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Çorum

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Introduction

Not to be confused with Corum. Municipality in TurkeyÇorumMunicipalityÇorum Archaeological Museum Coat of armsÇorumLocation in TurkeyCoordinates: 40°33′0″N 34°57′14″E / 40.55000°N 34.95389°E / 40.55000; 34.95389CountryTurkeyProvinceÇorumDistrictÇorumGovernment • MayorHalil İbrahim Aşgın (AK Party)Population (2022)269,595Time zoneUTC+3 (TRT)Websitewww.corum.bel.tr Çorum (Turkish pronunciation: [ˈtʃoɾum]) is a northern Anatolian city in Turkey. Çorum is located inland in the central Black Sea Region of Turkey and is approximately 244 km (152 mi) from Ankara and 608 km (378 mi) from Istanbul. It is the seat of Çorum Province and of Çorum District. Its population is 269,595 (2022). The city has an elevation of 801 m (2,628 ft) above sea level. Çorum is primarily known for its Phrygian and Hittite archaeological sites, its thermal springs, and its native roasted chickpea snacks known nationally as leblebi. Çorum is one of the principal urban centres of inland northern Anatolia and is internationally known for its proximity to Hattusa, the capital of the ancient Hittite Empire and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is also widely associated with the production of roasted chickpeas known as leblebi, a traditional specialty that has become one of its most recognizable symbols.

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[edit] There is ample archaeological evidence for human presence in the area since the Paleolithic Age. The area prospered during the Bronze Age, with the emergence of the Hittite Empire between 1650 and 1200 BCE. Hattusa, the Hittite capital, was located in the region owing to its inherent geographic protection and the well-established local economy as supported by the regional Karum system. Historical affiliations Hittites c. 1600–1200 BC Phrygia c. 800–695 BC Achaemenid Empire c. 547–333 BC Macedonian Empire 333–323 BC Kingdom of Pontus c. 281–63 BC Roman Empire 63 BC–395 AD Byzantine Empire 395–1071 Seljuk Empire 1071–1080s Danishmendids c. 1080–1178 Sultanate of Rum 1178–1243 Ilkhanate 1243–1335 Eretna Beylik 1335–1381 Ottoman Empire 1398–1922 Turkey 1923–present There is a hypothesis that the Byzantine town of Euchaneia was located at or near the site of the modern city, although other scholars place Euchaneia further east, at Euchaita. In Ancient Greek and Byzantine sources, Çorum is referred to as Niconia (Greek: Νικόνεια), (Latinized: Nikonya). Medieval sources also refer to Çorum as Yankoniya (Yankoniyye), while later historical works record the name as Niconia or Nikonya, suggesting that these variants may refer to the same pre-Ottoman settlement. A fragment of Phrygian pottery in the Çorum Archaeological Museum. A fragment of an Early Hittite period Hüseyindede vase in the Çorum Archaeological Museum. Sun disk (2400–2200 BC, Early Bronze Age) from Alaca Höyük, displayed in the Eskişehir Archaeology Museum. The settlement of Çorum proper can be traced only to the 16th century. The name is of unknown origin and is first attested in Ottoman records referring to a Seljuk fortress, Çorum Kalesi, as described by Evliya Çelebi. In the mid-16th century, the fortress was divided into four mahalle, or quarters. From 1867 until 1922, Çorum was part of the Angora vilayet.

Çorum today

[edit] Çorum Clock Tower. Çorum Ulu Mosque Gerdek Rock-cut tomb, Hellenistic period, 2nd century BCE, District of Çorum. The town today is generally tidy and pleasant, with a locally popular countryside. As with most Central Anatolian and inland Black Sea towns, the population is largely conservative, leading to a generally more restricted nightlife that favors dry establishments, although there are some bars, pubs, and cafés that offer a mix of contemporary and traditional Turkish folk music. Within the city, there is a good range of shops, cafés, and restaurants, with a cuisine that includes a variety of pastries including the nationally known Çorum Mantısı - a popular dish similar to ravioli that is slowly baked in a brick oven or steamed in a beef broth. As well as the archeological and other historic sites, the countryside surrounding Çorum offers many places for picnics, particularly near the Çomar reservoir or in the mountains around the province. The old Ottoman houses, the 19th-century clock tower, and the Çorum Museum, which displays a range of artefacts from excavations in the region, are popular tourist attractions. An International Hittite Congress of archaeologists is held in Çorum every three years.

