1- The History of the District
The history of Yalvaç dates back to prehistoric times. The historical
Men Temple, believed to have been built by the Phrygians, is the oldest
settlement area of the district. Yalvaç, known as Pisidia Antiocheia during the
Roman era, took its name from the Hellenistic period kings, the Seleucids. As a
significant military base during the Roman period, the history of Antiocheia
changed with the establishment of the Eastern Roman Empire. The prosperous
period of Pisidia Antiocheia ended during the Byzantine period due to Arab and
Turkish raids, paralleling the general situation in Anatolia.
After the Battle of Myriokephalon in 1176, Yalvaç came under Turkish
control. Yalvaç experienced the periods of the Anatolian Seljuk Empire, the
Hamitoğlu Beylik, and the Ottoman Empire, with a municipal organization
established in 1864. Although briefly attached to the Konya province during the
Ottoman period, it was reattached to the Isparta province in the Republican
era.
Today, the central population is 35,000, with 50,000 in the towns and
approximately 15,000 in the villages, making a total population of 101,228. It
includes the hinterlands of Şarkikaraağaç and Gelendost districts.
2- Education Status
Yalvaç district has a deep-rooted tradition in education. Yalvaç takes
pride in its commitment to education. During the War of Independence, a middle
school was built, and a high school was opened as a private school using local
resources.
Currently, there are 43 primary schools, 10 high schools, 513 teachers,
and 8,477 students in institutions affiliated with the Ministry of National
Education in Yalvaç. For higher education, there are Yalvaç Vocational School,
Yalvaç Technical Sciences Vocational School, and Yalvaç Büyükkutlu School of
Applied Sciences. The literacy rate in the district is over 99%. Additionally,
there are public education and apprenticeship training centers as widespread
education institutions.
3- Tourism
Yalvaç is becoming a significant center for religious tourism. Known as
the place where St. Paul gave his first sermon, Yalvaç is considered an
important pilgrimage center for Christianity. The increasing number of tourists
in recent years is an indicator of this. The ancient city ruins of Pisidia
Antiocheia and the sacred Men Temple ruins are major tourism resources. The
tourism potential of Yalvaç has inspired the opening of two programs at the
Yalvaç Vocational School and a tourism-related department at the Yalvaç
Büyükkutlu School of Applied Sciences.
4- Transportation
Yalvaç is bordered by Akşehir (Konya) to the east, Senirkent to the
west, Çay and Sultandağı (Afyon) to the north, and Şarkikaraağaç and Gelendost
districts to the south. It is 105 km from Isparta, 180 km from Konya, and 110
km from Afyon. The nearest train station is in Akşehir, 50 km away. Intercity
bus services are provided by one company to the city center and Akşehir, and by
three other companies. The nearest airport is Isparta-Burdur Airport,
approximately 100 km away.
5- Health Services
The State Hospital has been serving since 1954. The hospital consists of
a four-story main building, a polyclinic building, an administrative building,
and an emergency service building, with a total of 75 beds. The Maternity and
Children's Hospital was established in 1998. Health services are provided by
the District Health Directorate, the Community Health Center, the Tuberculosis
Dispensary, and the Central No. 1 Family Health Center.
6- Culture and Art
The library's establishment dates back to 1892, initially founded with
651 manuscripts and printed works. It was connected to the Ministry of
Education in 1923 and moved to its current modern building in 1972. As of
December 2008, the library houses 36,089 books, has 36 periodical
subscriptions, and receives 60,086 annual visitors. The library serves its
visitors with a 240 m² reading room. Additionally, 9,911 readers benefited from
the book lending service in 2008.
The Yalvaç Museum, as old and rich in artifacts as Yalvaç's history, is
one of Turkey's significant cultural centers. Founded in the 1950s, it moved to
its current building in 1966. The museum exhibits 3,021 archaeological
artifacts, 16,677 coins, and 2,234 ethnographic artifacts. In 2008, it had
3,955 visitors and generated a revenue of 3,453 Turkish Liras.
Furthermore, 17,619 tourists visited the ancient city of Pisidia
Antiocheia, generating a revenue of 37,836 Turkish Liras.
7- Economic Status
The dominant sector in the district's economy is trade. Yalvaç is a
center known for its traditional handicrafts. However, with the decline of
these crafts, a significant number of market vendors have emerged. Out of
approximately 300 tanners and tanneries, only a handful remain today. There are
several medium-sized garment workshops that form the locomotive sector of the
district.
Commercial and industrial activities are carried out in both old and new
industrial areas, with medium-sized production workshops (such as those
producing boilers and electrical materials). Other sectors include livestock
and agriculture, with a notable increase in fruit production in recent times.