Balıkesir

Balıkesir (until 1926 Karesi, Greek Μπαλικεσίρ Mpalikesír) is a Turkish city between Bursa and Izmir and the capital of the eponymous province of Balıkesir. Since the 2013 territorial reform, the city has been a Büyükşehir belediyesi (metropolitan municipality) and thus identical in area and population to the province. The central county of the same name was dissolved and divided into the new İlçe Altıeylül and Karesi. The name of the city derives from the Greek Παλαιοκάστρον (Palaiokastron, German: old castle).

The area is known for vegetable and fruit growing, and there are several well-known thermal resorts in the area.

In the surrounding area are the ancient cities of Argyria (Agissa, Argiza), Skepsis and Ergasteria, as well as Mount Ida, from which Zeus is said to have watched the battles for Troy. The ancient Makestos Bridge is on the way between Balıkesir and Miletopolis.

Balıkesir was for a time part of the Turkish Beyliks Karesi, later the Vilâyet Karesi, and bore this name as a province until 1926. The historic mosque of Zaganos Pasha, built in 1461, is located here. The nearby İkizcetepeler Dam was built in 1992.

Balıkesir has been a twin city of the German town of Schwäbisch Hall since November 2006.

Climate table

Balıkesir (110 m)

Climate diagram

J F M A M J J A S O N D     48   9 1     54   10 2     65   13 3     56   19 7     47   24 12     16   29 16     10   31 18     9.4   31 19     21   28 15     44   23 11     67   15 5     87   10 3 Temperature in °C, precipitation in mm Source: MGM, normal period 1991-2020

 

Monthly average temperatures and precipitation for Balıkesir (110 m) Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max. Temperature (°C) 8,8 10,4 13,2 19,1 24,2 29,3 30,8 31,1 28,0 22,7 15,0 9,9 Ø 20,3 Min. temperature (°C) 1,1 1,5 3,1 7,4 12,1 16,1 18,4 18,9 14,5 11,0 5,4 3,1 Ø 9,4 Temperature (°C) 4,8 5,7 7,9 13,1 18,2 23,0 24,9 25,0 21,1 16,6 9,9 6,6 Ø 14,8 Precipitation (mm) 47,9 54,1 65,1 55,7 46,5 16,2 10,0 9,4 20,7 44,4 67,0 87,2 524,2 Sunshine hours (h/d) 3,0 3,6 4,4 5,7 7,2 9,2 9,5 9,0 7,8 5,2 3,5 1,7 Ø 5,8 Rainy days (d) 13,3 13,6 12,5 11,0 10,9 5,0 3,6 2,1 2,8 8,0 10,3 14,8 107,9 Temperature 8,8 1,1 10,4 1,5 13,2 3,1 19,1 7,4 24,2 12,1 29,3 16,1 30,8 18,4 31,1 18,9 28,0 14,5 22,7 11,0 15,0 5,4 9,9 3,1 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec   Precipitation 47,9 54,1 65,1 55,7 46,5 16,2 10,0 9,4 20,7 44,4 67,0 87,2   Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Source: MGM, normal period 1991-2020

Population development of the city

As of 2009

The figures are based on the address-based population register (ADNKS) introduced in 2007.

Region	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Core city	Altıeylül + Karesi ⇒				232.011	240.656	241.288	244.834	246.936	252.076	253.804	255.922
Şehir (City)	259.157	265.747	263.000	267.903
BüyükşehirBelediyesi					1.162.761	1.189.057	1.186.688	1.196.176	1.204.824	1.226.575	1.228.620	1.240.285
İl (province)	808.102	825.980	833.434	843.028	⇐ Büyükşehir Belediyesi since 2013

1927 until 2020

The following table provides information on the development of the population figures of the city (Şehir), district (İlçe) and province (İl) of Balıkesir. The figures were taken from the results of the censuses of the years indicated, published as PDF files, available from the library of the TURKSTAT (TÜİK) and from the census page of the (TÜİK) for the years 1965 to 2000 (only in Turkish).

Year	2000	1990	1985	1980	1975	1970	1965	1960	1955	1950	1945	1940	1935	1927
Şehir	215.436	170.589	149.989	124.051	98.443	85.004	69.341	61.145	612.013	563.221	524.748	482.827	481.372	418.915
İlçe	287.709	245.651	222.589	195.899	169.932	153.996	136.694	128.152	106.869	132.262	114.011	164.643	154.317	134.617
İl	1.076.347	973.314	910.282	853.177	789.255	749.669	708.342	670.669	45.685	36.005	33.894	30.010	26.699	25.448

Balıkesir Railway Station


Clock tower