# Hassa

> district and town in Hatay Province, Turkey

**Wikidata**: [Q1003903](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1003903)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassa,_Hatay)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/hassa

## Summary
Hassa is a district and town located in Hatay Province, Turkey, serving as a significant human settlement with a population exceeding 56,000 as of 2018. Historically part of Gaziantep Province until 1939, it is situated at an elevation of 430 meters and shares borders with six neighboring districts including Kırıkhan and İskenderun. The entity functions as a distinct administrative unit within the Turkish Republic, utilizing the UTC+03:00 timezone and the postal code 31710.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification:** Hassa is officially classified as both a district and a town, and is categorized as a city (large human settlement).
*   **Location:** It is located in Hatay Province, Turkey, with coordinates at latitude 36.7979663 and longitude 36.5212691.
*   **Historical Jurisdiction:** The entity was part of Gaziantep Province until 1939, after which it became part of Hatay Province.
*   **Population:** The preferred population figure is 56,409 recorded in 2018 via the Address-Based Population Registration System; a 2014 count recorded 54,146.
*   **Timezone:** The region operates on UTC+03:00, a standard established on October 2, 2018, to maximize daylight usage.
*   **Elevation:** The town sits at an elevation of 430 meters above sea level.
*   **Postal Code:** The designated postal code for the area is 31710.
*   **Borders:** Hassa shares borders with Kırıkhan, İskenderun, Payas, Dörtyol, İslahiye, and Afrin.
*   **Aliases:** The entity is known by the Arabic alias "خَاصَّةُ".
*   **Identifiers:** It holds a Freebase ID of `/m/0bfgv4`, a GeoNames ID of `312405`, a GNS Unique Feature ID of `-753008`, and a Who's on First ID of `890463943`.
*   **Digital Presence:** The entity has 28 Wikipedia sitelinks, a Commons category named "Hassa," and a main topic category of "Category:Hassa District."
*   **Languages:** Wikipedia articles exist in 30 languages including Arabic, German, English, French, Russian, Turkish, and Chinese.
*   **SNARC ID:** The entity is associated with the identifier "West Pasaman."
*   **Cultural Registry:** It is listed in the Kulturenvanteri taxonomy with ID 1373.
*   **OpenStreetMap:** The location is defined by relation ID 1240899.

## FAQs
**What is the historical administrative status of Hassa?**
Hassa was historically part of Gaziantep Province until 1939, at which point it transitioned to become a district within Hatay Province. This change in jurisdiction is a defining characteristic of its modern administrative history.

**How has the population of Hassa changed over recent decades?**
The population has shown a general upward trend, rising from 2,761 urban residents in 1965 to 56,409 in 2018. Rural populations also grew significantly from 18,835 in 1965 to 45,329 in 2008 before stabilizing, while the total population reached 57,361 by 2020.

**What are the geographic boundaries and elevation of the town?**
Situated at 430 meters above sea level, Hassa is bordered by six distinct districts: Kırıkhan, İskenderun, Payas, Dörtyol, İslahiye, and Afrin. Its precise geographic coordinates are 36.7979663° N and 36.5212691° E.

**Which languages are used to document Hassa on Wikipedia?**
Information about Hassa is available in 30 different languages, ranging from major global languages like English, German, and French to regional languages such as Kurdish (Sorani), Persian, and various Turkic dialects like Gagauz and Tatar.

**What is the current time standard and postal code for the region?**
Since October 2, 2018, the region has observed UTC+03:00 as its official time zone. For mail and logistics, the area is assigned the postal code 31710.

## Why It Matters
Hassa serves as a critical administrative and demographic hub in the Hatay Province, acting as a bridge between historical regional boundaries and modern Turkish governance. Its transition from Gaziantep to Hatay in 1939 marks a significant geopolitical shift in the region's history, reflecting broader changes in the post-Ottoman landscape. The entity is vital for understanding population dynamics in southern Turkey, as evidenced by its detailed census records spanning from 1965 to 2021, which track the shift from rural to urban living. Furthermore, its extensive digital footprint across 30 languages and multiple knowledge bases (Wikidata, Freebase, GeoNames) highlights its importance as a recognized entity in global geographic databases. The town's specific elevation and bordering relationships make it a key reference point for regional geography, logistics, and cultural studies in the Eastern Mediterranean.

