History of Kargı
Kargı is a district located in the northwest of Çorum, within the Kızılırmak (Red River) Valley and on the Osmancık-Tosya highway. It lies about 113 km from the provincial center, and by its position the district serves as a transition point between Çorum and Kastamonu. The fertile valley floor watered by the Kızılırmak has shaped both the settlement and the agricultural identity of the district.
History
Like many settlements in Anatolia, the Kargı region bears traces of different eras; its location on the natural transit routes of the interior regions opening onto the Black Sea pushes the history of the settlement far back in time. Administratively, the province to which the district belonged has changed over time: until 1936, Kargı was governed sometimes under Osmancık and sometimes under Tosya. In 1936 it was made a district and attached to the province of Kastamonu, and in 1956 it was attached to the province of Çorum. These administrative transitions led the district to forge ties with both the Kastamonu and the Çorum cultural basins.
The Seljuk and Beylik Period
According to Kargı Municipality’s history page, the region first came under Turkish rule through Emir Danişmend Gazi, one of Alparslan’s commanders and the founder of the Danishmendid state; his commander Emir Karategin is thought to have taken the region around 1083-1084. This was followed in turn by the rule of the Anatolian Seljuks, the Çobanoğulları, and the Candaroğulları beyliks. Kargı first passed into Ottoman territory in 1392 under Yıldırım Bayezid, but after the Battle of Ankara in 1402 it reverted to the Candaroğulları (İsfendiyaroğulları), in particular to the rule of Kasım Bey. With Kasım Bey’s death in 1430, Kargı came permanently under Ottoman rule and was attached to the Sancak of Çankırı.
Historic Monuments
Among the best-known historic monuments in the district are the Mihrihatun Mosque and its bath, said to have been built in the village of Karaseki in the name of Mihrihatun, the wife of Murad IV; the mosque in the village of Oğuz, accepted as a remnant of the Seljuks; and the Hacıhamza Castle and Inn. These structures show that the region was an important settlement and transit line during the Seljuk and Ottoman periods as well. For the related buildings, see also the pages on the Mihri Hatun Mosque, the Oğuz Köyü Mosque, and, in the district, the Sinan Paşa Inn and the Sinan Paşa Complex.
Highland Pastures and Tourism
Kargı’s highland pastures (yaylas) are counted among the district’s most important tourist destinations. The Abdullah Yayla has infrastructure facilities available and is convenient for accommodation. In addition, with the Kargı Yayla, the Eğinönü Yayla, and the Aksu, Göl, Örencik, Karaboyu and Gökçedoğan pastures, the region presents an appearance well suited to highland tourism. For the pastures in the region, the pages on the Abdullah Yayla and the Kargı Yayla can be reviewed.
Geographical Structure
The district has a surface area of 1,277 km² and an elevation of about 450 m. In the district, which is under the influence of the Black Sea climate, the annual average precipitation has been recorded as 360.3 mm. Its location within the Kızılırmak Valley is a determining factor in terms of both water resources and agricultural production.
Administrative Structure and Population
According to the 2000 census, the population of the district center was determined as 5,728, and the total population including the villages as 20,388. According to TÜİK’s Address-Based Population Registration System (ADNKS) figures for 2025, the district’s total population is 15,119. The district has one town (Hacıhamza) and 58 villages under its administration.
Economic and Social Situation
The district economy is largely based on agriculture. In the district, which has an agricultural area of 20,800 hectares, the most important source of livelihood is the cultivation of paddy (rice); the production of okra also stands out as one of the products characteristic of the region. Livestock farming likewise holds an important place in the livelihood of the people; the number of cattle has been recorded as 13,769 and the number of sheep and goats as 22,140. In the district center there are seven rice mills, one textile factory, one plastics factory, one wood-processing factory and one marble factory.
Education, Culture and Health
In the district, a total of 1,991 students study across 21 primary schools, together with two general high schools, one Vocational and Technical Education Center, one multi-program high school and one boarding primary school. In terms of health services, the district has a 50-bed State Hospital and four health centers, one each in the town of Hacıhamza and in the villages of Yeşilköy and Gökçedoğan.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Kargı?
According to TÜİK ADNKS figures for 2025, the total population of Kargı district is 15,119.
Which province is Kargı in?
Kargı is a district of Çorum province in Turkey.
How far is Kargı from Çorum?
The district centre of Kargı is about 113 km from Çorum city centre.
What is the altitude of Kargı?
Kargı lies at an altitude of about 450 metres. Its area is 1,277 km².
ℹ️ This article has been enriched with additional historical context and editing over the original archive content.