The urban development in Kovancılar

Kovancılar District is located in the Upper Euphrates section of the Eastern Anatolia Region and within the borders of Elazığ province. Kovancılar District, which is considered as a study area, was established in the southwest of the Kovancılar plain in the south by the foot of the Şahmiran (Shahmiran) Mountain. The course of settlement and population in Kovancılar was first started in 1935 with be placed of migrant families consisting of 300 dynastys in the Tuna and Çaybaşı neighborhoods. The passage of the Elazığ-Bingöl highway from Kovancılar in 1951 brought about changes in the socio-economic structure of Kovancılar. The Kovancılar, which showed the characteristics of rural settlement through its intensive agricultural activities in the period it was established, began to develop in trade, industry and service areas with the effect of transportation function on the field and gained a urban character over time. In 1980, the number of neighborhoods in Kovancılar increased to five with transition to the permanent settlement of migrant settler tribes engaged in husbandry. Kovancılar, which gained district status with the change in administrative unit in 1988, continued to let in immigration. Kovancılar, which has developed in a short time with the advantage of transportation function, has become a center of attraction in terms of the settlements around it. Today, Kovancılar, which consists of 13 neighborhoods, developed in the form of a liner line in the direction of east-west in the period it was established. Over time, with population growth and migrations from the environment, the direction of development has shown a North - southward course. The field of study is a settlement area which develops, with its functional features that show improvement compared to other settlements around it. Key Words: Kovancılar, Urbanization, Population, Elazığ-Bingöl Highway.