[1] It is the third largest district in İzmir's metropolitan area and is almost fully urbanized at the rate of 98.6 percent, with correspondingly high levels of development in terms of industries and services.

Bornova is home to Ege University's main campus and associated hospital, one of the largest and foremost medical centers in western Turkey.

In fact, under the Byzantine and Nicean Empires the region was called "Prinobaris" and was notable for being a source of considerable revenues for the Haghia Sophia from its attached properties here, and was for this reason alternatively known as "Hagiosophitike chora".

There are 45 neighbourhoods in Bornova District:[7] Several unofficial denominations for neighborhoods are also in common use across İzmir and beyond to describe localities often with determined centers but vague boundaries, such as Altındağ and Pınarbaşı.

A number of notorious cases of kidnapping involving brigands and the owners of these residences and high demands of ransom occurred frequently basis for almost a hundred years.

Bornova held the first football match ever in the Ottoman Empire, played in 1890 between British sailors on shore leave against young men of İzmir.

The urban growth occurred the direction both of the seashore and to the east towards Kemalpaşa, as well as to the south in Altındağ zone and İzmir-Aydın motorway.

New neighborhoods consisting of block apartments were built rapidly, some of which carry the name of the real estate developers who had initiated the construction boom, such as Özkanlar and Çamkıran.

Bornova could nevertheless preserve its orderly outlook, with privately -and legally- built constructions and social housing projects keeping at pace with the increase in population, and very few slum-type residences, of which many boomtowns across Turkey are still scourged with.

Furthermore, two cement mills and stone quarries, opened in what were empty fields decades ago, are now located next to residences, and the pollution caused by the former establishments is an ongoing issue of concern.

[13] A "square", more in the form of crossroads in a roundabout, slightly past the entry into Bornova coming from Manisa and which continues towards İzmir center, is the focal point of motor vehicle traffic in Bornova, with Ege University campus and large department stores extending to its south and residential areas served by smaller streets to the north.

Since İzmir's central bus terminal, the huge İZOTAŞ in Altındağ quarter where an estimated fifty thousand people arrive or depart each day, as well as the road junctions connecting İzmir and the regions to its south, to Istanbul, Ankara and the rest of Turkey, are located within the boundaries of Bornova, intercity connections are made relatively easy.

International companies which operate with sizable Bornova bases, BMC, Tuborg, Efes Pilsen, and CMS Tyres can be cited.

The Pınarbaşı Racing Circuit for go-kart and motorcycle racing is situated in Pınarbaşı, Bornova, which is Turkey's second longest, covering an area of 25 hectares, 7 swimming pools, 8 tennis courts, 2 indoor sports halls, 4 soccer fields and 54 basketball fields compose Bornova's sports infrastructure.

[15] A large recreational area which bears Homer's name, to whom İzmir lays one of the strongest claims, is in the phase of construction in a 3,5 km long valley to the northeast of Bornova center, and it is already very popular among residents although, located at some distance from the poet's native river Meles, the choice of the name may be historically disputable for pedantics.