Tokat Province

Province of Turkey

Province in Turkey

Tokat Province

Tokat ili

Province

A village in Turhal District

Location of the province within Turkey

Country| Turkey
Seat| Tokat
Government

• Vali| Numan Hatipoğlu

Area

| 10,042 km2 (3,877 sq mi)
Population

(2022)[1]

| 596,454
• Density| 59/km2 (150/sq mi)
Time zone| UTC+3 (TRT)
Area code| 0356
Website| www.tokat.gov.tr

Tokat Province (Turkish: Tokat ili) is a province in northern Turkey. Its area is 10,042 km2,[2] and its population is 596,454 (2022).[1] Its adjacent provinces are Amasya to the northwest, Yozgat to the southwest, Sivas to the southeast, and Ordu to the northeast. Its capital is Tokat, which lies inland of the middle Black Sea region, 422 kilometers from Ankara. The governor is Numan Hatipoğlu, appointed in 2022.[3]

## Etymology

[edit]

Evliya Çelebi explained the name of the city as Tok-at in return for the satiety of horses because of its rich barley in Turkish etymology. The Ottoman historian İsmail Hakkı explained Uzunçarşılı as Toh-kat, which means "walled city", and Özhan Öztürk, in his work called Pontus, used the word "Dahyu", which means "country, chastity" in Avesta and was first used for Cappadocia in the 6th century BC during the Achaemenid Empire. He claimed that the word "Dokeia", which was corrupted in the Greek dialect, turned into Tokat in time.

## History

[edit]

Tokat, after remaining under the rule of the Hittites, Assyrians, Hurrians and Cimmerians, passed under the rule of Persians, Macedonians of Alexander the Great period, Capodocia Kingdom and Pontus Kingdom, which gave the name "Comana Pontica". In 65 BC, it came under the rule of the Romans and the Byzantine Empire. Tokat Castle, which has a critical importance in Byzantine-Sassanid and Byzantine-Arab wars, is located on Hisartepe, 750 meters high, in the southwest of the city, which was taken under the rule of the Danismendids (1071) after the Malazgirt Victory and later by the Anatolian Seljuks (1150). The oldest traces of Tokat Castle belong to the 5th or 6th century and it is known that the castle existed in these years.

## The Armenian genocide in Tokat

[edit]

For the most part of history, Tokat has been populated by Armenians and Greeks. However, after the invasion of the Seljuk Turks, they slowly started becoming a minority. For most of history, Tokat has played a significant role in trade and culture among the Armenian people. [4] The Armenians have built churches, schools, universities, and cities in the Tokat province.

The Armenians were most prominent in Tokat city in the Tokat province, where the Armenians, Greeks, and Jews controlled the town's commerce up until World War 1.[5]

There used to be four Armenian churches and two Armenian monasteries in the city, as well as Armenian schools and other Armenian cultural places.

Oikonomides states that before the Armenian and Greek Genocides, the population of Tokat city was 40,000, of which 1,000 were Greeks, and 15,000 were Armenians. [6] Tokat has always had a very high Christian population, and for most of history, the Christians outnumbered the Muslims. Before 1837, it was estimated that there were 1000 Christians in the city (primarily Armenians) and only 800 Muslims. [7]

The Armenian genocide in Tokat raised concerns worldwide and attracted the attention of international media. On several occasions, the New York Times reported on the mass killings of Armenians in Tokat, which could be found in their archives online.[8]

After the Armenian genocide, the Armenian population was completely wiped out of the city, and their houses, businesses, and all their belongings were looted. To this day, some Armenian heritage can be found within the city and the region.

## Geography

[edit]

The city, which originates from the northern slopes of the central part of Deveci Mountains and joins Yeşilırmak on the left, is located on the slopes of a river valley, and is located at the junction of important roads connecting the Central Black Sea coast and Central and Eastern Anatolia in a very rugged region. Total area of the province is 10,042 km2.[2] In terms of the footprint area it covers 1.3% of Turkey's land. It is 623 meters above sea level. Geographical Coordinates are being between 39 ° 51 '- 40 ° 55' north latitudes and 35 ° 27'- 37 ° 39 'East longitudes.

## Districts

[edit]

Tokat province is divided into 12 districts (capital district in bold):

* Almus
* Artova
* Başçiftlik
* Erbaa
* Niksar
* Pazar
* Reşadiye
* Sulusaray
* Tokat
* Turhal
* Yeşilyurt
* Zile

## Landmarks

[edit]

Two notable monuments in this province are the Hatuniye Külliyesi of the 15th century, built by Sultan Bayezid II, and a Seljuk bridge spanning the Yeşilırmak River, belonging to the 12th century. The Latifoğlu Mansion is a third, which is an example of the traditional architecture of a Turkish house of the 19th century, restored recently to its original state. Tokat Castle and Zile, Niksar and Turhal castles located in Tokat district are frequented by local and foreign tourists. In the city center of Tokat, the historical Tokat Clock Tower and the historical Gök Madrasa are placed. Additionally, The Yağıbasan Madrasah, known as the first madrasah built in Anatolia, the historical Pazar Caravanserai and the Ballıca Cave are located.

