Haymana, Ankara

Infobox Settlement
settlement_type = District
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = TUR
timezone= EET
utc_offset=+2


map_caption =Location of Haymana, Ankara within Turkey.
timezone_DST=EEST
utc_offset_DST=+3
official_name = Haymana


image_caption =
image_blank_emblem =
blank_emblem_type =
map c
Turkey
subdivision_type2=Province
subdivision_name2 = Ankara
population_total = 54087
population_urban = 11313
population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_density_km2 = 18.17
area_total_km2 = 2976
latd = 39
latm = 26
latNS = N
longd = 32
longm = 30
longEW = E
elevation_m = 1259
postal_code_type=Postal code
postal_code = 06xxx
area_code = 0312
blank_info = 06
blank_name=Licence plate
leader_title = Governor
leader_name = Süleyman Erdoğan
website = [http://www.haymana.gov.tr/ www.haymana.gov.tr]

Haymana is a town and district of Ankara Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey, 72 km south of the capital, Ankara. According to 2000 census, population of the district is 54,087 of which 11,313 live in the town of Haymana.cite web|url=http://www.die.gov.tr/nufus_sayimi/2000tablo5.xls|title=Census 2000, Key statistics for urban areas of Turkey|accessdate=2008-03-27|author=Turkish Statistical Institute|format=XLS|language=Turkish] [cite web|url=http://www.xist.org/cntry/turkey.aspx?levels=Ic%20Anadolu|title=Statistical information on Turkey's administrative units|accessdate=2008-03-27|author=GeoHive] The district covers an area of 2,976 km², and the average elevation is 1259 m.

Etymology

Haymana is named after "Hayme Ana" the mother of Osman I the founder of the Ottoman Empire.

History

Archaeological excavations were launched in "Gavur Kalesi", a castle situated in the village of Dereköy, in the years 1930 and 1998. The results showed that it was an important Phrygian settlement. Besides, the tumuli located in Türkhöyük and Oyaca villages prove that the area was also inhabited during the Hittite period.cite web|url=http://www.haymana.bel.tr/haymana.html|title=Brief history of Haymana|accessdate=2008-03-27|author=Municipality of Haymana, Turkey|language=Turkish]

After the periods of the Roman and Byzantine rule, the area was captured by the Seljuk Turks in 1127. After the Battle of Köse Dağ it came under Ilkhanate control for a while. In the mid 14th century the area was annexed by the Ottomans. After a brief period of Timurid rule in the wake of the Battle of Ankara in 1402, it was re-captured by the Ottomans.

Haymana today

Once this was a thriving country market town, but in recent decades the middle classes have continuously migrated to Ankara in search of jobs and careers and Haymana has become populated by villagers from the surrounding countryside, an area with a substantial Kurdish population.

Haymana has an unsavoury reputation; this was brought to light in 2006 when a TV quiz show (the Turkish edition of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?) asked the question "Which of these is an old word for a herd of donkeys?" and had "Haymana" as one of the options. (the other options were a word for "shoehorn" which is a metaphor for "pimp" in Turkish; "haylaz" a rebuke for a badly behaved child; and the correct answer "hergele"). The people of Haymana were furious and the local MP made demands for an apology reminding the country that the people of Haymana had played a part in the Turkish War of Independence and had supported the Republic of Turkey at the very beginning.

Haymana is famous for its Turkish Baths, the waters are volcanically heated and are said to contain many healing properties, particularly for those suffering from arthritic ailments. There are hotels for weekend visitors to the springs.haymanam güzeldir birlik beraberlilikle öndedir

Prominent residents

* Kurd Ahmet (Ahmet Turgut) - businessman; bookmaker, nightclub owner and leader of the Ankara underworld.
* Haymana prison has had a fair share of politicians as inmates over the years including historian Fikret Başkaya; professor of foreign relations Haluk Gerger; Workers' Party (Turkey) leader, Doğu Perinçek; political scientist Yalçın Küçük and playwright Bilgesu Erenus (these last two jointly published their Haymana memoirs).

Notes

Saim Ozerkan, shot by the infamous Mark "Chopper" Reed behind a St Kilda nightclub in Melbourne. This was later featured in the movie starring Eric Bana.

References

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External links

* [http://www.haymana.gov.tr/ District governor's official website] tr icon
* [http://www.haymana.bel.tr/ District municipality's official website] tr icon