lived dependent on geographical they themselves created; thus, population move- areas since its first appearance. People live ments just account for the amount that they cre-

68 ated (Keleş‚2006‚p.72). Büyükçekmece received man and Zonguldak. In 1831, 464 people were immigrants from Sinop, Erzurum and Afyon for living in Çekmece-i Kebir (Büyükçekmece), 403 the cement factory founded in 1960s, for con- in Çekmece-i Sağır (Küçükçekmece) and 29 in struction sector from Trabzon, Rize, Giresun, Turkeş Farm (Karal‚1943‚s. 29). In 2007, Samsun and Gümüşhane, then for the developing whereas 688774 people were living in construction sector from Van‚ Urfa‚ Sivas‚ Büyükçekmece, where a large population growth Amasya‚ Tokat‚ Erzincan‚ Kastamonu‚ Adıya- has occurred during the last 176 years up to 2007 man‚ Diyarbakır‚ Malatya and Çorum. The last census, the population was 163140 in 2008 be- migration movement was especially from differ- cause of the division. By the item 2 of the Met- ent towns of Istanbul. Büyükçekmece which ropolitan Law dated 23 July 2004 and numbered gained a position in political and local environ- 5216, according to the address-based registration ment acquired sub-district and town status in a system, 163140 people lived in Büyükçekmece short period of time. By the 2007 census, its after 8 new towns were established in 2008 by population was calculated to be 688774 and so as the law “Foundation of new towns in Metropoli- a town outnumbered 50 provinces including tan Municipalities”, 2 of which (Beylikdüzü and Çanakkale, Kastamonu‚ Sivas, Kütahya‚ Adıya- Esenyurt) are from Büyükçekmece.

Table 1: Urban and Rural Population of Büyükçekmece by Census Years

Census Year 1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1997 2000 2008 Urban - - - 1168 1846 2125 2269 3913 5204 8121 11310 129913 259718 373407 163140 Rural 8832 14456 23084 9025 13029 13534 10115 10745 15858 27782 47055 12297 21150 10682 - Total 8832 14456 23084 10193 14875 15659 12384 14658 21062 35903 58365 142910 280888 384089 163140 Source: Turkish Statistical Institute, General Censuses

When Table 1 is examined, population in exchange with Greece and Bulgaria and the new- Büyükçekmece calculated from 1950 onward can comers brought together with themselves various be seen. Although not only population but also cultures, techniques and methods besides the various criteria concerning the living style are agricultural activities. 154393 immigrants came evaluated, item 1 of the Village Law numbered to Turkey from Bulgaria as a result of the 1950- 442 passed on 18 1951 Migration. (Tanoğlu‚1953‚ s.132). The March 1924 is being taken into considera- population of the study area increased from tion.1 The calculation of the population carried 10193 to 14875 by 46% between 1950 and 1955. out in Büyükçekmece in 1950 could result from The reason for this increase is concerned with the the fact that the existing lifestyle has urban char- immigrants from Bulgaria between 1951 and acteristics other than the population criterion. 1952. Every country is facing internal migration Roughly, it can be expressed that city population movements while international migration be- has increased. A general growth is observed in tween the countries is going on. This migration the rural population as in the urban one. It can be movement sometimes happens in large amounts realized that the total population in Büyükçek- for a specific and significant reason. Within the mece increased by 60% in 1945 when compared context of international migration, our study area to 1940. This increase was caused by the settle- is one of the places exposed to the migration ment of the military units as a result of the World movement from Bulgaria. One of the effects of War II. With the ending of the war, it can be the international migrations on employment is realized that population decreased in 1950 when cheap labour force (Mutluer‚M.‚ 2003‚ s.17). It these military units got back to their main units. can be inferred from Table 1 that population of Population grew as a result of the population the town decreased in 1965. This decrease is the result of the fact that Yeşilbayır (Muha), Hoş- derei Ömerli and Karaağaç villages became a 1 Village Law item 1 Settlements with less than 2000 part of Boyalık District of Hadımköy. The people are qualified as “village”, with a population population increased between 1965 and 2007 as ranging from 2000 to 20000 as “town” and over a result of the migrations and natural population 20000 as “city”. Even though less than 2000 people, growth districts and province centres are qualified as “town” and subjected to the Municipality Law. http:www.hukuki.net/kanun

