The city of Van is described in an 1891 French-language trade directory as follows:

“VAN (chief town of the vilayet). An old town, founded by Semiramis according to local tradition. The city is built near the edge of Lake Van, at approximately 5,200 feet above sea level. At the foot of the large rock that forms the citadel, remains of ancient buildings and cuneiform inscriptions have been found. 30,000 inhabitants, of whom 20,000 are Armenian.

The suburb called Aykesdan (“the vines” or “the vinyards”) is very pleasant.

The port is in commercial communication with secondary ports on the lake such as Nareg [Narek – modern Yemişlik], Ardjich [Arjesh – modern Erciş] and Tadouan [Datvan – modern Tatvan]. The lake is 80 miles long by 35 miles wide, if one does not count the gulf which extends inland to the NE and which measures 700 sq km, which makes the total extent of the lake about 3,500 sq km.

In the months of May and June, the darekh fish [Alburnus tarichiis – the only fish native to Lake Van] is caught in great quantities, and both exported to Persia and preserved for the winter.

Products: wheat, barley, vegetables, fruits, wines, oils, coal (untapped until today), zirnik [sodium sulfide], darekh fish, wool, tiftik [mohair], goat and sheep skins, and some furs. Salts [minerals?] are rich enough in the surroundings of Van. In Djoulamerik [Julamerik – modern Hakkâri], there is a mine with abundant reserves of zirnik but which is long abandoned.

Industries: cotton fabrics of various kinds, carpets, tanneries, belts.

Imports: European and Persian manufactures, colonial goods, cotton, worked skins.

Exports: cattle, sheep, galls [used for ink and dye], skins, wool.

12 Armenian churches, several convents, 4 mosques (one a former church), several Armenian schools, two preparatory schools. Schools for boys and girls run by American missionaries.”

The city is shown on this Google Map, together with various sites of Armenian interest , including those mentioned in the translation above.

The Armenian residents mentioned in the directories consulted – those for 1881, 1883, 1885, 1889, 1891, 1893, 1894, 1896 – are as follows.

Van

Alemian, Aslan, banker [1881, 1883, 1885, 1889, 1891, 1893, 1894, 1896]
Babiguian, brothers, merchants [1881, 1883, 1885, 1889, 1891, 1893, 1894, 1896]
Bartevian, Artin, tanner [1891, 1893, 1894, 1896]
Chadvorian, Avedis, banker [1881, 1883, 1885, 1889]
Chahbazian, Manouk, merchant [1889]
Chahbinderian, Margos, merchant [1891, 1893, 1894, 1896]
Chaldjian, Agop, merchant [1881, 1883, 1885, 1889]
Chirvanian, Nishan effendi, dragoman for British Vice-Consul [1891, 1893, 1894, 1896]
Der Artinian, Simon effendi, dragoman for Persian Consul [1896]
Der Ohannessian, Kirkor, merchant [1881, 1883, 1885, 1889, 1891, 1893, 1894, 1896]
Derdivonessosian, Nerses, stationer & bookseller [1893, 1894, 1896]
Djidadjian, brothers, merchants [1893, 1894, 1896]
Eremian, O, merchant [1891, 1893, 1894, 1896]
Fadjian, Var., merchant [1889, 1891]
Hussian, Mihran, dragoman to Russian Consulate [1883, 1885, 1889]
Kaprielian / Kabrielian, Haroutioun, shoemaker [1881, 1883, 1885, 1889, 1891]
Khaghakhortian / Kaghaghortian, brothers, merchants [1881, 1883, 1885, 1889, 1891, 1893, 1894, 1896]
Kaldjian, Artin, banker [1891, 1893, 1894, 1896]
Kaldjian, Kievork bey, merchant [1881, 1883, 1885, 1889]
Kaldjian, Var., merchant [1891]
Kalikian, brothers, merchants [1893, 1894, 1896]
Kapamadjian, -, bankers [1891, 1893, 1894, 1896]
Kapamadjian, brothers, manufacturers [1881, 1883, 1885, 1889, 1891, 1893, 1894, 1896]
Kapamadjian, brothers, merchants [1881, 1891, 1893, 1894, 1896]
Kapamadjian, Bedros, agent of Imperial Ottoman Bank [1896]
Khadjian, Nishan effendi, dragoman for Persian Consul [1893, 1894]
Khanikian, Garebet, merchant [1893, 1894, 1896]
Khrimian, Miguirditch, Armenian Apostolic Prelate [1881, 1883, 1885, 1889, 1891]
Kondadjian [Konderdji], Mig., bookkeeper & accountant, tobacco board [1893, 1894, 1896]
Levonian, -, stationer & bookseller [1891, 1893, 1894, 1896]
Maroutian effendi, merchant [1889, 1891, 1893, 1894, 1896]
Nabboundian, Garabet, merchant [1889]
Nalbandian, Garabet, merchant [1891]
Ohannes, Armenian Apostolic suffragan bishop at Başkale [1881]
Ohannes effendi, merchant [1889, 1891]
Pagr[e]vantian, Der Sahag vartabet, Armenian Orthodox Archbishop [1893, 1894, 1896]
Portucalian, M, stationer & bookseller [1883, 1885, 1889]
Portukalian, Miguirditch, founder & director of the United Armenian Society School / Van Central School [1881, 1883, 1885]
Puzantian, -, stationer & bookseller [1891, 1893, 1894, 1896]
Santourdjian, Ohannes, merchant [1893, 1894, 1896]
Sapoundji, Agop, merchant [1889]
Sironandjian, Karekin, Armenian Apostolic vicar general [1881]
Takvorian, effendi, chief engineer for Van vilayet [1885, 1889]
Tateos, father, Armenian Apostolic vicar [1891]
Tcherlemezian, M, stationer & bookseller [1883, 1885, 1889]
Tchilingaroff, G, dragoman for Russian Vice-Consul [1893, 1894, 1896]
Terlemezian, Manoug & M, merchants [1881, 1883, 1885, 1889, 1891]
Terlemezian, Sahak & brothers, merchants [1893, 1894, 1896]
Terzibachian, Artin effendi, merchant [1889]
Terzibachian, Haroutioun, merchant [1881, 1883, 1885, 1889, 1891, 1893, 1894, 1896]
Tokmakian, Markar, manufacturer [1881, 1883, 1885, 1889, 1891, 1893, 1894, 1896]
Tutundjian, Manass, merchant [1893, 1894, 1896]
Vartan, Sahag bey, manager of the tobacco board [1893, 1894]
Vartazarian, Mihran, doctor [1881]

The image below shows Van on a British Intelligence Division, War Office map of 1901, based on triangulation and reconnaissance carried out between 1880 and 1900 by various army officers and consular staff.

 

Surb Khach, Akhtamar