Haymana, Ankara

Haymana is a town and district of Ankara Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey, 72 km south of the capital, Ankara. According to the 2010 census, the population of the district is 33,886, of whom 9,091 live in the town of Haymana.
 The district covers an area of , and the average elevation is 1259 m.
Etymology.
According to the 1074-dated dictionary Dīwān ul-Lughat al-Turk, haymana means prairie in Turkish.
History.
Archaeological excavations were launched in "Gavur Kalesi", a castle situated in the village of Dereköy, in the years 1930 and 1998. The results showed that it was an important Phrygian settlement. Besides, the tumuli located in Türkhöyük and Oyaca villages prove that the area was also inhabited during the Hittite period.
After the periods of the Roman and Byzantine rule, the area was captured by the Seljuk Turks in 1127. After the Battle of Köse Dağ it came under Ilkhanate control for a while. In the mid 14th century the area was annexed by the Ottomans. After a brief period of Timurid rule in the wake of the Battle of Ankara in 1402, it was re-captured by the Ottomans.
Demographics.
Haymana has a mixed population. A majority of the 78 settlements have a Kurdish population, while the remainder is inhabited by Turkish people who have roots from Iranian Turkmens and Crimean Tatars. Its population peaked in 1985 with 60,823 people.
Haymana is largely affected by emigration (mostly to cities like Ankara, Polatlı, Gölbaşı and to a lesser extend Istanbul), because of a high unemployment rate. During the summertime the population of Haymana doubles. There is also a well-established community of people from Haymana in Western Europe, especially Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Denmark and Austria.
Age structure.
The district of Haymana has a relatively young population but it is ageing very quickly.
Administrative structure.
Villages.
Haymana is famous for its Turkish baths. The waters are volcanically heated and are said to contain many healing properties, particularly for those suffering from arthritic ailments. There are hotels for weekend visitors to the springs.