69 Table 2: Proportion of Urban and Rural Population to Total Population by Census Years (%).

Census Proportion of the Urban Population Proportion of the Rural Population Year Urban Rural Total to Total Population % to Total Population % 1935 - 8832 8832 - 100 % 1950 1168 9025 10193 10.9 % 89.1 % 1985 11310 47055 58365 19.4 % 80.6 % 1990 129217 12297 142210 91.4 % 8.6 % 2000 373407 10682 384089 97.2 % 2.8 % 2008 163140 - 163140 100% 0 % Source: Turkish Statistical Institute, Prepared with the Data Obtained from the General Censuses

It is presented in Table 2 that the rural popu- population increased in some village settlements, lation of Büyükçekmece, which was a village in rural life did not lead a village life, the villages 1935, was 8832 and then it can be considered all over the town got overpopulated, they gradu- that the centre of the district did not used to have ally transformed into cities and acquired various urban features. The population of the city centre functions after 1975. Esenyurt, Girpınar, Kum- accounted for 10.9% of the whole population in burgaz, Mimarsinan and Tepecik, which were 1950, for 19,4% in 1985,for 91,4% in 1990, for within the administrative borders of the town in 97,2% in 2000 and for 100% in 2008. Contrarily, 1990 census, then Kavaklı, Kıraç and Yakuplu in while rural population accounted for 100% of the 1997 census and Bahçeşehir in 2000 census were total population in 1935, it did for 89,1% in qualified as Town Municipality and were 1950, for 80,6% in 1985, for 8,6% in 1990, for counted as a city. From then on, socio-economic 2,8% in 2000 and for 0% in 2008. It can be life was led as in urban way in these settlements understood from Table 2 that rural population and urban population increased after 1990 and was higher than urban population in Büyükçek- accordingly rural population diminished mece in 1985. In particular, it was observed that

Table 3: Increase Rate according to the year 1935 (‰)

Census Year Intervals 1935-40 35-45 35-50 35-55 35-60 35-65 35-70 35-75 35-80 35-85 35-90 35-97 35-00 35- 08 Büyükçekmece 67‚7 161‚3 15‚4 68‚4 77‚2 40‚2 65‚9 138‚4 306‚5 560‚8 1518‚0 3080‚3 4248‚8 1747‚1 Source: Turkish Statistical Institute, Prepared with the Data Obtained from the General Censuses

When annual population growth rates are wall, was affected by this flow at the same rate analyzed in Table 3, whereas population growth and time. Population growth rate of Büyükçek- rate was 67.7‰ in the interval 1935-1940, it mece accounted for 138.4‰ according to 1935- decreased by 15.4 ‰ in the interval 1935-1950 1975 censuses and there took place a dense because of the negative effect the World War II population flow from this date onward. The rate created. Industrial uprise in Istanbul after 1950 was 306.5‰ in 1935-1980 censuses, 560.8‰ in caused a population flow from east to west, thus 1935-1985, 1518‰ in 1935-1990, 3080.3‰ in population of Istanbul rapidly increased. 1935-1997, 4248.8‰ in 1935-2000 and Büyükçekmece, 40 km away from Istanbul city 1747.1‰ in 1935-2008

Table 4: Population Growth Rates by Census Years (%)

Census Year Intervals 1935-40 40-45 45-50 50-55 55-60 60-65 65-70 70-75 75-80 80-85 85-90 90-97 97-00 2000- 08 Büyükçekmece 98‚55 93‚61 −163‚49 46 10‚27 −46‚93 33‚72 72‚50 106‚67 97‚18 179‚10 96‚53 104‚31 −122‚32 Source: Turkish Statistical Institute, Prepared with the Data Obtained from the General Censuses

