At the beginning of the 20th century, the vilayet reportedly had an area of 19,300 square miles (50,000 km2), while the preliminary results of the first Ottoman census of 1885 (published in 1908) gave the population as 1,009,460.

In the 1920s, the British geographer George Walter Prothero described the region as being mountainous, indicating a rugged and varied terrain.

This religious majority would have shaped the social and cultural norms of the region, influencing aspects such as legal systems, education, and daily customs.

It’s important to note that while the population was primarily Muslim, it was likely diverse in terms of ethnicity, language, and cultural practices.

[7][8] Cloth was also being produced in the Kastamonu Vilayet, made from wool and goat hair, which was mainly sold to locals.