## Notable For
*   **Administrative Transition:** Uniquely documented for its shift from Gaziantep Province to Hatay Province in 1939.
*   **Population Density Shift:** Demonstrates a massive urbanization trend, with urban population growing from 2,761 in 1965 to over 57,000 in 2021.
*   **Multilingual Recognition:** Holds one of the most extensive Wikipedia language coverages for a Turkish district, with articles in 30 distinct languages.
*   **Geographic Specificity:** Defined by a precise elevation of 430 meters and specific coordinates used in global mapping systems.
*   **Border Complexity:** Shares borders with six other districts, including the cross-border entity of Afrin.
*   **Data Richness:** Contains highly granular population data broken down by rural and urban sectors for nearly every year from 1965 to 2021.

## Body

### Geographic and Administrative Identity
Hassa is defined as a district and town within the Hatay Province of Turkey. It is classified as a city, representing a large human settlement with a sitelink count of 252 in related contexts. The entity is geographically anchored at latitude 36.7979663 and longitude 36.5212691, sitting at an elevation of 430 meters above sea level. Administratively, it is assigned the postal code 31710. The town shares its borders with six neighboring districts: Kırıkhan, İskenderun, Payas, Dörtyol, İslahiye, and Afrin. In terms of digital geography, it is identified by the OpenStreetMap relation ID 1240899 and the GNS Unique Feature ID -753008.

### Historical Jurisdiction and Timeline
The administrative history of Hassa is marked by a significant territorial change. Prior to 1939, the entity was located within Gaziantep Province. In 1939, it was transferred to Hatay Province, where it remains today. This transition is a key historical qualifier for its location data. The timezone for the region was updated on October 2, 2018, to UTC+03:00, a change implemented to maximize the utilization of daylight hours across the country. This specific date serves as the start time for the current timezone configuration.

### Demographic Evolution
Hassa possesses a comprehensive demographic record spanning over five decades. The total population has fluctuated and grown, with the most preferred figure being 56,409 in 2018, determined via the Address-Based Population Registration System. Historical data points include 54,146 in 2014, 57,361 in 2020, and 56,519 in 2019.

The population is further segmented into rural and urban categories, revealing distinct growth patterns:
*   **Urban Population:** Started at 2,761 in 1965, rose to 10,926 by 1975, and saw a massive jump to 54,231 in 2013. By 2018, the urban population reached 56,409, and by 2021, it was recorded at 56,952.
*   **Rural Population:** Began at 18,835 in 1965, peaked at 45,329 in 2008, and was recorded at 44,346 in 2012.
*   **Specific Yearly Data:** Detailed records exist for 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1990, 2000, and annually from 2007 through 2021. For instance, in 1980, the urban population was 6,317 and rural was 31,631. By 2000, urban was 9,071 and rural was 40,923.

### Digital Presence and Classification
The entity is well-represented in global knowledge bases. It has a Freebase ID of `/m/0bfgv4` (referenced in 2013) and a GeoNames ID of `312405`. On Wikipedia, the main title is "Hassa, Hatay," and it is categorized under "Category:Hassa District." The entity has 28 sitelinks and is described in 30 languages, including Arabic (ar, arz), Azerbaijani (az), German (de), English (en), French (fr), Russian (ru), Turkish (tr), and Chinese (zh).

Additional identifiers include the Who's on First ID 890463943 and the SNARC ID "West Pasaman." It is also listed in the Kulturenvanteri taxonomy with ID 1373. The name in Kana is recorded as ハッサ. An image associated with the entity is "Hassa_Haydarlar_Krater_Gölü.jpg," hosted on Wikimedia Commons. The primary reference for its country status is Q328 (The United States of America is the source for the country value in the provided text, though the value is Turkey; the reference P143 points to Q328 which is the source for the claim). The main category reference is Q58255.

### Cultural and Linguistic Context
Hassa is known by the Arabic alias "خَاصَّةُ". The Wikipedia coverage reflects a diverse linguistic interest, with articles available in languages such as Sorani Kurdish (ckb is not listed but pnb and mzn are), Persian (fa), and various Turkic languages like Gagauz (gag) and Tatar (tt). The entity's description in Wikidata explicitly states it is a "district and town in Hatay Province, Turkey." The topic's main category is "Category:Hassa District," which is referenced by Q58255. The image file "Hassa_Haydarlar_Krater_Gölü.jpg" suggests the presence of natural features like crater lakes within the district.

## References

1. [Source](https://statoids.com/ytr.html)
2. [Source](http://hatay.gov.tr/tarihsel-surec-icinde-hatayda-kultur-ve-uygarlik)
3. [Source](https://www.lexpera.com.tr/resmi-gazete/metin/gun-isigindan-daha-fazla-yararlanmak-amaciyla-butun-yurtta-uygulanan-ileri-saat-uygulamasinin-devam-3)
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. [Source](https://www.webcitation.org/6dkPCfqNI?url=http://rapory.tuik.gov.tr/13-12-2015-17:11:35-178115755513632661731055655955.html)
6. GeoNames