Table 4 of our study area shows that while tion decreased by -163,49% in 1945-1950 due to population growth rate was 98,55% in the census the fact that after the World War II military years 1935-1940, 93,64% in 1944-1945, popula- forces returned to their units. Population which

70 decreased by -46,93 in 1960-1965 indicates that Çatalca and became a town in 17 June 1987 by population of the town had decreased. The rea- the law numbered 3392 of the Council of Minis- son for the decrease is that Yeşilbayır (Muha)‚ ters. The population in Büyükçekmece grew so Hoşdere‚ Ömerli and Karaağaç villages became much that two towns were formed out of it; Bey- a part of Boyalık District of Hadımköy. How- likdüzü and Esenyurt. In Büyükçekmece, which ever, Karacaağaç and Hoşdere became districts became a town in 1987, industrial movements of Büyükçekmece again in the 1975 census. The started, different settlement areas appeared and population increased as a result of the migrations accordingly population increased soon. and natural population increase up to 1965-2007. In 2007, a great population potential appeared There appeared a difference by 80,65% in com- in the study field and shops and working places parison to the previous census due to the increase enlarged towards the town because of the over- by 33,72% in the 1965-1970 censuses. This in- populated work centres in Istanbul after 1990. crease emerged from the migration of the work- Till 2008, around 1000 working places of various ers and families from Afyon, Sinop and Erzurum sizes were established in Kıraç and in the envi- to work for the cement factory founded in Tepe- rons in Büyükçekmece. Local people of cik. During the years this increase took place, Büyükçekmece and commuters were employed Istanbul was slowly enlarging in the westward in these working places. As a result of this em- direction and the increase rate of the population ployment, population movements occurred in the was 179,10% in 1985-1990. At that time, socio-economic area and daily population Büyükçekmece was divided from the town movements were prominent.

Table 5: Distribution of the Population in Büyükçekmece according to Age Groups and Gender (2008)

Age Group Total Male Female 0-4 12580 6512 6068 5-9 13210 6852 6358 10-14 13533 6998 6535 Dependent Population 39323 20362 18961 15-19 12607 6555 6052 20-24 13832 6817 7015 25-29 16094 8104 7990 30-34 15267 7681 7586 35-39 13944 6989 6955 40-44 12065 6143 5922 45-49 10757 5491 5266 50-54 8641 4443 4198 55-59 6673 3327 3346 60-64 4948 2361 2587 Active Population 114828 57911 56917 65-69 3543 1744 1799 70-74 2385 1144 1241 75-79 1791 792 999 80-84 870 331 539 85-89 298 98 200 90 + 102 30 72 Dependent Population 8989 4139 4850 Total 163140 82412 80728 Source: Data pertaining to Population from Turkish Statistical Institute

As is known, the age groups 0-14 and 65-90 and 23811 of whom are female. Approximate are known as dependent population. Total popu- percentage of the total dependent population in lation of the dependent group is 48312 as in- the general population is 29.5%, which signifies ferred from Table 5, 24502 of whom are male that every 30 in 100 people are unemployed or

71 dependent on the employed. On the other hand, is an important amount indicating the amount of active, that is, working population is 114828, the prospective labour force. Percentage of the 57911 of which is male and 56817 of whom are age group 0-14 in the dependent population is female. When compared to the total population, 24%, whereas that of the other age group 65 and 70,5 of the population is or can be employed. over is 5.5%. Population of the age group 0-14 is 39323, which

90 + 85-89 80-84 75-79 70-74 65-69 60-64 55-59 50-54 45-49 40-44 35-39 30-34 25-29 20-24 15-19 10-14 5-9 0-4

-10000 -8000 -6000 -4000 -2000 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000

