Bayat is a district located northwest of Çorum, with a densely populated rural population. Agriculture and livestock are the primary sources of income. The northern part of the district is forested and mountainous, while the southern part is flatter and more suitable for agriculture.

^{Bayat ( Bayat Municipality)}

History

Bayat takes its name from the Bayat tribe, one of the 24 tribes of the Oghuz Turks. While there is no definitive documentation regarding the district's founding date, it is understood that members of the Bayat tribe, who settled here after the Oghuz Turks entered Anatolia, established a settlement in these lands between the late 11th and mid-15th centuries. Records from the stone inscription on the Hasan Çelebi Tomb in Dere Neighborhood, within the district's borders, date back to 900 AH (1494 AD). The name Bayat, interpreted in the Divan-ı Lügat-it Türk as "Bay: wealthy, at: title," also appears frequently in Ottoman census records.

After World War I, Bayat, a sub-district organization named Alagöz, was established and became a district of Çorum province in 1958. Villages within the district, such as Beydili, Dodurga, Salur, Kınık, and Büğdüz, are also named after the Oghuz tribes. Administered as part of the Çorum Sanjak during the Ottoman period and later as part of the İskilip district, Bayat retained its administrative structure during the Republican era, reaching its current borders.

Geography and Climate

The district of Bayat lies in the transition zone between the Central Black Sea Region and the Central Anatolia Region. Its surface area is 770 km², and the district center's elevation is 625 meters. To the north of the district, Karatepe, at 2,013 meters, forms its backbone, while the Bayat Stream valley, extending 45 km south, connects to the Kızılırmak River. While the northern slopes are forested and mountainous, the southern part is a steppe, with broken, undulating terrain interrupted by hills.

The climate transitions between the Black Sea climate in the north and the continental climate in the south. Summers are generally hot and dry; winters are cold, with snowfall in higher elevations. Rainfall is irregular, but heaviest in spring. Multi-year data indicate an annual average temperature of 11°C and an average precipitation of 350–435 mm. The mountainous areas are covered with pine and oak forests, with occasional fir forests, while the plains and prairies are covered with steppe vegetation.

Population and Demography

The total population of the Bayat district, which was 27,032 in 2007, decreased to 13,954 in 2024. During this period, limited increases of 16 and 432 people were observed in 2017–2018 and 2022–2023, respectively, and decreases at varying rates were observed in the other years. According to 2024 data, the male population was 6,765 (48.48%) and the female population was 7,189 (51.52%), with the gender gap generally remaining at a few hundred. Annual population changes have followed a fluctuating course, which can be explained by various factors such as administrative record updates and migration movements.

Economy

Bayat's economy has historically been shaped by mining and agricultural production. Copper mine ruins dating back to the Chalcolithic Age near Derekutuğun village in the north of the district indicate the region's millennia-old mining tradition. While these activities declined with the Republican era, the historical legacy of mining remains ingrained in the economic memory.

Today, agriculture and animal husbandry are the primary sources of income. Cereal production, such as wheat, barley, and chickpeas for pasta and flour, is widespread throughout the district, while small and large livestock are also among the primary sources of income for rural residents. Forest product gathering, beekeeping, and winter food production are also traditional practices.

Handicrafts are another significant contributor to Bayat's economy. Garments such as goyneks, üçeteks, robes, vests, and underwear, along with accessories such as belts, sashes, headscarves, jewelry, and socks, produced on traditional looms in the district, are marketed not only locally but also in Çorum and surrounding district centers. Made from velvet, satin, and hand-woven cotton fabrics, these products are in demand both for everyday wear and for weddings and holidays.

Tourism, Culture, and Cuisine

Bayat, with its natural, historical, and cultural assets, offers opportunities for diverse tourism types. The Kunduzlu and Kuşcaçimeni plateaus on the slopes of Karatepe are among the top destinations for nature tourism. These plateaus, surrounded by rich Scots pine, black pine, and fir forests, offer opportunities for camping, photo safaris, and transhumance activities during the summer months. Located 25 km from the town center and 100 km from Çorum city center, these areas are becoming more widely utilized with improved accessibility.

In terms of cultural tourism, Bayat boasts a rich heritage, including the Derekutuğun mining galleries from the Old Bronze Age, Akkaya Mound dating back to the Hittite and Roman periods, and archaeological finds discovered in the region. Furthermore, the covered bazaar, inn, mosque complexes, and historic bathhouses from the Ottoman period make up the town center's urban fabric.

Faith tourism options include nine different shrines, including the Emirbey (Old) Mosque, the Çayköy and Tepebayat Mosques, and the Hasan Çelebi Tomb. These structures attract the attention of local residents and out-of-town visitors alike.

Bayat cuisine, on the other hand, is notable for its meat-based pilafs, soups, and pastries, particularly the regional "Bayat Dolması." Bayat Dolması is a type of dolma prepared with locally grown peppers, tomatoes, and local rice, filled with a special mixture of spices and meat filling. Keskek, tarhana soup, and local pastries are also among the most popular dishes at weddings and holidays. These dishes, cooked in traditional methods, bring both Bayat's cultural heritage and sense of hospitality to the table.