İnebolu is a district located on the Black Sea coast, north of Kastamonu. Economic activities such as port trade, fishing, agriculture and forestry are carried out in the district.

^{İnebolu (TC Kastamonu Municipality)}

History

The first settlement of Inebolu dates back to the ancient period. The old name of the district was "Ionopolis" and there are archaeological findings that it was founded as a coastal colony by the Milesians. Conquered by the Seljuks under the command of Emir Karatekin in the 11th century, Inebolu later fell within the borders of the Candaroğulları Principality; in 1383, it came under Ottoman rule during the reign of Murad II. After the Battle of Ankara in 1402, the region briefly came under the rule of the İsfendiyaroğulları Principality, and was later re-incorporated into Ottoman rule.

In the late 19th century, with the administrative regulations of the Ottoman Empire, Inebolu gained district status. After the great fires that broke out in the city center in 1880 and 1885, the bazaar and district center were rebuilt with the zoning plan prepared by Kastamonu Governor Abdurrahman Pasha. In the 20th century, Inebolu Port served as a strategic base for transporting weapons and ammunition from Istanbul to Anatolia. During World War I, Inebolu was one of the ports that provided logistical support to the Çanakkale Front and was bombarded by the Russian Navy in 1915–1916. During this period, the Inebolu Defense of Rights Society, founded under the leadership of Osman Nuri Bey, played an effective role in the defense of the region. During the War of Independence, a large amount of ammunition was sent from Inebolu Port to Anatolia, and the voluntary contributions in the district gained strategic importance.

In the early years of the Republic, on August 27, 1925, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk visited İnebolu and delivered his famous “Hat Speech” at the Turkish Hearth. During the same period, the people of İnebolu were honored with the White Stripe Independence Medal and certificate by the Turkish Grand National Assembly for their efforts in the War of Independence. Today, June 9 is commemorated every year as the “Day of Honor and Heroism”; the support process in the War of Independence is remembered with various ceremonies on this date.

Geography and Climate

Inebolu is located in the Western Black Sea section of the Black Sea Region, on the northern coastline of Kastamonu province. The district center is on the 42° north parallel and the 34° east meridian, and is 89 km away from Kastamonu city center. Inebolu is surrounded by the Black Sea to the north, Abana and Bozkurt to the east, Cide to the west, and Devrekani, Küre and Azdavay districts to the south. The district's lands cover the northern skirts of the Küre (İsfendiyar) Mountains, which run parallel to the Black Sea; its western border extends to the Terme Stream. This location offers both sea and mountain views. Inebolu's surface area is 599 km².

The climate of Inebolu is typical of the Black Sea climate. Due to the influence of the sea, winters are mild and rainy, and summers are hot and humid. The annual average temperature for many years is approximately 13.1 °C. The highest temperature recorded was 35.8 °C in August 1977, and the lowest was –9.2 °C in February 1985. The average annual precipitation is around 1000 mm, and most of the precipitation falls between December and March. Snowfall is generally limited to high altitudes; the snow melts quickly in the district center. The highest measured snow cover was recorded as 146 cm in 1985. Inebolu experiences an average of 140 rainy days annually, and fog occurs on approximately 21 days.

Population and Demography

The total population of Inebolu district was 24,699 in 2007, but it has generally shown a decreasing trend and decreased to 20,036 as of 2024; during this period, there were limited increases of 124, 77 and 22 people in 2012–2013, 2013–2014 and 2017–2018, respectively; in other years, annual decreases varied between 3 and 774 people. According to 2024 data, the male population was 9,896 (49.39%) and the female population was 10,140 (50.61%), and the difference between the genders generally remained at the scale of a few hundred people. Annual population changes have followed a fluctuating course due to factors such as local registry updates, migration movements and demographic dynamics.

Economy

The economy of Inebolu is mainly based on agriculture, animal husbandry and fishing. Fishing is active in the coastal area; especially anchovies and other small sea fish are shipped from the district to the rest of the country. The port infrastructure is used for the transportation of fish and other seafood. In the inland villages, the livelihood is provided by agriculture. In accordance with the climate of the region, corn, beans, potatoes and various vegetables are grown; fruit and beekeeping are also done. Small cattle breeding is one of the important activities of the rural area.

There are small-scale production enterprises in İnebolu, which has a low industrial level. The forest presence in the region feeds the production of timber and wood products. There are flour production facilities from agricultural products, and fish meal and canning factories depending on fishing. İnebolu Port provides infrastructure for fishing, as well as maritime transportation and regional trade. The service sector consists mostly of trade, transportation and developing tourism activities.

Tourism, Culture and Cuisine

Inebolu offers touristic potential with its historical texture, natural elements and cultural activities. The 19th century Ottoman period wooden mansions and traditional buildings in the town center reflect the characteristic architectural features of the region. Some of these mansions have been restored and become guesthouses or museums. Especially the historical buildings on the coastline attract attention in terms of tourism.

There is a museum in Inebolu called “Inebolu City Museum on the Road to Liberation”. This museum, which was opened in 2014 by converting the old municipality building, exhibits works belonging to the historical and cultural heritage of the district. Objects from the War of Independence and local daily life materials are presented to visitors in the museum. There are old castle ruins and traces of ancient settlements around Geriş Hill and Avara Neighborhood within the district borders. In addition, the Inebolu Turkish Hearth building is important as the place where Atatürk gave his speech on the hat revolution and hosts cultural events.

The commemoration ceremonies held every year in Inebolu are an important part of cultural life. Especially in the June 9 “Honor and Heroism Day” events, the ammunition shipment from Inebolu to Anatolia during the War of Independence and the heroism shown during this process are remembered. Between August 25-27, Atatürk’s visit to the district is commemorated and his speech on the “Hat Speech” is commemorated.

The local public market, set up every Tuesday and Saturday, also contributes to the cultural richness of Inebolu. This market, which has a unique open space layout, offers visitors vegetables, fruits, local foods and handicrafts produced by local women. In this way, the agricultural income of the rural area is supported and guests are given the opportunity to taste local flavors.

Inebolu cuisine generally reflects the traditions of the Black Sea Region. Since the district is located on the coast, fish has an important place on the tables; species such as anchovy, whiting, and bonito are frequently consumed. In the inland areas, dishes prepared with basic foods such as corn flour, beans, and bulgur are common. Flavors specific to Kastamonu cuisine such as black cabbage soup, stuffed meatballs, corn bread, and walnut desserts are among the local foods preferred in Inebolu.