Male Female

Graphic 2: Population Pyramid of Büyükçekmece (2008)

In the population pyramid (Graphic 2) created rates are decreasing in Büyükçekmece. It is with the same data, the beam representing the striking that the populations of the age groups age group 0-4 is relatively shortening and 25-29, 30-34, 35-39 and 40-44 are high. The similarly the beam of the age group 5-9 is longer abundance of this age group is the cause of the that the sub-group 0-4 but shorter than the upper population living in the industrial facilities in the group 10-14. The shortening one standing for the town and its environs age group 0-9 in Graphic 1 signifies that birth

Table 6: Population Change in Büyükçekmece by Census Years (1935-2000)

1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1997 2000 B. Çekmece 1366 4456 5631 1168 1846 2125 2269 3913 5204 8125 11310 22394 41644 35860 Ahmediye 247 260 330 281 323 370 376 435 473 664 802 1183 1300 1197 Gürpınar 834 980 1757 1065 1108 1110 1207 1305 1578 2812 3584 10191 20702 25479 Bahşayış 212 ------Hoşdere 503 550 1475 636 1642 1811 - - 802 864 924 1538 12915 - Çakmaklı 299 259 354 351 298 287 334 344 801 525 702 1633 3675 4593 Güzelce 298 304 434 398 405 523 592 722 999 211 1366 - - - Esenyurt 374 360 403 485 511 981 1410 923 1631 6636 21290 70280 100565 148981 Kamiloba 642 618 662 671 682 652 702 ------Karaağaç 307 271 397 254 267 471 - - 325 451 399 681 868 1263 Kavaklı 291 353 410 420 414 460 486 501 628 866 1021 2170 24475 39884 Kıraç 250 282 332 311 315 664 365 371 435 544 826 2239 10353 24217 Kumburgaz 306 344 606 423 444 518 693 928 1270 2750 2569 7118 8329 10352 Mimarsinan 1137 2377 1830 1312 3035 2006 1637 2296 2232 3138 4083 7690 15204 25858 Yeşilbayır 333 478 3672 447 1365 960 ------Ömerli 220 241 2072 340 402 332 ------Tepecik 605 1492 1056 788 921 1065 1200 1607 3134 4805 7382 12240 14588 18797 Türkoba 174 188 236 283 293 309 342 339 505 364 436 712 2392 3629 Yakuplu 434 534 848 560 584 884 771 974 1045 1252 1664 2841 23878 24960 Bahçeşehir ------19018 Total 8832 14456 23084 10193 14875 15659 12384 14658 21062 35903 53365 120516 239244 384089 Source: Turkish Statistical Institute, Prepared with the Data Obtained from the General Censuses

72 When Table 6 is analyzed, Bahşayış village, a population of the whole town with its 23 quarters part of Büyükçekmece District in 1935 became a was decided to be urban population. village of Çatalca Central District in the 1940 The Quarters of Büyükçekmece and Their census. Bojdar (Hoşdere), Muha (Yeşilbayır), Populations (2008) Ömerli and Karacaağaç villages became the vil- Name of the Quarter 2008 lages of Boyalı (Hadımköy) District in the 1965- 1-Batıköy 22268 1970 censuses, yet Bojdar (Hoşdere) and Kara- 2-Fatih 16398 caağaç re-included within the borders of 3-Atatürk 13906 Büyükçekmece and Kamiloba was included in 4-Hürriyet 13428 Silivri with the 1970 census. Güzelce was inte- 5-Ulus 13427 grated into the borders of Mimarsinan with the 6-Mimarsinan 12559 1990-1997 and 2007 censuses and into those of 7-Muratçeşme 7853 Kumburgaz in 2008. Bahçeşehir, a quarter of 8-19 Mayıs 7012 Esenyurt till 2000, acquired the status of a town 9-Kumburgaz 6665 municipality of Büyükçekmece by including 10-Türkoba 6281 Hoşdere in its body and separated from the town. 11-Güzelce 5986 It joined into the town Başakşehir in 2008. The 12-Dizdariye 5911 town got overpopulated and amounted to 688774 13-Pınartepe 5204 in 2007. Esenyurt, Beylikdüzü, Gürpınar, 14-Cumhuriyet 4780 Kavaklı, Kıraç, Yakuplu and Bahçeşehir were 15-Kamiloba 4507 excluded from Büyükçekmece by the Decree of 16-Celaliye 4124 the Council of Ministers on 22 March 2008 and 17-Bahçelievler 2718 Muratbey from Çatalca and Kamiloba and Cela- 18-Yeni Mah 2357 liye from Silivri were included into the borders 19-Çakmaklı 1904 of Büyükçekmece. As a result of this administra- 20-Muratbey 1691 tive division, Büyükçekmece was divided into 23 21-Alkent 1659 quarters, 2 of which were included in our study 22-Ahmediye 1524 field from Silivri (Celaliye and Kamiloba), and 1 23-Karaağaç 978 from Çatalca (Muratbey). With this last regula- Total 163140 tion, no villages remained in Büyükçekmece and