Demographics

[edit] Çorum is the administrative centre of Çorum Province and has a population of over 260,000 inhabitants as of the early 2020s. The wider province has a significantly larger population distributed across rural districts and towns. The city has experienced steady population growth due to rural-to-urban migration, particularly from surrounding agricultural districts. Like many Central Anatolian cities, its demographic structure is influenced by internal migration and economic opportunities in industry and services. Population[edit] Population of the city of Çorum 2017 227,863 2009 206,600 2000 161,321 1990 116,810 1985 96,725 1980 75,726 1970 57,576

Economy

[edit] Old shoe repair street, Çorum. Although the economic output of the city has historically been relatively small, with a focus on traditional crafts such as coppersmithing, tanning, hand weaving, agriculture, and animal husbandry, over the past two decades, the city has shown a significant growth in industrial production and light engineering, making it one of the most industrially advanced cities relative to its population size. Originally home to about 20 tile and brick manufacturing facilities and 10 flour and feed mills, the city today produces a wide variety of products ranging from cement to automobile parts, refined sugar to dairy products, textiles to computer parts, and, more recently, poultry through chicken farming.

Tourism

[edit] Tourism in Çorum is largely centred on the province's archaeological and historical heritage. The city serves as the principal gateway to several major Bronze Age and Hittite sites, including Hattusa, the ancient capital of the Hittite Empire and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Alacahöyük, one of the most important archaeological sites in Anatolia. Within the city, the Çorum Museum is one of the region's principal cultural attractions and contains extensive collections from Hittite, Phrygian, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman periods, including artefacts recovered from Hattusa, Alacahöyük and Şapinuva. Cultural tourism is also supported by the city's historic mosques, traditional architecture, museums, and its reputation as one of Türkiye's foremost centres of Hittite archaeology and research. Çorum Castle[edit] Çorum castle Çorum Castle, also known as Çorum Kalesi is a historic fortress located on a rocky hill overlooking the city centre. Although its exact date of construction is uncertain, the castle is generally believed to have originated during the Byzantine period and was subsequently repaired and modified during the Seljuk and Ottoman eras. Throughout its history, it served as a defensive stronghold controlling routes through the region and protecting the surrounding settlement. Today, portions of the fortification walls and towers survive, and the site remains one of the city's principal historic landmarks, offering views of the urban area and surrounding countryside.

Culture

[edit] Çorum has a diverse cultural heritage shaped by its long history as a settlement area for successive civilizations including the Hittites, Byzantines, Seljuks, and Ottomans. The city hosts an International Hittite Congress every three years, reflecting its importance in archaeological and historical research. Traditional Anatolian customs remain present in local social life, particularly in music, crafts, and community gatherings. Folk music and oral storytelling traditions are still part of rural cultural expression in the surrounding region. The production of leblebi (roasted chickpeas) forms an important part of the city's cultural and economic identity. The tradition of leblebi production in Çorum dates back several centuries, and the product has become closely associated with the city, where numerous businesses continue to produce and export it to domestic and international markets. Çorum leblebi Çorum Museum[edit] The Çorum Museum functions as the principal institution for the preservation and display of artefacts from the Hittite, Phrygian, Roman and Byzantine periods. Its collections include ceramics, metal objects, and coins recovered from regional excavations, particularly from Alacahöyük and Boğazköy-Hattusa. The museum also incorporates ethnographic exhibits reflecting rural life in the region, including traditional tools and examples of local craftsmanship.

Transport

[edit] Bus Terminal Çorum is located at a strategic crossroads between Central Anatolia and the Black Sea region. The city is connected to major centres such as Ankara through regional highways, making it an important inland transport hub. Road transport is the primary means of access to the city, and it is linked to national highway routes connecting the interior of Turkey with northern coastal provinces. Infrastructure development projects have included proposals to integrate Çorum into broader railway and high-speed rail networks. There are many ways to reach Çorum by road. The transportation by road from the capital Ankara is via E88. A station point was created for the high-speed train line to be built between Ankara-Samsun by TCDD, passing through Çorum. It is possible to reach Çorum Intercity Bus Terminal by bus from anywhere in Turkey.

