Republic Period

Bodrum was active and important harbor in the Ottoman times.  There was great trade with GreekIslands and with Italy. But First World War and the war of independence made all the trade stopped and had a very negative effect on the economy of the town. The war was followed by exchange of populations between Greece and Turkey. Many Turks from islands especially from Crete came to Bo drum and they mainly dealt with fishing and sponge diving.

 It took time to re establish the trade relations with the outer world.  Bodrum was a small and poor town during the early years of Republic Since there were n proper roads, most of the traveling and trade was done by boats. Most of the people in the country side dealt with the agriculture growing tobacco, olives. Figs, almonds and cotton.  As to people living o the coastline, their main occupations were boat building, sponge diving and fishing. Later on we see a new income forthepeople of Bodrum, Due to good climate they started growing tangerines and citrus flowers. Bodrum had also his own famous merchants and artisans such as boat builders, sandal makers, and tailors. Famous boat builders Mehmet Usta and his student Ziya Güvediren Usta were legendary masters of boat building/ Tailor Izzet Enver became the tailor of Ismet Pasa, second president of Turkish republic

In 1925 Cevat Sakir, who became so famous as fisherman of Halicarnasus, came to Bodrum. His arrival to Bodrum changes his own destiny and destiny of the Bodrum.

1930 first elementary school was founded in Bodrum.

During the Second World War trade is stopped once more/

Bodrum was also was hometown of

well known poet and Ney virtuoso Neyzen Tevfik.

Zeki Muren famous Turkish classical music singers moved to Bodrum and spend the last year of his lifes till he died in Izmir.

In The recent years Bodrum is becoming a entertaining center and great holiday destination for Turkish and foreign visitors.