Graphic 3: Büyükçekmece population map.(2008) (Each point = 500 people)

Three factors in particular had greatly signifi- the west, their separation as two-way direction. cant effect in various stages in the population Expansion of the roads increased the opportunity increase of Büyükçekmece. First one of them is to work in Istanbul and live in the countryside. the increase in the population of Istanbul and The third factor is ownership of holiday houses expansion of the urbanization area towards Tuzla (the second house) which started to gain impor- in the east and Silivri in the west. Second factor tance in 1970s and make the conditions favour- is the regulations of the roads from Istanbul to able for the appearance and development of vari-

73 ous functions in Büyükçekmece. Also this factor signifies the environmental and health problems affirmatively contributed to the population it may potentially cause. As stated before, indus- growth. Essentially, recreational services and trial facilities founded in the town has a remark- transportation services developed; thus, these able share in the environmental problems. It is three factors which affected and triggered each necessary that the lake water should not be pol- other played a significant role in the population luted considering that importance of water will growth of the town. increase in the future. So as to avoid the hazards In Büyükçekmece, covering 220 km², popu- of the chemicals used in the agricultural practices lation density was 1746 people per km² in 2000, conducted around the lake, necessary checkups whereas it was 901 people per km² in 2008. In should be carried out with heed. Preventing the 2000, both the population and the town used to dumping of the waste materials from the settle- cover a larger land. Thanks to the shrinkage of ments and commercial facilities around the lake the borders of the town and accordingly the de- could be beneficial. Careless fishing is doing crease in the population in 2008, the amount of harm to the natural life and indigenous species of people per km² also decreased. Contrarily, the lake. People having picnic on the shores of population density of Turkey was 83 people in the lake at weekend should pay heed not to pol- 2000 and 88 in 2008. The reason why these lute the lake. Although daily two-way move- numbers are much higher than the average of ments in Istanbul are quite intense, we cannot Turkey is that large quantities of people are liv- make the utmost benefit from the sea. Especially ing in high-rise apartment blocks. existing functions should be vitalized for a better marine transportation. Marine transportation to Results and Suggestions the working places will greatly contribute to Beylikdüzü, Çatalca and Silivri along with Thanks to its geographical position, Büyükçekmece. Regular and efficient marine Büyükçekmece attracted the attention of people transportation will lessen the traffic congestion in and still does. As a result of the fact that Istanbul central Istanbul. The construction in the south of is one of the housing, trade, culture, industry and E5 after 1980 has the potential to mirror the tourism centres, it rapidly developed in parallel negative effects of a possible earthquake. Be- with the population and land prices rose in a cause the North Anatolia Fault in the Marmara short time due to the rising demands. Agricul- Sea passing by the town can cause dangerous tural areas turned into housing, industry and outcomes for the settlements, it will be true to commerce areas. A sustainable method could not assign a new colourful function totally concern- be followed in using the lands during this change ing sea tourism to the town. Housing and indus- process and as a result agricultural lands nar- trial facilities emerging in the fertile agricultural rowed down. The study area, one of the impor- lands will destroy the ones that will gain much tant tourism centres of Istanbul since 1970s, is more importance in the future. Though huge also attractive as a holiday spot, but Büyükçek- settlements have appeared in the last years, the mece which changed and developed very fast absence of an irregular construction pattern is over time was included in the borders of Istan- hilarious. Due to its 25-km coastline in the south, bul. Especially industrial movements in the north it has always been attractive in military, political, and northeast caused a population flow to this commercial, cultural and tourism terms. Tourism area. As a consequence of the increasing popula- activities emerging in the study area in summer tion, it formed housing estates and made the area cause huge population movements. The density open to various professions. The ones using the caused by the second house (summer house) Bosporus as a transportation route today as in the owners and day-trippers at weekend results in a past pass across the study area through TEM and visible population flow. It will be useful to re- E5 highways. These main highway arteries in- store the infrastructure of some areas to cope cluded Büyükçekmece into a transportation net- with this remarkable population flow. Otherwise, work. These highways passing across the north it will be no good to have a Blue Flag for a 4-km and south of the town decreased the quality of beach. The International Culture and Arts Festi- the inhaled air. val held traditionally will be effective in the Cement factory founded in Tepecik happened promotion of the town. The presence of TUYAP to be covered by the town borders by the passing (a fair company) in Büyükçekmece made it a of the time and is now giving off white dust par- culture centre and established universities will ticles accumulating on the nearby roofs, which contribute to the culture of the town. Mistakes

