çalmada

Çalmada is a village situated in the district of Gölpazarı, within Bilecik Province in northwestern Turkey. The settlement lies at an elevation of roughly 260 metres above sea level and is surrounded by a gently rolling landscape characteristic of the region’s transitional zone between the Marmara and Central Anatolian plateaus. Administratively, Çalmada is classified as a neighbourhood (mahalle) of the Gölpazarı municipality and is governed by a locally elected muhtar.

According to the Address‑Based Population Registration System, the village recorded a total of 427 inhabitants in the 2022 census, reflecting a gradual decline common among rural communities in the area. The demographic profile is predominantly composed of aging residents, with younger generations often migrating to larger urban centres for education and employment.

The local economy is primarily based on agriculture and animal husbandry. Residents cultivate cereals such as wheat and barley, as well as legumes and sunflowers, taking advantage of the region’s temperate climate and modest annual rainfall. Small‑scale livestock farming, especially sheep and cattle, provides additional income and contributes to the village’s traditional pastoral practices.

Historically, Çalmada has been part of the broader Gölpazarı district since the Ottoman administrative reorganisation of the 19th century, and the settlement’s name is believed to derive from a Turkish verb meaning “to play” or “to steal,” though local oral tradition links it to an ancient folk tale. No significant historical monuments are present in the village, but the surrounding area contains several Byzantine‑era ruins and Ottoman‑period structures that attract occasional scholarly interest.

In recent years, efforts by the district governorate to improve rural infrastructure have led to upgrades in road access, water supply, and telecommunications, aiming to curb depopulation and enhance the quality of life for Çalmada’s residents.