İhsangazi is a district located in the southwest of Kastamonu, on the northern skirts of the Ilgaz Mountains. It gained district status in 1987. It consists of 23 villages and 10 neighborhoods. Agriculture and animal husbandry are the main sources of income in the district. It is known for the production of einkorn wheat. Among the natural and historical areas are İhsangazi Waterfall and rock tombs.

^{İhsangazi (Kastamonu Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry)}

History

İhsangazi is a settlement that has been known by different names throughout history. Rock tombs within the district borders indicate that the region was inhabited in the 5th-6th centuries AD. The discovery of pottery pieces from the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Ages in surface research indicates that the settlement dates back to very old times. Records from the Ottoman period dated 1530 do not show a settlement under the name of İhsangazi; it is known that the villages in the region were affiliated with the central district of Kastamonu at that time. The name “Mergüze District” is mentioned in the Kastamonu Journal Book prepared in the mid-19th century, and it is seen that Mergüze was included as a sub-district of Araç district in the Kastamonu yearbooks of 1869, 1879 and 1903.

During the Republic period, the region began to develop with a gendarmerie station centered in Mergüze in 1940 and a primary school opened in 1945 for the education of nearby villages. The sub-district directorate building built in 1958 is currently used as a government building. The municipal organization was established in 1968 and the name of the settlement was changed to “İhsangazi”. In the same year, 10 villages close to the district center were given the status of neighborhood and included in the municipal borders. With the opening of the İhsangazi Boarding Regional School in 1979, construction continued in the center and the population increased. With the law dated 19 June 1987, it was decided that İhsangazi would become a district; according to the decision published in the Official Gazette on 4 July 1987, İhsangazi officially started its activities as the new district center on 31 August 1988. Thus, the administrative structure of the district was completed and it has continued its existence as a district affiliated to the province of Kastamonu since that date.

Geography and Climate

İhsangazi is located in the Black Sea Region of Türkiye, within the borders of Kastamonu Province. The district is located approximately 37 km from Kastamonu city center, at the foothills of the Ilgaz Mountains in the north. İhsangazi, which has a surface area of ​​384 km², has an average altitude of 863 meters. There are 108 settlements consisting of 23 villages and 10 neighborhoods affiliated to İhsangazi. The region exhibits geographical features such as a combination of mountain slopes close to the Black Sea in the north and plateau areas in the interior.

The climate of Ihsangazi is continental. Winters are cold and rainy, and summers are relatively cool. Snow cover can be seen in the high altitudes during the winter months. The climate, influenced by the cold air masses descending from the Ilgaz Mountains from the east and west, exhibits a characteristic specific to the inner parts of Kastamonu. A significant part of the district's land is covered with forests; especially black pine forests are widespread. In the agricultural areas outside the forested areas, grain and other field crops are grown. The vegetation and climate allow the local people to sustain their livelihood through agriculture and animal husbandry.

Population and Demography

While the total population of İhsangazi district was 6,294 in 2007, it decreased to 5,122 in 2024; during this period, increases of 213, 120 and 73 people were observed in 2011–2012, 2013–2014 and 2020–2021, respectively; and decreases of different magnitudes were observed in other years. As of 2024, the male population was 2,505 (48.91%) and the female population was 2,617 (51.09%). Annual population changes have followed a fluctuating course that can be explained by factors such as record updates and migration movements.

Economy

The economy of Ihsangazi is primarily based on agriculture and animal husbandry. Grains such as wheat and barley are cultivated in the district. As a traditional agricultural product specific to the region, einkorn wheat, whose lineage dates back thousands of years, is important. Bulgur obtained from einkorn wheat is one of the basic foodstuffs of the district's people. Similarly, barley grown in the region is turned into flour in the mill and used in the production of bread and various pastries. Apart from these, limited amounts of vegetables and legumes are also cultivated in the district.

Animal husbandry is also one of the leading economic activities in İhsangazi. There are small cattle (sheep-goats) and large cattle in the villages. The climate conditions and the existence of plateaus are suitable for animal husbandry, especially in winters, which need shelter. Beekeeping and honey production with hives are among the activities carried out from time to time in the district; however, the majority of animal production is focused on meat and dairy products. Forestry is an integral element of the İhsangazi economy. Since a significant part of the district's land is covered with forests, timber and firewood production provides additional income to the local people.

The service and trade sector is relatively limited. In the district center, there are government offices, education and health institutions and tradesmen's activities for basic needs. Although there are deficiencies in some services due to the distance to the city center of Kastamonu, since the 2000s, efforts have been ongoing to diversify economic activities within the district through infrastructure and public investments. In general, the livelihoods of the people of İhsangazi are based on agriculture, animal husbandry and forestry and have the characteristics of a rural economy.

Tourism, Culture and Cuisine

Ihsangazi has a relatively quiet tourism potential with its natural and cultural values. The historical Haraçoğlu Mosque and Tomb (İsalar Neighborhood) within the district borders is known as an important place to visit. These structures are considered to be among the works of the Ottoman period and shed light on the history of the region. The plateaus located in the high parts of the district are preferred by visitors who come in the summer months for their cool climate and clean air. It is possible to walk and observe nature on the plateaus close to the district.

Folk dances and traditional handicrafts are kept alive in cultural life. There is a festival held every year in İhsangazi during the harvest season. In this festival, bulgur obtained from einkorn wheat grown in the region is introduced; folk dance shows, folkloric events accompanied by drums and zurna, local food and handicraft stands are included. The festival also contributes to the promotion of handicrafts and agricultural products known as “Sepetçioğlu” in the region.

Ihsangazi cuisine generally reflects the characteristics of Kastamonu and Western Black Sea cuisine. The main source of nutrition of the region is cereals. Especially bulgur obtained from einkorn wheat is indispensable for the local tables. Bread and various flour products made from barley flour are frequently consumed in village houses. In addition, dishes such as tarhana soup, chickpea and sour pilaf, which are known to be specific to Kastamonu, are also known in Ihsangazi. Vegetables and fruits (such as potatoes, beans, apples) grown in rural areas and animal products (yoghurt, ayran, cheese) also constitute important parts of the daily diet. In addition to the walnut burma, spoon halva or sourdough syrup desserts familiar from Kastamonu, local delicacies such as honey and molasses are consumed for dessert.