Mecitözü is a district located east of Çorum with a densely populated rural population. Their livelihoods are primarily based on agriculture and animal husbandry. The district contains several historical structures of religious and archaeological significance.

^{Mecitözü (Mecitözü District Governorship)}

History

The earliest known settlements in the Mecitözü region are based on pottery sherds from the Chalcolithic Period (4000 BC) and ceramic remains from the Bronze Age (3000–2000 BC) unearthed during surface surveys and excavations in Kuşsaray village and the town of Elvançelebi. The main sovereignties in the ancient period were the Kalat, Hittite, Persian, Roman, and Byzantine. During the Roman Empire, the region served as a connecting point for trade routes in north-central Anatolia and became a strategic military and administrative center during the Byzantine period.

Following the 1071 Battle of Manzikert, the region came under Danishmend rule. It developed around the mansion belonging to Abdülmecid-i Herevi in 1136 and is recorded as "Mecitözü." The district, incorporated into the Anatolian Seljuk State, later came under Ottoman rule, following the local principalities. Avukatlı-zade Hacı Ali Ağa, who arrived in the region in 1728, paved the way for the settlement's transformation from village to town by building a mosque, a bathhouse, a school, and a large mansion. With the addition of a madrasah under the leadership of his grandson, the settlement became a small but active center within the Ottoman administrative structure.

In 1874, Mecitözü was elevated to district status, and its first district governor was appointed. A primary school opened in 1889, and it was upgraded to a junior high school in 1894. The infrastructure established by the battalion headquarters stationed in the region during the same period increased the diversity of social amenities. The new government building and clock tower, built in 1894, were completed through the efforts of İskilipli İsmail Kemal Bey, the district governor of the time. For many years, the district remained within the borders of the Amasya district of Sivas province. In 1916, it was annexed to the Çorum district of Ankara province. During the Republican era, its final administrative borders were established, and it achieved its current status.

Geography and Climate

Mecitözü is located in northeastern Central Anatolia, on the Çorum–Amasya highway. The district center, approximately 750 m above sea level, is built on an open plain slope extending between Avkat Mountain to the north and Çıkrık Mountain and Kırklar Mountain to the south. The district, encompassing a total area of 942 km², borders the Merzifon district of Amasya province (24 km) to the north, Amasya city center (22 km) to the east, Göynücek (28 km) to the southeast, Ortaköy (36 km) to the south, and Çorum city center (104 km) to the west.

The soil structure is a mosaic of clayey-loamy alluvial formations in the plains and humus-rich forest soils at higher elevations. The vegetation consists of oak, beech, and a mixture of black pine and fir. Average annual precipitation is approximately 422.7 mm, and except for spring and autumn, summers are hot and dry, and winters are cold and snowy. The climate balances the continental elements of Central Anatolia and the temperate transitional elements of the Black Sea; maximum temperatures approach 30 °C in summer, while minimum values in winter can drop to −5 °C.

Population and Demography

The total population of the Mecitözü district, which was 20,689 in 2007, decreased to 13,480 in 2024. During this period, increases of 718 and 601 people were observed in 2017–2018 and 2022–2023, respectively, and decreases at different rates were observed in the other years. According to 2024 data, the male population was 6,885 (51.08%) and the female population was 6,595 (48.92%), with the gender gap generally remaining at a few hundred people. Annual population changes have followed a fluctuating course, which can be explained by various factors such as local registry updates and migration movements.

Economy

The agricultural sector is the mainstay of the Mecitözü economy. Grain products (wheat, barley, rye), sugar beets, chickpeas, onions, and sunflowers are extensively processed in the district, and the resulting products are commercially valuable for both the domestic market and buyers outside the region. Livestock farming is generally carried out in the form of small and large livestock, while beekeeping enables honey production by utilizing the pollen resources provided by the local flora.

In the secondary sector, a semi-precious natural stone processing workshop within the Public Education Center processes local minerals such as agate, jasper, quartz, and chalcedony to produce jewelry and ornaments. These items are in demand in both domestic and international markets. Within the same institution, the production of folkloric dolls serves as an economic and social tool for perpetuating local cultural motifs. Food processing facilities package and distribute legumes, baked goods, and local delicacies prepared using home-based preservation techniques (drying, pickling).

The tertiary sector consists of administrative and social services, educational and healthcare institutions, and commercial centers and accommodation establishments located along the highway. Regional tourism and cultural activities contribute to employment by facilitating the diversification of activities in this area.

Tourism–Culture–Cuisine

Mecitözü offers visitors a diverse range of experiences, not only with its multilayered historical heritage, but also with its natural landscape elements. The mosque and adjacent tomb, built by Elvan Çelebi in 1352, stand among the unique examples of Seljuk-era stonemasonry and early Ottoman architectural tradition. The former government building, military branch, and high school buildings in the town center have been restored and can be visited as cultural assets that preserve the characteristics of traditional Turkish architecture. The Beke village thermal spring, a thermal spring, is of archaeological and touristic importance due to its second pool, which bears architectural traces from the Late Roman and Early Byzantine periods, its brick dome with Khorasan mortar, and its column arrangements. Within the scope of nature tourism, the hiking and picnic areas established around the Kozören, Köprübaşı, Söğütyolu, and Şıhlar ponds, as well as the mountain ranges, offer opportunities for ecotourism and photography.

Cultural heritage and handicrafts activities carried out within the district's institutional framework support the continuity of intangible cultural values. The tradition of craftsmanship carried out in semi-precious stone workshops enriches both local identity and economic value. Folkloric doll-making workshops are an important tool for passing down regional motifs. Events organized by educational institutions and civil society organizations keep the cultural memory of the local community alive and offer participatory experiences for visitors.

Mecitözü cuisine reflects minimal processing approaches shaped by primary sector products. Wheat and barley-based products (bread, bulgur) constitute the primary energy source, while legumes and vegetables such as chickpeas and onions are a regular part of the daily diet. Sugar beets and sunflowers indirectly influence culinary habits, both as raw materials and as key elements of the regional economy. Traditional preservation techniques (drying, pickling) allow for the year-round supply of seasonal products. Initiatives to promote regional flavors play a role in documenting the district's culinary heritage and integrating it into contemporary gastronomic traditions.