## Economy

[edit]

The people of Tokat earn their living from agriculture, animal husbandry and trade. The city is an ideal city for a peaceful life with its regular city structure, numerous natural beauties and economic shopping conditions. Trade and industry of Tokat, whose economy is based on agriculture and animal husbandry, is concentrated in the city center. Tokat Organized Industrial Zone is the area where the city's only industrial activity continues. Again, with its geographical location, it is a city that is suitable for agriculture. In agricultural production, tomatoes, peppers, cherries, potatoes, grapes and sugar beet are the products that have the largest share in the regional production.

## Gallery

[edit]

* Niksar, Tokat

* Gök Medrese in Tokat

* Polychrome tiles from Gök Medrese

* Maşat Höyük, a Hittite archaeological site

* Atatürk's House Museum

* Tokat Mevlevihanesi

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Address-based population registration system (ADNKS) results dated 31 December 2022, Favorite Reports" (XLS). TÜİK. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
2. ^ a b "İl ve İlçe Yüz ölçümleri". General Directorate of Mapping. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
3. ^ Sayın Vali Numan Hatipoğlu, Tokat Valiliği. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
4. ^ "Transimperial Armenian Mobility and the Rise of Ottoman Tokat".
5. ^ "Tokat - Τοκάτη - Tokat".
6. ^ "Tokat - Τοκάτη - Tokat".
7. ^ "Tokat - Τοκάτη - Tokat".
8. ^ "SEVEN HUNDRED KILLED; the Massacre of Armenians at Tokat More Extensive Than Was Reported. THE SULTAN FORCED TO ACTION He Orders the Arrest of the Turkish Officers at Tokat, and the Appointment of a Commission to Try Them". The New York Times. 26 March 1897.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tokat Province.

* (in Turkish) Tokat governor's official website
* (in Turkish) Tokat municipality's official website
* (in English) Tokat weather forecast information
* Pictures of the capital of Tokat province, with links to others nearby

* v
* t
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Tokat Province of Turkey

Districts|

* Almus
* Artova
* Başçiftlik
* Erbaa
* Niksar
* Pazar
* Reşadiye
* Sulusaray
* Tokat
* Turhal
* Yeşilyurt
* Zile

Districts of Tokat

List of provinces by region

Istanbul|

* Istanbul

West Marmara|

* Balıkesir
* Çanakkale
* Edirne
* Kırklareli
* Tekirdağ

Aegean|

* Afyonkarahisar
* Aydın
* Denizli
* İzmir
* Kütahya
* Manisa
* Muğla
* Uşak

East Marmara|

* Bilecik
* Bolu
* Bursa
* Düzce
* Eskişehir
* Kocaeli
* Sakarya
* Yalova

West Anatolia|

* Ankara
* Karaman
* Konya

Mediterranean|

* Adana
* Antalya
* Burdur
* Hatay
* Isparta
* Kahramanmaraş
* Mersin
* Osmaniye

Central Anatolia|

* Aksaray
* Kayseri
* Kırıkkale
* Kırşehir
* Nevşehir
* Niğde
* Sivas
* Yozgat

West Black Sea|

* Amasya
* Bartın
* Çankırı
* Çorum
* Karabük
* Kastamonu
* Samsun
* Sinop
* Tokat
* Zonguldak

East Black Sea|

* Artvin
* Giresun
* Gümüşhane
* Ordu
* Rize
* Trabzon

Northeast Anatolia|

* Ağrı
* Ardahan
* Bayburt
* Erzincan
* Erzurum
* Iğdır
* Kars

Central East Anatolia|

* Bingöl
* Bitlis
* Elazığ
* Hakkâri
* Malatya
* Muş
* Tunceli
* Van

Southeast Anatolia|

* Adıyaman
* Batman
* Diyarbakır
* Gaziantep
* Kilis
* Mardin
* Siirt
* Şanlıurfa
* Şırnak

Metropolitan municipalities are bolded.

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Provinces of Turkey

* Adana
* Adıyaman
* Afyonkarahisar
* Ağrı
* Aksaray
* Amasya
* Ankara
* Antalya
* Ardahan
* Artvin
* Aydın
* Balıkesir
* Bartın
* Batman
* Bayburt
* Bilecik
* Bingöl
* Bitlis
* Bolu
* Burdur
* Bursa
* Çanakkale
* Çankırı
* Çorum
* Denizli
* Diyarbakır
* Düzce
* Edirne
* Elazığ
* Erzincan
* Erzurum
* Eskişehir
* Gaziantep
* Giresun
* Gümüşhane
* Hakkâri
* Hatay
* Iğdır
* Isparta
* İstanbul
* İzmir
* Kahramanmaraş
* Karabük
* Karaman
* Kars
* Kastamonu
* Kayseri
* Kilis
* Kırıkkale
* Kırklareli
* Kırşehir
* Kocaeli
* Konya
* Kütahya
* Malatya
* Manisa
* Mardin
* Mersin
* Muğla
* Muş
* Nevşehir
* Niğde
* Ordu
* Osmaniye
* Rize
* Sakarya
* Samsun
* Siirt
* Sinop
* Sivas
* Şanlıurfa
* Şırnak
* Tekirdağ
* Tokat
* Trabzon
* Tunceli
* Uşak
* Van
* Yalova
* Yozgat
* Zonguldak

Metropolitan municipalities are bolded.

40°21′10″N 36°33′52″E﻿ / ﻿40.35278°N 36.56444°E﻿ / 40.35278; 36.56444

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

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Geographic|

* MusicBrainz area

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