Ünye

Ünye
Ünye
Coordinates: 41°08′00″N 37°17′00″E / 41.13333°N 37.28333°E / 41.13333; 37.28333Coordinates: 41°08′00″N 37°17′00″E / 41.13333°N 37.28333°E / 41.13333; 37.28333
Country Turkey
Province Ordu
Government
 • Mayor Ahmet Çamyar (AKP)
 • Kaymakam Mustafa Demir
Area[1]
 • District 486.89 km2 (187.99 sq mi)
Elevation 10 m (30 ft)
Population (2012)[2]
 • Urban 78,227
 • District 117,995
 • District density 240/km2 (630/sq mi)
Post code 52300
Climate Cfa
Website unye.bel.tr/

Ünye (Oinòe, Οἰνόη in ancient Greek) is a large town and district of Ordu Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey, 76 km west of the city of Ordu. In 2009 it had 74,806 inhabitants.

Geography

Ünye has a little port, in a bay on one of the flatter areas of the Black Sea coast. The climate is typical of the Black Sea region, warm and wet, although because the hinterland is flatter than most of the coastline Ünye has less rainfall. Agriculture is the basis of the local economy, in particular hazelnut growing, hazelnut trading and hazelnut processing. The town is very quiet in late-July and August when most people are in the countryside for the hazelnut harvest.

The town of Ünye provides high schools, higher education and other services to the surrounding countryside, and other industry includes a large cement factory, flour mills, local handicrafts and the port. The town has grown in recent decades, acquiring the multi-storey concrete blocks spreading along the coast, typical of so many Turkish towns. There are cafes and internet cafes popular with students. The cuisine includes the local pizza called pide.

With its quiet spots for picnics and walking and its excellent beaches Ünye is one of the nicest holiday towns on the eastern Black Sea coast. Affordable pensions and camping facilities as well as 2- or 3-star hotels can be found in the summer season. There are summer festivals and concerts in July.

Etymology

The town's name has evolved from the Greek Oinoe through Oinaion, Unieh, Unie and Unia to the current Ünye.

History

The history of Ünye goes back to the Hittite period in the 15th century BC, followed by the Kashkas, Scythians, Milesians, Persians, Pontus and Ancient Roman/Byzantine eras. During Greco-Roman times, it was called Oenoe and was a port town of Pontus, at the mouth of the revier Genius.[3]

It was also ruled by Danishmends between 1086-1098, 1141-1144 and 1150-1157, Sultanate of Rum between 1188-1204, 1214-1228 and 1230-1243, Empire of Trebizond in 1204-1214, 1228-1230, 1243-1297 and 1302-1346 and Emirate of Hacıemiroğlu between 1297-1302 and 1346-1461.

During the 1290s, the Ünye fortress was built by the Trebizond emperor Ioanni (II.).[4]

In the year 1806 the Laz attacked Ünye. This led to the town being evacuated under the guidance of Bishop Meletios and resetting in Sinope.[5]

Main sights

  • The 18th-century town hall.
  • Çamlık - picnic area in a wood overlooking the sea
  • Çakırtepe - a hilltop view of the town
  • Ünye Castle (dating back to the Pontus era).
  • Uzunkum - the longest beach on the Black Sea

Notable natives

References

  1. ↑ "Area of regions (including lakes), km²". Regional Statistics Database. Turkish Statistical Institute. 2002. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
  2. ↑ "Population of province/district centers and towns/villages by districts - 2012". Address Based Population Registration System (ABPRS) Database. Turkish Statistical Institute. Retrieved 2013-02-27.
  3. ↑  Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Oenoe". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
  4. ↑ Zehiroglu, Ahmet M. ; "Trabzon Imparatorlugu" 2016 ( ISBN 978-605-4567-52-2) ; p.100
  5. ↑ Pontic History Timeline 1774 - 1923
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