History of Alaca

Alaca October 2010

Alaca is one of Çorum’s long-established settlements, with a history reaching back to around 5000 BCE. This feature makes the district one of the oldest inhabited areas in Central Anatolia. In antiquity, the area where the district center now stands appears in the sources as “Etonia.” During Anatolia’s early ages of civilization, the region was part of an important cultural basin, especially in the Hatti and Hittite periods.

History

The district’s name has undergone changes over time. While the local name “Hüseyinova” was used in the 19th and 20th centuries, the settlement—which had earlier been administered as a township (bucak)—gained district status in 1919 under the name Hüseyinabâd. The name “Alaca” used today became official in 1932. As with many settlements in Anatolia, the district also bore witness to the region’s social and economic life during the Seljuk and Ottoman periods.

Location

About 50 km from the provincial center, Alaca lies at the intersection of the Yozgat–Çorum and Sungurlu–Tokat highways. It is bordered by Çorum to the north, Yozgat to the south, Çekerek to the east, and Sungurlu to the west. The district has a surface area of 1,346 km² and an elevation of 950 m. It is 52 km from Çorum, 53 km from Yozgat, and 43 km from Sungurlu. Lying on the route that connects the Black Sea region with Central Anatolia, the district has been a lively point of transit and trade throughout history. As for its climate, summers are hot and dry while winters are cold and rainy; the average annual precipitation is around 376 mm.

Historical and Touristic Sites

Alaca stands out for the archaeological wealth it harbors in its surroundings. Among the most important historical sites open to tourism in the district are the historical ruins in the village of Eskiyapar and Mahmudiye, along with Alacahöyük, which is full of Hittite-period remains, and the ancient sites of Kalınkaya and Pazarlı. Alacahöyük is one of the most important excavation areas in Anatolian archaeology, and a significant portion of the artifacts unearthed there are exhibited at the Alacahöyük Museum and in the country’s leading museums. The Gerdekkaya tomb and Koçhisar Cave are also among the spots frequented by visitors.

The district center and its surroundings also contain religious structures from the Ottoman period. The Eski Cami (Old Mosque), built in 1763 by Ömer Osman Paşa, and the Yeni Cami (New Mosque), built of wood in 1893 by Şeyh Efendi, an immigrant from Ardahan, are among the district’s notable architectural treasures. In addition, structures such as the Hüseyin Gazi Madrasa and the Kalehisar Madrasa reflect the district’s cultural heritage extending into the Seljuk and later periods. The Hüseyin Gazi Tomb is also among the structures of historical value.

Because the district was established on the route connecting the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, economic life is quite vibrant. The district economy is largely based on agriculture. The agricultural lands total 100,065 hectares, of which 20,558 hectares are irrigated farmland. The principal agricultural products are wheat, barley, corn, chickpeas, lentils, sunflower, sugar beet, dry onions, dry beans, and potatoes. To a lesser extent, viticulture, vegetable growing, and fruit growing are also practiced. According to 2002 data, the district had 13,762 cattle and 13,620 sheep and goats. In recent years, facilities oriented toward industry have also opened; ten flour mills, one feed mill, and workshops producing furniture operate in the district.

Administrative Structure and Population

In the 2000 General Population Census, the district was recorded as having a total population of 53,193, comprising 24,983 in the district center and 28,210 in the towns and villages. The district has 94 villages and three towns; there are seven neighborhoods in the district center, four in the town of Alacahöyük, two in the town of Büyükhırka, and two in the town of Çopraşık.

In terms of formal education institutions, the district has one General High School, one İmam-Hatip High School, one Multi-Program High School, one Anatolian High School, one Girls’ Vocational High School, one Health Vocational High School, 19 primary schools (10 of them in the district center), and 32 multigrade primary schools in the villages. The district center is served by a stadium with a capacity of 3,000, a 500-capacity indoor sports hall, a 50-bed State Hospital, and health centers in various villages.

ℹ️ This article has been enriched with additional historical context and editing over the original archive content.