Sivas Province (Turkish: Sivas ili) is an administrative region of the Republic of Turkey located in the central part of the Anatolian plateau. Its provincial capital is the city of Sivas.
Geography
- Area: approximately 28,164 km², making it one of the largest provinces in Turkey by land area.
- Borders: It is bounded by Yozgat Province to the west, Kayseri Province to the south, Kayseri and Nevşehir Provinces to the southwest, Kırıkkale Province to the northwest, and several other central Anatolian provinces.
- Topography: The terrain is predominantly high plateau and mountainous, featuring parts of the Köroğlu and Yıldız mountain ranges. The province experiences a continental climate with cold, snowy winters and hot, dry summers.
Demographics
- Population: According to the Address-Based Population Registration System (ADNKS) data for 2022, the province had a resident population of roughly 646 000 people.
- Ethnic composition: The majority of inhabitants are ethnic Turks; a minority of Kurds and other groups are also present.
- Language: Turkish is the official language and is spoken by virtually the entire population.
Administrative divisions
Sivas Province is divided into 17 districts (ilçe), including the central district of Sivas. Other districts comprise Akdağmadeni, Altınyayla, Divriği, Doğanşar, Gürün, Hafik, İmranlı, Kangal, Kırıkhan, Koyulhisar, Suşehri, Şarkışla, Şenkaya, Yeşilyurt, and others.
History
The region has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Archaeological evidence shows Hittite presence, followed by Phrygian, Persian, and Roman control. In the medieval period, it became part of the Seljuk Empire and later the Ottoman Empire, serving as an important administrative and military center. The modern provincial borders were established with the formation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923.
Economy
- Agriculture: Cereals (particularly wheat and barley), legumes, and sugar beet are the main crops; livestock farming (sheep and cattle) is also significant.
- Industry: The province hosts cement factories, a thermal power plant, and mining operations extracting coal, zinc, and lead. Small‑scale textile and food‑processing enterprises are present in the provincial capital.
- Services: Public administration, education, and trade constitute major employment sectors, especially in the city of Sivas.
Cultural and historical sites
- Divriği Great Mosque and Hospital (UNESCO World Heritage Site) – an exemplary early 13th‑century Seljuk architectural complex.
- Sivas Congress Museum – commemorating the 1919 Sivas Congress, a pivotal event in the Turkish National Movement.
- St. John the Baptist Monastery (Gök Medrese) – a well‑preserved Seljuk‑era theological school.
- Numerous mosques, caravanserais, and traditional Turkish houses reflecting the province’s Ottoman heritage.
Transportation
- Road: The province is traversed by several major highways, including the D.260 and D.750, linking it to Ankara, Kayseri, and Erzincan.
- Rail: A railway line runs through Sivas, providing passenger and freight connections to the national network.
- Air: Sivas Nuri Demirağ Airport offers domestic flights, primarily to Istanbul and Ankara.
Education and research
Sivas hosts several higher‑education institutions, notably Sivas Cumhuriyet University, which offers programs in engineering, medicine, agriculture, and the humanities.
References
- Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) population and area data.
- Ministry of Interior, Directorate General of Provincial Administration.
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre (Divriği Great Mosque and Hospital).
All information is based on publicly available, verifiable sources.
