History of Dodurga
Dodurga is a district of Çorum province, located in the northwest of the province. The origin of the district’s name goes back to the “Töturga” (Dodurga) tribe, one of the 24 Oghuz tribes listed by Kaşgarlı Mahmut in his work Divânü Lugâti’t-Türk. This indicates that the region’s Turkish settlement history has deep roots, associated with the arrival of the Oghuz tribes in Anatolia. Place names bearing the names of the Oghuz tribes are a common feature throughout Çorum and its surroundings.
History
The district was significantly affected by several major earthquakes that occurred in succession during the first half of the 20th century. The earthquakes of 1910, 1935, 1942 and 1943 caused heavy damage to the settlement, and Dodurga was rebuilt several times. This period coincides with a time of seismic activity that affected the entire Çorum region.
Dodurga lost a large part of its male population during the First World War. Although it had been weakened in terms of population during the late Ottoman period, like many other Anatolian villages, it once again became an important settlement center after the early years of the Republic with the discovery of lignite coal in the surrounding area. The district was granted a municipal organization in 1963 and gained district status on 9 May 1990.
Geographical Structure
Dodurga is approximately 42 km from Çorum. Its surface area is 191 km², and its elevation is 510 meters. The district is dominated by a transitional type of climate between the Central Black Sea climate and the continental climate; this points to relatively dry summers and a rainy spring. The annual average precipitation is 373.2 mm. Rainfall begins to decrease starting in July and falls to its lowest level of 11.6 mm in August.
Administrative Structure and Population
According to the 2000 General Population Census, the district’s population is 3,458 in the center and 6,993 in the towns and villages, for a total of 10,451 people. The district has one town (Alpagut Town) and 10 villages.
Economic and Social Situation
Economic life in the district is limited, and the vast majority of the population makes its living from agriculture. The most widely produced and marketed product is rice (paddy). The agricultural land totals 6,983 hectares; in the dry farming areas, wheat is planted on 3,500 hectares and barley on 400 hectares; in addition, small amounts of sugar beet and onions are grown for commercial purposes.
Animal husbandry is the third source of income after agriculture and mining. The district has 3,241 head of cattle and 2,125 head of small livestock, and thanks to subsidized artificial insemination in cattle, an increase toward crossbreds and cultured breeds is observed.
Dodurga’s most defining economic feature is its lignite deposits. Coal was discovered in 1942 and began to be operated in the same year. The facility, later privatized, is now run by the private sector, with annual production of around 300,000 tons. Mining has played a decisive role in the district’s redevelopment.
Education, Culture and Health
In the district, a total of 1,375 students study across 10 schools: one Multi-Program High School; five Primary Schools (two in the center and three in the villages); and four Multi-Grade Primary Schools. Health services are carried out through one Health Center each in the district center and in the town of Alpagut; in addition, the construction of a 20-bed State Hospital is ongoing.
Related Places
For the history of Çorum’s neighboring districts, see the History of Osmancık, History of İskilip and History of Oğuzlar pages; and as a neighboring settlement reflecting the region’s connection with the Oghuz tribes, see the History of Bayat page.
ℹ️ This article has been enriched with additional historical context and editing over the original archive content.