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Salihli is a town and a district of Manisa Province in the Aegean region of Turkey.
Salihli, is a city located on the Izmir-Ankara (E 96) highway and İzmir-Uşak-Afyon railway. Salihli is surrounded by Ahmetli from west, by Gölmarmara from northwest, by Gördes and Köprübaşı from north , by Demirci from northeast, by Kula from east, by Alaşehir from southeast and by Ödemiş from south.The city of Salihli is located on the slopes of a mountain chain called Bozdağ and on the south plain of the Gediz river. To the north of the plain, the mountain range Dibek Dağları(1.120 m)is located, and to the northeast another mountain range Üşümüş Dağları(1085 m) is located.
The distances from Salihli to the neighboring provinces are as follows:
The distances from Salihli to another cities of Manisa are as the following:
Since it is situated on İzmir-Ankara motorway and İzmir-Afyonkarahisar-Ankara railway, it is a town that has developed rather well. It is at an altitude of 125 meters from the sea level. Alaşehir, Gümüş, Kurşunlu and Sart are the brooks existing in Salihli, joining Gediz River which ends up in Aegean Sea through the Izmir city. The dominant climate type is the Mediterranean climate. To the 24 km north of the city, Demirköprü Dam exists whose construction was done between 1954 and 1960. The dam is constructed on the Gediz River and is used for irrigation, prevention of overflows, energy production and fishing purposes.
Its 2000 census population was 149,150 for the whole district and 83,137 for the urban center. Aside from the city of Salihli, its 8 townships with a municipality of their own (Adala, Durasıllı, Gökeyüp, Mersinli, Poyrazdamları, Sart, Taytan, Yılmaz) had a total population of 40088 and its 78 villages had a population of 25926.
Unfortunately, there are not adequate resources to figure out the population of Salihli before the establishment of Turkish Republic. However, according to the 1831 census, a population of 500 people were confirmed with Sart. Development of the city from the railway construction till the Independence War led the city grow fast. In the yearbook of 1891, 3000 people and in the yearbook of 1908, 4400 people were living in the city. In 1927 census, 7191 people were recorded and if the losses in the Independence War and leave of minorities are considered, it can be stated that the population was at least 10000 at that time. After 1950s which witnesses a domestic migration in Turkey, Salihli attracted many migrants. Moreover, besides the people who ran away from Jugoslavia and Bulgaria, many people ran away from Chinese disturbance and chose living in Salihli. By considering the population increase rate according to 1985-1990 census, as of 1995 an approximate number of 170000 people were living inside the boundary of the city. According to the census of 1997, the population in Salihli was 143956 where 79837 people were recorded in the city center.
Salihli has been always an attractive city for immigrants and migrants. During the Ottoman period, the city was a place where the aşiret people stayed for a short time, and settled afterwards. Especially, during the 17th century, notable population movements were recorded, and during 19th and at the beginning of 20th century people from Caucasia and Europe came to Salihli. Today, it is possible to find some villages which still have the original aşiret names such as Karayahşi, Araplı, Burhan, Beylikli, Çökelek, Eldelek, Dombaylı, Durasıllı, Sindel etc. Moreover, some aşiret names still exist although they were not named as a village name such as Sığıralcısı, Bayındırlı, Karatekeli, Kuşdoğanlı, Kacar, Taras, Karakeçili etc.
The last housing for aşirets in 19th century were provided for Karatekeli ve Karasığıralcısı aşirets. In 1890, Turkic people came from Bulgaria and they established the Yılmaz village, which later became a township. Again in the same century, during Abdul Hamid II, some aşirets and Circassian people from Crimea were housed in Kırveli parish( Turkish: Kırveli Mahallesi) and Süleymaniye village. The population of Salihli in 19th century includes an increasing number of Rum people besides Armenian and Jewish people. During the 20th century Salihli continued to be an attractive city for immigrants. Turkic people from Balkan countries came to Salihli, with majority of them from Yugoslavia and Bulgaria and a minority of them from Romania and Greece.
Bulgarian immigrants who came as 351 households in 1951, were housed in Kurtuluş parish(Turkish: Kurtuluş Mahallesi). Although, one can find Bulgarian immigrants which came to Salihli before 1950s, the majority belongs to after 1950s.
Yugoslavian immigrants first came to Salihli in 1925s. The frequency of the Yugoslavian immigration increased between 1953-1963 because of the lack of workers in the Demirköprü Dam construction.
Another important part of the immigrants are the Kazakh Turks who are known as Türkistanlılar in the city. They came to Salihli between 1954 and 1955 as 140 households and in the following years with an increasing income some of them moved to the big cities like İstanbul. Today, the number of Kazakh households is approximately 85. The last factors in population are the people from Kula and the people from eastern cities of Turkey(Bitlis, Erzurum, Kars, Tunceli, Ağrı, Muş etc.) mostly coming after 1970s. An ignorable number of people moved to the big cities in last two decades and it is thought that Salihli people, who moved to Europe(especially Germany and France)as workers, returned permanently.
