Bekilli Vocational High School

The town of Bekilli, where our vocational school was established, is an important settlement of Denizli province. In terms of location, Bekilli is situated in the north of Denizli province, on a transitional route between Western Anatolia and Central Anatolia. It is 86 km away from the city center of Denizli and 83 km away from the city of Uşak. To the north of Bekilli is Karahallı district of Uşak, to the west is Ulubey district, to the east is Çivril district, and to the south is Çal district.

Its total area is 375 km² and its altitude is 850 m. In terms of physical structure, Bekilli is surrounded by hills: Hisar (Asar) Hill (957 m) to the south, Aslankara Hill to the north, Hocalı Hill (932 m) to the west, Tatar Hill (908 m) to the southwest, and Uzunçalı and Zıntı Hill (894 m) to the east. The Büyük Menderes River flows 5 km south of Bekilli town center. However, due to the depth and steepness of the area called the Bekilli Valley, access to water for agricultural lands is limited. In terms of historical remains, Bekilli bears traces of settlement from the Hittites, Phrygians, Lydians, Ionians, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks, Principalities, and the Ottoman period. In the past, it has experienced ups and downs in settlement and population due to destructive earthquakes, political, administrative, economic, and commercial reasons.

Bekilli Municipality, founded in 1910, was one of the first municipal organizations established during the Ottoman period. Bekilli, which was a village settlement connected to Afyonkarahisar Sanjak, was linked to İzmir province in 1884, and later to Denizli. Until 1910, it remained a subdistrict (bucak) connected to Çal district of Denizli, and in 1987, it gained district status with Law No. 3392. Its administrative organization was completed on 09.08.1988. Today, Bekilli has a total of 15 neighborhoods: 3 central and 12 rural (villages).

Bekilli is one of the first settlements in Turkey to use electrical energy. The Bekilli Hydroelectric Power Plant, built on the Büyük Menderes River flowing south of the district in 1952, supplied electricity to Çal, Bekilli, Süller, and Akkent. In 1950, Bekilli solved its drinking water problem by providing water to all houses with local resources and facilities. With its natural resources, it has been an important settlement area from past to present.

The economic structure of Bekilli is generally based on agriculture. Vinegar, molasses, and wine are produced in the district. Since Bekilli has limited agricultural land and practices dry farming, production is restricted. The Medele Plain, covering the villages of Çoğaşlı and Yeşiloba, is the main arable land. In addition to agriculture-based industries, there are deposits of marble, asbestos, manganese, graphite, talc, vermiculite, and barite. Marble quarries are operated around Çoğaşlı, Deşdemir, and Köselli villages. During the War of Independence, the Greek occupation of Bekilli, which began two months after the occupation of İzmir and lasted 18 months, ended on the night of August 31 with the Great Offensive. Bekilli regained its independence on August 30, 1922.

In its history, Bekilli has experienced fluctuations in settlement and population due to earthquakes, political, administrative, economic, and commercial reasons. In 1970, the population of Bekilli was 15,455, which dropped to 10,577 in 2000, and further decreased to 6,416 in 2024. Due to limited agricultural land and water resources, Bekilli gave migration to cities such as Denizli, İzmir, Aydın, and Istanbul in search of better living and educational opportunities. In recent years, social life in Bekilli has become active again. The Bekilli Vocational School is supported by local administrations and philanthropists, as it plays an important role in contributing socially, economically, and culturally to the district.