Bayat is a town in
Çorum Province
Çorum () is a province in the Black Sea Region of Turkey, but lying inland and having more characteristics of Central Anatolia than the Black Sea coast. Its area is 12,428 km2, and its population is 524,130 (2022). Its provincial capital ...
in the
Black Sea
The Black Sea is a marginal sea, marginal Mediterranean sea (oceanography), mediterranean sea lying between Europe and Asia, east of the Balkans, south of the East European Plain, west of the Caucasus, and north of Anatolia. It is bound ...
region of
Turkey
Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...
. It is located at 83 km from the city of
Çorum, near the town of
Ä°skilip. It is the seat of
Bayat District.
[İlçe Belediyesi]
Turkey Civil Administration Departments Inventory. Retrieved 1 March 2023. Its population is 5,613 (2022).
It has an elevation of 625 m. The mayor is Ekrem Ünlü (
AKP).
Geography
Bayat is located at high altitude above the
Black Sea
The Black Sea is a marginal sea, marginal Mediterranean sea (oceanography), mediterranean sea lying between Europe and Asia, east of the Balkans, south of the East European Plain, west of the Caucasus, and north of Anatolia. It is bound ...
coast, but has the character of a central
Anatolia
Anatolia (), also known as Asia Minor, is a peninsula in West Asia that makes up the majority of the land area of Turkey. It is the westernmost protrusion of Asia and is geographically bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the south, the Aegean ...
n district. The town stands in a valley of the River Bayat, a tributary of the
Kızılırmak that runs down from the surrounding mountains including the 2013 m Mount Öbek.
In the mountain villages in the north of the district people live on forestry and herding livestock, there are also a number of coal mines. Many families have migrated to larger cities in search of jobs, or go as seasonal labour in the construction industry. There is better farmland in the valley floor along with flour and feed mills.
The town of Bayat provides schools, health care and other basic amenities to the villages in the district.
History
Bayat was founded as a settlement during its occupation by the ancient
Persian Empire
The Achaemenid Empire or Achaemenian Empire, also known as the Persian Empire or First Persian Empire (; , , ), was an Iranian empire founded by Cyrus the Great of the Achaemenid dynasty in 550 BC. Based in modern-day Iran, it was the larg ...
. Bayat was settled in the 13th century by the
Bayat tribe of the
Oghuz Turks, who were widespread in
Anatolia
Anatolia (), also known as Asia Minor, is a peninsula in West Asia that makes up the majority of the land area of Turkey. It is the westernmost protrusion of Asia and is geographically bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the south, the Aegean ...
and have given their name to over 50 towns and villages in
Turkey
Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...
.
References
Populated places in Çorum Province
District municipalities in Turkey
Bayat District, Çorum
Bayat tribe
{{Çorum-geo-stub