74 made in socio-cultural and economic terms 7. 7-Tanoğlu‚ A.‚ 1952-1953‚ The Last Mi- should not be repeated for a more regular and gration Movement of Bulgarian Turks, Istanbul healthy urbanization of this important town. University, Journal of Faculty of Economics, Vol. 14, Issue 132, pp.129-161, Istanbul References 8. 8-Mansel A.M.‚ 1938‚ Culture and His- tory of Thrace, Resimli Ay Press, Istanbul 1. 1-Akgün‚ H.‚ 1997‚ Büyükçekmece in Ur- 9. 9-Mutluer‚M.‚ 2003‚ International Migra- ban Development Process, Turkish Democracy tions and Turkey, Çantay Publishing, 17, Istan- Foundation, Istanbul Branch Press, Istanbul bul 2. 2-Göney‚ S.‚ 1995‚ Urban Geography I, 10. 10-Sevin V. ‚2001‚ Historical Geogra- Istanbul University, Faculty of Letters Press, phy of Anatolia I, Turkish Historical Society Istanbul Press, Ankara 3. 3-İnandık‚ H.‚ 1965‚ Lakes in Turkey, 11. 11-TUİK (Turkish Statistical Insti- Baha Publishing, Istanbul tute), 2008, General Census, Ankara 4. 4-Karal‚ E.Z.‚ The First Census 1831 of 12. 12-Tümertekin‚E.‚1994, An Introduc- the Ottoman Empire, Turkish Republic Gen- tion to Human Geography, Istanbul University, eral Directorate of Statistics of Prime Minister, Communication Faculty Press, Istanbul Ankara. 5. 5-Keleş‚ R.‚ 2006‚ Urbanization Policy‚ İmge Publishing‚ Ankara. Mesut Doğan 6. 6-Village Law item 1 Settlements with less than 2000 people are qualified as “village”, Istanbul University with a population ranging from 2000 to 20000 as Faculty of Letters “town” and over 20000 as “city”. Even though Department of Geography less than 2000 people, districts and province Room Number: 718 centres are qualified as “town” and subjected to Beyazıt- Istanbul. the Municipality Law. http:www.hukuki.net /kanun e-mail: [email protected].