Archaeology

[edit] The Çorum region is one of the most archaeologically significant areas of Turkey, with evidence of human settlement dating back to the Paleolithic and Chalcolithic periods. The region reached major historical importance during the Bronze Age as part of the Hittite civilization. Nearby Hattusa, the capital of the Hittite Empire, and the religious centre of Yazılıkaya are UNESCO World Heritage Sites located within Çorum Province. Other major archaeological sites include Alacahöyük and Sapinuwa, which provide evidence of continuous settlement and administrative activity in ancient Anatolia. Owing to its proximity to major archaeological sites including Hattusa and Alacahöyük, Çorum has become one of Türkiye's principal centres for Hittite archaeology and historical research. The city museum houses numerous artifacts from the Hittite, Phrygian, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman periods. Following the Hittites, the region came under the influence of Phrygians, Persians, Romans, Byzantines, and later Turkish states, creating a multilayered archaeological landscape.

Geography

[edit] Çorum is on the northern edge of the Central Anatolian Plateau. The city is on a plain surrounded by mountains. The Merzifon branch of the North Anatolian Fault passes about 25 km (16 mi) north of Çorum, with the main fault line passing about 60 km (37 mi) north. Climate[edit] Çorum has a warm summer continental climate (Köppen climate classification: Dfb or Trewartha climate classification: Dcb) with dry summers and cold, snowy winters. It also has mild to cool wet springs and autumns with light rain. Highest recorded temperature: 42.6 °C (108.7 °F) on 30 July 2000.Lowest recorded temperature:−27.2 °C (−17.0 °F) on 23 February 1985. Climate data for Çorum (1991–2020, extremes 1929–2023) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °C (°F) 20.6(69.1) 20.4(68.7) 28.6(83.5) 30.4(86.7) 35.1(95.2) 37.5(99.5) 42.6(108.7) 40.2(104.4) 38.7(101.7) 33.6(92.5) 25.6(78.1) 19.2(66.6) 42.6(108.7) Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 4.6(40.3) 7.4(45.3) 12.5(54.5) 17.9(64.2) 22.9(73.2) 26.8(80.2) 30.2(86.4) 30.7(87.3) 26.7(80.1) 20.7(69.3) 12.9(55.2) 6.5(43.7) 18.3(64.9) Daily mean °C (°F) −0.2(31.6) 1.4(34.5) 5.6(42.1) 10.4(50.7) 15.0(59.0) 18.7(65.7) 21.7(71.1) 21.9(71.4) 17.8(64.0) 12.5(54.5) 5.6(42.1) 1.6(34.9) 11.0(51.8) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −4.1(24.6) −3.5(25.7) −0.3(31.5) 3.4(38.1) 7.4(45.3) 10.7(51.3) 12.8(55.0) 13.1(55.6) 9.6(49.3) 5.7(42.3) 0.2(32.4) −2.2(28.0) 4.4(39.9) Record low °C (°F) −25.6(−14.1) −27.2(−17.0) −23.3(−9.9) −9.4(15.1) −4.3(24.3) 0.2(32.4) 3.4(38.1) 3.0(37.4) −3.0(26.6) −6.3(20.7) −15.7(3.7) −21.6(−6.9) −27.2(−17.0) Average precipitation mm (inches) 37.4(1.47) 28.5(1.12) 42.0(1.65) 46.6(1.83) 61.7(2.43) 63.5(2.50) 21.4(0.84) 19.0(0.75) 24.9(0.98) 27.9(1.10) 32.9(1.30) 43.0(1.69) 448.8(17.67) Average precipitation days 11.33 10.57 11.73 11.93 13.53 11.47 4.03 3.33 4.97 7.5 7.73 11.77 109.9 Average snowy days 9.8 6.2 5.08 0.8 0 0 0 0 0 0.12 1.12 5.12 28.24 Average relative humidity (%) 81 75.2 70.2 66.7 67.8 66.3 59.6 58.9 61.9 68.5 75.5 81.8 69.5 Mean monthly sunshine hours 67.1 96.5 144.7 191.1 233.7 267.3 316.7 309.6 244.4 173.6 116.0 61.2 2,222 Mean daily sunshine hours 2.2 3.5 4.7 6.4 7.6 8.9 10.2 10.0 8.2 5.6 3.9 2.0 6.1 Source 1: Turkish State Meteorological Service Source 2: NOAA NCEI(humidity, sun 1991-2020), Meteomanz(snow days 2000-2024)