Büyükorhan is a district of Bursa province, located 81 km from the city center. Situated at an altitude of 830 meters above sea level, the district is a green settlement surrounded by forests in the Marmara Region. Covering an area of 11,300 hectares, Büyükorhan is bordered by Harmancık to the east, Mustafakemalpaşa to the west, Orhaneli to the north, and Dursunbey districts of Balıkesir to the south.

History

The history of Büyükorhan is based on Anatolia's intense settlement past. In the 2000s BC, the Bithynians, who came from Thrace, settled around Bursa and named the region Bithynia. Later, the region came under the rule of the Empire of Alexander the Great and continued its existence as a Roman and Byzantine province. In 1299, the region was conquered by the Ottomans, and its borders extended from the Adranos Stream to İzmit, İznik, Kastamonu, and Ereğli.

Orhaneli is a settlement area founded by the Roman Emperor Hadrian, and during this period, the Adırnas Temple and school were built. Although the name Büyükorhan is not explicitly mentioned in historical sources, interpretations are made through the name Adranos. The region is known first as Emperor Hadrian's hunting ground and later as Orhan Bey's. It is thought that with the opening of Orhaneli for settlement, the area around Büyükorhan also began to see settlement.

The origins of the settlements in Büyükorhan and its surroundings are based on the Kayı Tribe, a branch of the Oghuz Turks. After the collapse of the Göktürk State, the Kayı migrated from Central Asia to Anatolia, first settling in the Bitlis region. During the reign of Seljuk Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat, due to their success in a battle, the Domaniç and Bilecik regions were given to them as a homeland. This was part of the Seljuks' strategy to protect their borders against the Byzantines. Choosing Bilecik and Söğüt as their second settlement, the Kayı gradually spread to the surrounding areas and contributed to the conquest of Bursa in 1326. Some branches of the Kayı came via Söğüt, Domaniç, Kütahya, and Tavşanlı, taking control of this region, which was under the control of the Adranos Tekfurate. The center of the Tekfurate at that time was the Kadıköy area. In the area called Maşatlık Gavur Cemetery, bricks, pottery fragments, black nails, and castle ruins have been found.

After the conquest, Yörük tribes were established in the Ortaçlar, Eskiköy, and Hallar areas. Ortaçlar grew to become the most important tribe, but due to Janissary pressure, some groups migrated to Kurşunlu village of Kirmasti (Mustafakemalpaşa). The Karakeçili tribes that remained in Eskiköy and Hallar named the region “Orhan-ı Kebir” (Orhan the Great) in honor of Orhan Bey. These groups are considered the ancestors of today's population.

Büyükorhan became a sub-district of Orhaneli in 1944, gained town status in 1967, and achieved district status in 1987 by a government decision published in the Official Gazette dated 04/07/1987, no. 19507.

Geographical Structure

Büyükorhan is located in a mountainous and forested area of the Marmara Region, at an altitude of 830 meters above sea level. With an area of 11,300 hectares, the district is surrounded by Harmancık to the east, Mustafakemalpaşa to the west, Orhaneli to the north, and Dursunbey to the south. The Aliova Stream flows through the south of the district, and there are two ponds for agricultural irrigation. Groundwater sources are generally used for land irrigation. 41% of the district's land consists of agricultural areas, and 59% consists of forests and natural areas.

Climate and Vegetation

Büyükorhan has a mild climate, between Mediterranean and continental. Summers are hot and dry, while winters are cold and rainy. Temperatures reach 30-35°C in summer, while they drop to an average of 4-6°C in winter. The vegetation primarily consists of Calabrian pine and Black pine forests; oak trees are also common. Controlled logging is carried out in the forests by the Forest Management Directorate, and during this process, the villagers also benefit from the harvested products. Logs, mining props, utility poles, industrial wood, pulpwood, and firewood are obtained from the forests.

Social Structure

The social structure of Büyükorhan is based on deep-rooted Yörük and Turkmen traditions. Every year, in the second week of June, the Büyükorhan Municipality organizes the Görecik Plateau Yörük and Turkmen Festivals. Traditional attire includes embroidered headscarves, üçetek (a type of traditional dress), fermans (shawls/sashes), and sashes for women; and jackets, daggers, pıtpıt (a type of vest/jacket), and çarık (traditional sandals) for men. Local dishes include lentil flour soup, yufka ıslaması (a dish with moistened phyllo dough), çalı bastırması (a meat dish), kaşık hamuru (spoon dough), melke köftesi (a type of meatball), and stew prepared with goat meat.

In terms of education, the number of primary schools in the district decreased between 2016 and 2020, while the number of middle schools remained constant and the number of vocational high schools increased. A decrease in student numbers is observed due to rural-to-urban migration. The literacy rate is 85.62%, which is below the Bursa average. In the 2020-2021 academic year, 276 students are studying at the Büyükorhan Vocational School, affiliated with Bursa Uludağ University.

Economic Structure

Büyükorhan's economy is based on agriculture, animal husbandry, and seasonal labor. The working population constitutes 29-30% of the total population. The main agricultural products are wheat, barley, potatoes, and strawberries. In higher altitudes, barley replaces wheat. Strawberry farming is practiced in irrigated areas, but its profitability has decreased. Animal husbandry is one of the district's important sources of income. Seasonal labor is common, especially in power transmission line construction sites.

Among the underground resources, marble deposits around Karalar village stand out. There is also a chromium mine, but the granite mine and processing plant that operated in the past are no longer in use. Forests play an important role in the district's economic structure. 41 forest villages are affiliated with the Forest Management Directorate, and products obtained from the forests provide additional income for the villagers.

Improvements in transportation infrastructure have supported economic development. Asphalting and road works have increased the district's accessibility. Since 1988, the increasing number of official institutions has transformed the closed societal structure, increasing commercial diversity.

Tourism Potential

Büyükorhan has tourism potential with its natural beauties and thermal springs. The thermal waters located on the banks of the Emet Stream in Düğüncüler Neighborhood are used by local people by creating pools. There are guesthouses around the hot spring, and the valley stands out with its rich plant diversity. Görecik Plateau is a tourist attraction with its Yörük and Turkmen Festivals. Forested areas and Aliova Stream are suitable for nature tourism. However, the development of tourism infrastructure could enable more effective utilization of this potential.

Demographic Structure

As of 2021, the population of Büyükorhan is 9,321, with 51% being women. When examining the population pyramid, the 65-69 age group (10.42%), 55-59 age group (9.18%), and 60-64 age group (7.43%) have the highest proportions. This indicates a concentration of the elderly population due to rural-to-urban migration. In the socio-economic development ranking (SE-GE 2022), Büyükorhan is 815th in Türkiye, the last among Bursa's 17 districts, and is in the 5th tier with a score of -0.752.