Keçiören

Infobox Settlement
settlement_type = District
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = TUR
subdivision_type1=Region
subdivision_name1 = Central Anatolia
subdivision_type2=Province
subdivision_name2 = Ankara
timezone= EET
utc_offset=+2


map_caption =Location of Keçiören within Turkey.
timezone_DST=EEST
utc_offset_DST=+3
official_name = Keçiören


image_caption = Keçiören Park in Ankara
image_blank_emblem =
blank_emblem_type =
map c
Turkey
population_total = 672817
population_urban = 625167
population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_density_km2 = 3541.14
area_total_km2 = 190
latd = 40
latm = 00
latNS = N
longd = 32
longm = 52
longEW = E
elevation_m = 850
postal_code_type=Postal code
postal_code = 06xxx
area_code = 0312
blank_info = 06
blank_name=Licence plate
leader_title = Governor
leader_name = Mustafa Güler
leader_title1 = Mayor
leader_name1 = Turgut Altınok
website = [http://www.kecioren.bel.tr/ www.kecioren.bel.tr]

Keçiören is a metropolitan district of Ankara Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey, a crowded district in the northern part of the city of Ankara. According to 2000 census, population of the district is 672,817 of which 625,167 live in the urban center of Keçiören.cite web|url=http://www.die.gov.tr/nufus_sayimi/2000tablo5.xls|title=Census 2000, Key statistics for urban areas of Turkey|accessdate=2008-03-31|author=Turkish Statistical Institute|format=XLS|language=Turkish] [cite web|url=http://www.xist.org/cntry/turkey.aspx?levels=Ic%20Anadolu|title=Statistical information on Turkey's administrative units|accessdate=2008-03-31|author=GeoHive|language=English] The district covers an area of convert|190|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on, [cite web|url=http://www.statoids.com/ytr.html|title=Statistical information on districts of Turkey|accessdate=2008-05-03|author=Statoids|language=English] and the average elevation is convert|850|m|ft|0|abbr=on. The Çubuk River runs through the middle of the district.

Etymology

The name Keçiören comes from the Turkish for a type of felt footwear that used to be made in the area.

Politics

Until the 1950s this was a green and pleasant area outside the city, but in recent years has become a large district of housing for Ankara's working class, a stronghold of Turkish nationalism, inhabited by very conservative people and covered in Islamic or nationalist graffiti. The Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan has his Ankara residence within the district.

Since the 1990s Keçiören Municipality has been controlled by a series of right-wing/Islamist parties notable for such activities as establishing a private force called the "A team" to patrol the district to "warn" people of effects of behaviours such as drinking alcohol or being seen in public with a girl or boyfriend.

Prominent neighbourhoods

* Etlik - Located on high ground, overlooking the city (in fact much of Keçiören has good cityscapes, especially at night)

Places of interest

* Atatürk's headquarters during the Turkish War of Independence today used by the department of meteorology.
* The current administration has made efforts to decorate the mass of dull concrete that the area mainly consists of. Their buildings include; a huge artificial waterfall and many other pools and fountains; a concrete replica of the Hungarian Esztergom Castle and a park where women ın tight sportswear and Islamic headscarfs can go for walks.

Notable natives

* Melih Gökçek, politician and current mayor of Ankara
* Turgut Altınok, long-term mayor of Keçiören.
* Selahattin Bıyıklı, kick-boxing champion.

Keçiören children's games

To many Turkish people the name Keçiören evokes a popular children's TV outdoor game show (similar to the British It's a Knockout) of the 1980s, which was recorded in the district.

ister cities

The following places are sister cities to Keçiören:
* (2005)

Notes

References

*
*

External links

* [http://www.kecioren.gov.tr/ District governor's official website] tr icon
* [http://www.kecioren.bel.tr/ District municipality's official website] tr icon