Isn’t Uskumruköy a fascinating name? It translates to “mackerel village”. Uskumruköy is a neighborhood in Istanbul. It is part of the Sarıyer district.
Uskumruköy sits north of the Belgrad Forest. This forest is a popular spot for Istanbul residents seeking excursions. We are about 8 kilometers west of Sarıyer center. Uskumruköy is considered a suburb of Greater Istanbul.
Uskumruköy has a long history. The ruins of an old observation tower are visible. This tower was likely built by the Republic of Genoa during the Middle Ages. During the Ottoman Empire, Uskumruköy served as a gathering place. The army would assemble here before campaigns to the west.
The village’s economy once relied on cattle breeding and wood chopping. Today much of the land has been bought by construction companies. Modern houses and villas are being built for Istanbul residents. The muhtar estimates about 2500 villas are in the village area.
New European-style living areas are planned. These will cover a vast area including Uskumruköy.
Let’s delve a little deeper into Uskumruköy’s geography. The village is divided into two parts. There is Aşağıköy meaning Lower Village. Then there is Yukarıköy meaning Upper Village about 500 meters away. In recent years areas have been added. These include Samsun Mahallesi and Arıköy.
The local administration is in Aşağıköy. You will find the muhtarlık or local administration here. There is also a school a high school a health center a mosque a village coffee house and a sports field.
The village channels students to different schools. Neighboring villages send students to Uskumruköy’s high school. But Uskumruköy sends middle school students elsewhere.
Uskumruköy is built on uneven terrain. Houses line the village stream also known as Sofadere. This stream gives Dere Mahallesi its name. Uskumruköy is known as Sarıyer’s largest village in terms of land area.
The village is surrounded by meadows and pastures. Natural sea dunes exist in Arıköy and Tatlısu. The Kızıltası stream flows through these areas. It eventually empties into the Black Sea. The pine forest to the north was planted. The Forest Administration afforested a former quarry site.
Koruboyu to the west is a degraded extension of the Belgrad Forests. Uskumruköy is Sarıyer’s largest timber source. The village’s timberlands stretch from Gümüşdere Ayazma. They follow the Belgrad forest up to Kule. They also include the area below Demirciköy.
The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality operates Kilyos Cemetery. The Kilyos Köyü Ağlamış Dede Cemeteries also fall within Uskumruköy’s boundaries.
You can reach Uskumruköy by bus. The number 152 IETT bus runs from Hacıosman Metro and Kısırkaya. Minibuses also run every 15 minutes. They connect Sarıyer and surrounding villages. The Kilyos-Metro bus passes through Dörtyol. It provides direct access to Bahçeköy and the Metro. Buses from Boğaziçi University’s Sarıtepe Campus travel to Rumelihisarıstü.
Evliya Çelebi mentioned Uskumru Çayırı in his Seyahatname. He noted that Janissary armies camped here. This suggests that the name “Uskumru” is at least 400 years old. The tower on the village’s summit is known as “Ovidius Tower”. The Genoese built this tower to watch the Black Sea.
Administratively Uskumruköy was part of the Sarι Yer district. In the early years of the Republic it was part of Zekeriyaköy.
The village is home to about 5000 people. Recent migration and construction have increased the population. The original villagers consist of migrants and Albanians. There is no Pomak Gacal or Bosnian population.
Unlike Gümüşdere Uskumruköy focused on animal husbandry and woodcutting. The village stream flows through Kilyos. It then empties into the Black Sea.
The Natural Life Protection Foundation identified Uskumruköy dunes as important plant areas. These dunes included Arıköy Sarıtepe and Tatlısu. Rapid construction threatens this plant life. There are calls to declare the area a natural protected site.
The villagers are shifting from farming to service and labor sectors. Uskumruköy has benefited from the rapid construction. This mirrors the development in Zekeriyaköy.
The population reflects those living in the new sites and villas. The village center has a few shops. You can find grocers coffee houses hardware stores and a barber. Restaurants along the Kilyos road serve Istanbul residents. The İsmail Hakkı Mete Health Center serves Uskumruköy and neighboring villages.