Gemlik is an important port district located in Türkiye's Marmara Region, affiliated with Bursa province, known for its olive cultivation and situated on the coast of the Marmara Sea.

In ancient times, Gemlik was one of the oldest cities founded around Bursa, with its history dating back to the 12th century BC. According to legend, it was established as a settlement named after Syrus, Hercules' lost friend. Re-established as Kios by colonists from Miletus in 630 BC, the city successively came under the rule of the Lydians (556 BC), Persians (499 BC), Delian Confederacy (466 BC), and again the Persians (412 BC). The city fell to Alexander the Great in 334 BC, Lysimachus in 301 BC, and Seleucus I in 281 BC. In 280 BC, it became an independent city-state under the protection of the Bithynian Kingdom. However, in 202 BC, it was captured and plundered by Philip V of Macedon and given to Prusias I of Bithynia, who renamed it Prusias ad Mare (Prusias by the Sea). The city was occupied by Mithridates VI, King of Pontus, between 89-85 BC and 73-71 BC, and joined the Roman Republic in 74 BC.

Gemlik, which passed to the Eastern Roman Empire in 395 AD, was captured by the Seljuk commander Ebul Kasım in 1087 and was named "Gemilik," meaning "place where ships dock and are built." This name eventually transformed into "Gemlik." The city returned to Eastern Roman rule with the First Crusade in 1097, and except for the Latin Empire's occupation between 1207-1224, it was annexed to the Empire of Nicaea in 1261. Gemlik came under Ottoman rule during the reign of Orhan Bey in 1336 and became a town endowed to the Yıldırım Mosque and Madrasa during the Ottoman era. It flourished with the construction of the Gemlik-Bursa highway in 1856, and a municipal organization was established.

During the War of Independence, Gemlik was occupied by the British on July 6, 1920, handed over to the Greeks on July 8, 1920, and liberated by the Kocaeli Group under the command of Halit Pasha on September 11, 1922. After the Treaty of Lausanne, the Christian population left through population exchange, and Turks from Greece settled in their place.

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Geographical Structure

Gemlik is located 32 km north of Bursa, on the shore of the calm Gemlik Bay of the Marmara Sea. The district, situated on 29.13 degrees east longitude and 40.12 degrees north latitude, has an area of 413 km². It is surrounded by Armutlu and Çınarcık districts of Yalova to the north, Orhangazi to the east, Yenişehir to the southeast, Kestel, Gürsu, and Osmangazi to the south, and Mudanya to the west.

The slopes of the Samanlı and Katırlı Mountains, which surround Gemlik Bay, constitute the district's terrain. Numerous plains, such as the Engürücük and Gemlik plains, are found between the mountains and the coast; the district center is established at the western end of the Gemlik Plain. The highest point of the district is Üçkaya Hill in the Katırlı Mountains. The district is poor in terms of rivers and lakes; Karsak Stream (Sazlık Creek) carries the most water, and Kocadere is the longest stream. Kocadere originates from the Katırlı Mountains and flows into the bay after irrigating the Engürücük Plain. The bay, a natural basin formed by Tuzla and Kapaklı capes, is calm and waveless; its depth varies between 1-150 m. Geologically, the district consists of old and new rocks and is characterized by volcanic masses and subsidence areas.

Climate and Vegetation

Gemlik generally has a Mediterranean climate but shows transitional features to the Black Sea climate. Temperatures range between +42.6°C and -25.7°C; annual precipitation varies between 456.2 mm and 1217.4 mm, with an average of 113 rainy days. July is the driest month with 22 mm of rain, while December is the wettest with 98 mm. The average temperature in July is 23.3°C, and in January, it is 5.8°C.

The vegetation consists of maquis, forests, and olive groves. 43% of the land is olive groves, 44% cultivated fields, 5% meadows and pastures, and 8% is unsuitable for cultivation. Olive groves define the agricultural character of the district.

Social Structure

According to the 1891 Ottoman census, 38,812 people lived in Gemlik; 43% were Armenian (16,623), 39% Turkish (15,340), 17% Greek (6,575), and 61% of the population was Christian. After the War of Independence, the Christian population left through exchange, and Turkish immigrants from Greece settled in their place. Today, 80% of the district center's population is engaged in trade; trade in salted olives, oil, and soap stands out. The healthcare infrastructure includes 1 state hospital (260 beds), 1 private hospital (7 beds), 9 family health centers, and 4 health houses. There are 990 people per doctor and 38 beds per 10,000 people. In 2018, 10,059 people received inpatient treatment, and 9,531 surgeries were performed. However, suicide cases increased between 2016-2018, with 159 incidents recorded.

Economic Structure

Gemlik's economy is based on agriculture, industry, fishing, and trade. Türkiye's most delicious table olives are produced in Gemlik. Apples, pears, peaches, beans, artichokes, cucumbers, tomatoes, peas, eggplants, and peppers are also cultivated. Türkiye's first cannery (Rifat Minare Koll. Şti.) was established here, and vegetable growing and canning developed. Animal husbandry is common in mountain villages, while poultry farming is increasing in the district. Fishing is an important source of income due to the bay's rich fish diversity.

In industry, olive production takes the lead. The Sümerbank Artificial Silk Factory, established in 1937, played a role in the district's development but has since been closed. Factories such as Tügsaş, Borusan, Çimtaş, Borçelik, and MKS form the industrial infrastructure. The export of veined marble, diabase (found in only two centers worldwide), and gypsum extracted in Gemlik contributes to the economy. Bursa Free Zone, with an employment of 7,000 people, holds an important place in the district's economic structure. As a port city, Gemlik is a strategic center for maritime transportation in the Marmara Region.

Tourism Potential

Gemlik is a first-degree tourist district. Rest homes, hotels, motels, campsites, and pensions in Kurşunlu, Küçük Kumla, Büyük Kumla, and Karacaali host tourists. The Celal Bayar Library, Museum, and monumental tomb in Umurbey are important attractions. Balıkpazarı Mosque (converted from a church) and Çarşı Ali Paşa Mosque are historical structures. The natural beauty and calm waters of the bay also support tourism.

Demographic Structure

According to 2024 Address-Based Population Registration System data, Gemlik's population is 123,361, with 245 people per square kilometer. Due to rapid urbanization and migration, intense construction is observed on the slopes. The old urban fabric, especially in coastal areas, is being destroyed. The main street of the district is İstiklal Street. The Kumla - Armutlu road is also developing as a new main street.