İskilip, located northwest of Çorum, is a district where people make their living through agriculture and animal husbandry. In addition to the town center, rural settlements also constitute a significant portion of the population. Historical structures and natural areas throughout the district bear traces of various periods.

^{İskilip ( Iskilip District Governorship )}

History

Archaeological surveys conducted in the İskilip district contribute to the region's prehistoric settlement map with finds from the Chalcolithic period. Material remains dating to the Iron Age define the early dynamics of the urban settlement, located on one of the northern gateways to the Paphlagonia kingdom. The region, referred to as Ascilepion in ancient sources, was incorporated into the Hellenopontus province during the Hellenistic period. Due to its location on military and commercial routes during the transition to the Roman period, it transitioned from a rural settlement to a centralized structure.

During the Byzantine Empire, it served as a strategic location and hosted local administrative units. Following the 1071 Battle of Manzikert, İskilip was incorporated into the Danishmend principality, forming the first core of a Turkish-Muslim settlement under the Anatolian Seljuk State. After its incorporation into the Ottoman principality, it was annexed to various sanjaks. Reconstruction efforts following the 1509 earthquake paved the way for an update of the established architectural fabric. During the Republic Period, administrative regulations became clearer, and the current field boundaries and administrative structure of the district were established.

Geography and Climate

İskilip is located between 40°36′ North latitude and 34°01′ East longitude; it is surrounded by Osmancık to the north, Merkez to the west, Kargı to the south, and Çankırı to the east. The topographic structure consists of rising mountain ranges in the north, descending plateaus in the south, and fertile plains formed around the Kızılırmak basin. The average elevation of the district center is 750 meters. Soil types are clay loam in the alluvial plains and forest soils in the higher elevations; oak, beech, black pine, and fir species are found in the forest cover. The climate is a transition between the continental climate of Central Anatolia and the temperate climate of the Black Sea Region. Average temperatures in summer are 25–30 °C and in winter are between −5 and 0 °C. Annual precipitation ranges from 450–500 mm, increasing in spring and autumn.

Population and Demography

The population of İskilip district was 42,476 in 2007 and decreased to 28,817 in 2024. During this period, an increase of 298 people was recorded only between 2017–2018; in all other years, the population decreased by various magnitudes. The largest annual decrease was seen as 1,560 people in the 2007–2008 period, while the smallest annual decline was 373 people in the 2022–2023 period. According to 2024 data, the male population was 14,295 (49.61%) and the female population was 14,522 (50.39%), with the difference between the genders remaining at 227 people. This fluctuating trend can be explained by factors such as migration movements in the region and administrative record updates.

Economy

The district's economy has a multi-component structure based on primary sector activities, prioritizing agriculture and animal husbandry, a secondary sector encompassing food processing and handicrafts, and a tertiary sector comprising trade and services. Agricultural activities include cereals such as wheat, barley, and rye, as well as strawberries, apples, and various vegetables. The İskilip strawberry, with a registered geographical indication, contributes to producer income both for fresh consumption and for commercial packaging. Livestock farming involves a combined system of small and large cattle raising, while beekeeping enables the production of honey, fed by the pollen resources of the region's flora. Food processing facilities package and distribute legumes, baked goods, and local products prepared using preservation methods. Natural dye production, marble carving, and handicrafts such as saddle making, basketry, carving, and tinsmithing support the district's secondary sector diversity. In the tertiary sector, retail trade, accommodation, food and beverage establishments, and local services constitute other pillars of economic activity.

Tourism, Culture, and Cuisine

The tourism infrastructure is shaped by a planning framework based on the holistic evaluation of historical and natural resources. Roman-era rock tombs, fluted rock formations, and rock necropolises in the district offer archaeological traces of the prehistoric period. Architectural monuments such as İskilip Castle, Ulu Mosque, Redif Barracks, and the Bedri Rahmi Eyüpoğlu Culture and Art Museum, dating from the Seljuk and Ottoman periods, are open to visitors after conservation and restoration work. Within the scope of nature tourism, hiking routes along the banks of the Kızılırmak River and the plateau areas of Elmabeli, Beşoluk, Çiçekli, Demirbükü, and Yalak offer opportunities for ecotourism activities. The Gastronomy Walking Path includes route arrangements aimed at promoting local culinary products. The cultural fabric is maintained by saddlery, basketry, carving, tinsmithing, and weaving workshops.

In the culinary field, the geographically indicated İskilip dolma, Ramadan keşkek, pickles, vinegar salad, and İskilip strawberries are prepared with minimal processing approaches and are featured on local tables. Ramadan keşkek is distinguished by its unique composition of legumes, grains, and local spices. Dolma combines rice, ground meat, and touches of local spices. The vinegar salad and pickles are preserved using drying, brine, and fermentation techniques.