The history of Çaysimav, one of the rooted settlements in the Simav district of Kütahya, has been closely shaped by the geographical changes and natural events of the region. Once an independent village, the settlement was connected to the town of Demirci through administrative updates over time, and today it continues to exist within the administrative structure of Simav's neighborhoods/villages.
The main outlines that define the historical process of Çaysimav and lead to its current structure are as follows:
1. Simav Lake and Socio-Economic Transformation
The biggest turning point in Çaysimav's past was the Simav Lake, which was once located just north of it.Simav Lake.
Lake-Centered Life:Until the 1950s, Çaysimav and nearby villages (such as Gölköy) relied heavily on this lake for their livelihood. Fishing, reed cutting, and waterfowl hunting formed the basis of the village's daily life and economy.
The Draining of the Lake and Transition to Agriculture:In 1959, the State Hydraulic Works (DSI) decided to drain the lake to combat malaria caused by swamps and to create new agricultural lands for landless peasants. The lake waters began to be drained with the opening of drainage channels in 1967, and this long process was completed in 1982. This significant geographical change completely altered the fate of Çaysimav, transforming the region from a fishing-centered settlement to one primarily focused on agriculture.
2. Traditional Architecture and Historical Texture
Çaysimav, reflecting the traditional rural architecture of Inner Aegean, hosts examples of civil architecture where adobe and wood are used together. Some characteristic houses located within the village, which carry the living culture of that period to the present day, have been granted "registered historical structure" status. From time to time, various cultural heritage and restoration projects are brought up for the purpose of preserving these structures and passing them on to future generations.
3. Recent History and the 2011 Simav Earthquake
In the region located in the first-degree earthquake zone, the event that deeply affected the recent history of Çaysimavis the Simav earthquake that occurred on May 19, 2011, with a magnitude of 5.9..
The earthquake caused damage to many structures in the village. In particular, the stone minaret of the Aşağı Mosque, which is one of the important historical buildings of the village and has a history of over 60 years, was severely damaged and had to be demolished in a controlled manner for safety reasons.
This natural disaster and the subsequent process also affected the demographic structure of the village; due to the anxiety experienced and economic difficulties, Çaysimav experienced outward migration and a significant decrease in its population.
In summary, Çaysimav is a historical settlement of Simav that carries traces of the transformation from an old fishing settlement on the lake shore to a modern agricultural village, housing traditional Aegean architecture and having personally experienced the geographical/tectonic fate of the region.
