The Population of The City District of Bolu From Tanzimat Period to First Years of Republic

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Modern censuses, whose history dates back to the 18th century, were implemented for the first time in the Ottoman Empire in 1831. The Bolu kaza, which is our area of study, has also taken place in these censuses. From the Tanzimat period to the first years of the republic, although there is data on the population of the kazas across the country, population data on the districts are very few. The population data of the districts that we can consider as the urban part of the Bolu kaza has been obtained. These datas are population registers, temettüat registers, provincial annuals belonging to the Ottoman period. These sources usually contain information only on the male population. Information in Ottoman period archive books and annuals; The distribution of the population has been evaluated by transferring it to tables, graphics and map. Thus, the population of the districts in the 85-years period between 1840 and 1925 has been presented by comparing them with each other. There were 14 districts in the city between 1840-1897. Since the Armenian district disappeared in 1915, the number of districts decreased to 13. We can access to information about the total population of the city between 1840 and 1935 from the mentioned sources and census results. The total population of Bolu city increased by 1,906 people in the 95 years between 1840 and 1935 and increased by 37.5%. Between these periods, the Muslim population in the city increased from 4,420 to 6,978, with an increase of 57.9% with 2558 people. During the period between 1840 and 1897, the non-Muslim population increased by 39.3%, 256 people. In 1840, there were 5072 people in the city. The most populated district was Akpınar with 946 people. Between the years 1840-1844, the city population increased by 9.8%, reaching 5,567 people at the 1844. The most populated district in the city was Karaçayır with 1011 people. The population increased by 27.2% between 1844-1897 and reached to 7083 people. The highest population was in 1897 Karaçayır district with 1298 people. The population declined by -3.9% between 1897-1925, decreased to 6806 people at the 1925. Undoubtedly, the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire and the period of national struggle were effective in this decrease. The district with the highest population in 1925 was Karaçayır with 1406 people. In the period between 1925-1935, it increased by 2.7% and reached to 6978 people.

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Historical Geography , Population Geography , Ottoman Archive , Bolu City

eastern geographical review

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eastern geographical review