Geographical Analysis of Kilis City Population

The town of Kilis, Turkey-Syria border and situated between the Mediterranean and Southeastern Anatolia Region is spread over approximately 16 km2. Kilis Merkez District is 205th among 973 districts and 75th among 81 city centers. According to the Socio-Economic Development Index prepared in 2004, Kilis is in the third group in terms of development among the districts divided into 6 groups. The city of Kilis is a settlement center dating back to old times. Kilis was a small town until the Ottoman domination after the Mercidabık War (1516); It developed under the Ottoman domination and assumed the function of the city. This development constitutes the first breaking point in the change of urban population. The city of Kilis continued to function as an important population center with the advantage of its proximity to Aleppo under Ottoman rule. Second break point of the urban population with the establishment of the Republic of Turkey in the determination of the Turkey-Syria border is blocked Aleppo and Kilis connection. The third development in urban development took place in 1995 when Kilis achieved provincial status. The majority of the data used in the study was obtained from TÜİK. In the 1927-2019 period, the population change of the city was analyzed by reaching the population, education, economy, housing and household numbers obtained from the general censuses and ABPRS results. In addition, population analysis from Aleppo Provincial Yearbooks and other sources were also available for the situation analysis before 1927. In the period of 1927- 2019, the main factor affecting the city's population change was trade (border trade). During the period when the border trade was released, the population growth rate increased. Being a border city affects the population holding capacity. The security problems experienced during the Syrian civil war are the disadvantages of being a border city. The refugee population, which is as much as the local population, has been an important factor in urbanization and urbanization.

Keywords

Geography, Population Geography, Demography, Kilis Population, Spatial Use