Salihli is a city with a long history. The fossile footprints which were found near the Sindel and Çarıklar villages are the first signs that proved existence of life in the region. Those footprints are considered as between 10000 and 26000 years old. However, the most satisfactory historical artifacts and settlements can be found in Sardes, which is located 7 km west of the city. Sardes, which was the capital city of Lydia till B.C 547, was captured and governed by Persian Empire till B.C. 334. After that time, the region witnessed the governance of Macedonians, Attalid Kingdom, Roman Empire and Byzantine Empire respectively. In the beginning of A.D. 1300's, the Beylik of Saruhan conquered the city, and in 1400 the governance passed to Ottoman Empire. Afterwards, it became a kaza of Aydın Sanjak.
Salihli was a village of Sart Kazası and was called as Veled-i Salih(Turkish: Salihoğlu; English: The son of Salih) at that time. Later, thanks to the İzmir-Uşak-Afyon railway, Salihli showed much more progress relative to Sart, gaining a township in the beginning of 19th century. In 1872, it became a kaza of Saruhan Sanjak. The city witnessed the invasion of Greek army between 24th of July,1920 and 5th of September,1922. After the name of Saruhan Sanjak was changed in 1927, Salihli became one of the biggest and most important districts of Manisa. Today, the 5th of September is celebrated in the city as a salvation day related to Greek-Turkish war.
The economy of the city is dependent on agriculture, agricultural commerce and industry.
1-) Agriculture: The main agricultural products are seedless sultana grapes, wheat, barley, cotton, tobacco and maize. Moreover, the fertility of the soil in the region allows cultivating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. The cherry, which is grown in Allahdiyen and Gökköy villages and known as napolyon kirazı in the region and potatoes named as Bozdağ patatesi are famous. Stockbreeding and animal husbandry are another sources of income. With the support and credits given by the state, the number of stockfarming has notably increased after 2000.
2-) Industry: In addition to the artisan zone near the city center, Salihli Organize Sanayi Bölgesi (Salihli Organized Industrial Zone), which has been built on 111 hectares of Salihli-Alaşehir-Kula triangular zone, is considered as a great opportunity to decrease the unemployment rates and increase the industrialization in the region. In Salihli, there exist 32 brick works and tileries with only a few of them working properly, 2 flour mills, 2 valonia oak factories, 10 cotton gin factories, 2 grape operating works, 1 feed grain factory, 1 industrial tube factory, 1 tomato dressing factory, 2 olive oil mills, 2 beverage factories, 1 water bottling factory, 1 mineral water company and 1 emery rock factory. Additionally, the region includes seams which includes raw materials for bricks and tiles, and also seams for gold and uranium.
3-)Tourism: Sardis, including a tomb that belonged to a Lydian King named Giges, the Artemis Temple and Marble Court with Gymnasium built by the Romans time and other similar historical ruins are widely visited by tourists. To the 5 and 14 km. south of the town, there are famous Lead and Mud Baths which are called Kurşunlu Kaplıcaları and Çamur Banyoları. These thermal springs are attractive around the region for their use in rheumatic disorders, sciatica, lumbago,arthritis, neuralgia, orthopaedic disorders, several skin diseases, some women related diseases, kidney disorders. Moreover, by means of this thermal water, a project of geothermal energy, which aims to heat the city of Salihli with natural thermal water, has been established after 2000's. There are also a lot of promenade places around Salihli. 'Bozdağ' summits and the Gölcük lake located at a very high altitude near one of the summit is a region of great natural beauty, as well as a prized ski resort in winter. A beautiful overview of Salihli can be seen in the restaurants/cafes situated on the hills around the town.
Salihli is also a developed city with respect to sports and sport activities.It had been represented for long years in the 2nd league of Turkey by Yeni Salihlispor. Today, nearly 1500 sportsmen are competing and earning various awards and degrees in football, basketball, volleyball, table tennis, judo, wrestling,oil wrestling, folk dance and chess. There are 10 football clubs representing Salihli in amateur league of Turkey and 1 club of Women Volleyball is in the 2nd league. Under the Salihli Municipality management, there exist Turkish Folk Music, Turkish Classical Music and Children's Chorus. Moreover, Modern ballette and dance, folk dance, piano works, drawing and theater are supported.
Besides the other delicious Turkish meals, Salihli has the peculiar taste of its own named as Odun Köfte. Güveç is made in especially in Gökeyüp and cooking meat meals on the wood fire are very common around the region. A high quality production of grapes allows inhabitants of the region making good cakes with raisins. In the wedding ceremonies held in the villages(Turkish: Köy Düğünü), keşkek and topalak are cooked, and some people make their own rakı with sweet sultana grapes.