Turhal is a district of Tokat province. The Yeşilırmak River flows through the district, sustaining its economy through agriculture, animal husbandry, and industrial activities. Historical structures and natural areas reflect the district's cultural and geographical diversity.
Turhal ( Tokat Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism )
History
The settlement history of the Turhal region exhibits a multilayered continuity extending from antiquity to the Ottoman Empire and the Republic. Although controversial, connections have been established between the "Gaziura" settlement mentioned by Strabo in Anatolia and present-day Turhal. According to ancient sources, the region served as a defensive settlement during the Pontic Kingdom and was later incorporated into Byzantine rule after the Roman Empire. Roman-era rock tombs and Byzantine-era city wall ruins have been unearthed during excavations and surveys on Turhal's northern slopes.
Turhal, which came under the control of the Danishmends in the period following the 1071 Victory of Manzikert, was captured by Danishmend Gazi Emir Ahmet in 1084; from this date on, it has been one of the important centers of the Danishmend principality. Turhal, which was included under Seljuk sovereignty with the unifying policy of the Seljuk Sultan Kılıç Arslan II in the 12th century, passed through the Ilkhanate, Eretna and Kadı Burhaneddin periods and was annexed to the borders of the Ottoman Empire in 1392. The population, land structure and tax liabilities of the district, recorded as “Turhal” in the Ottoman Detailed Books, have been systematically determined.
Cadastral registers from the end of the 19th century show that Turhal was organized as a district center affiliated to the Sanjak of Amasya. The railway line and Turhal Station, opened on 23 August 1928, made the district a part of the transportation network; Turhal Sugar Factory, whose foundation was laid on November 7, 1933, began operations as one of the first industrial investments of the Republic. Officially elevated to district status on July 7, 1944, Turhal completed its current administrative structure by re-determining its borders with a law dated July 4, 1987.
Geography and Climate
Turhal is located in the transition zone between the northern slopes of the Yeşilırmak Valley and the Kazova Plain. Its geographic coordinates are 40°18′00″ N and 36°06′00″ E, and the district center is 493 m above sea level. Amasya and Erbaa lie to the north, Tokat city center to the east, Zile to the west, and Pazar to the south. Turhal, with an area of 911 km², exhibits a topographic diversity, extending from forested rocky ridges in the north to alluvial plains in the south.
The climate is transitional in the Black Sea Region's inland region. Winters are cold and snowy, while summers are warm and dry. According to meteorological data, the average monthly temperature in Turhal varies between -1 °C and 2 °C in January and 20 °C to 24 °C in July. The average annual temperature is approximately 11 °C. Total annual precipitation is approximately 410 mm; precipitation is concentrated in winter and spring, with July–August being defined as a dry period. According to Turkish classification systems, the region has a relatively humid climate in winter and semi-arid in summer. The vegetation consists of arable lands supporting cultivated plants in the plains, oak, plane, and black pine communities in the higher elevations, and heathland in the lower belt.
Population and Demography
The total population of Turhal district, which was 87,553 in 2007, decreased to 78,101 in 2024. During this period, increases of 532, 68, and 698 people were observed in 2011–2012, 2015–2016, and 2022–2023, respectively, while decreases were observed at different rates in the other years. According to 2024 data, the male population was 38,273 (49%) and the female population was 39,828 (51%), with the gender gap generally remaining at a few hundred. Annual population changes have followed a fluctuating course, which can be explained by various factors such as migration movements and administrative record updates.
Economy
Turhal's economy is shaped around agriculture, livestock farming, the sugar beet processing industry, and transportation infrastructure. Turhal Sugar Factory, which began operations in 1933, positioned itself as an organization that connects the district's agricultural landscape, primarily sugar beet production, with industry. The factory centralizes sugar beet production for farmers in the villages it operates in and then ensures the shipment of the sugar beets in packaged form.
Wheat, barley, corn, and legumes are common in the agricultural landscape. The Yeşilırmak River's irrigation canals enable irrigated farming in the plains, while hardy grain varieties are preferred for dryland farming. Small and large livestock are raised in rural areas, while pastures and plateaus serve as breeding grounds. The district's limited industrial facilities include two flour mills, a textile workshop, and a shoe workshop.
Turhal Railway Station has been used for both raw material shipment and passenger transportation since August 23, 1928. Highway connections also provide a mixed transportation network. Tradesmen and merchants meet local demand through small-scale retail trade. The Agricultural Credit Cooperative, a branch of Ziraat Bank, and the Tradesmen's Guarantee Cooperative constitute the district's financial infrastructure.
Tourism, Culture and Cuisine
Turhal is defined as a district where archaeological, architectural and natural assets coexist.
• Turhal Castle: Built on a rocky acropolis overlooking the Yeşilırmak Valley, it presents a multi-layered architectural appearance with traces of Roman and Byzantine wall additions, cisterns, and a rock-carved open-air theater.
• Kesikbaş Mosque: Built in 1759, it is an example of stone architecture of the Ottoman period with its square-plan facade stonework.
• Tomb of Sheikh Shehabeddin: Dating back to the 14th century, its structure intersects the Early Ottoman and Ilkhanate periods.
• Ahi Yusuf Tomb: Dated 1324, it is among the stone tombs covered with akide stone.
• Railway Station Building: Reflecting the Republican era building style, it serves as a transportation heritage with its side-by-side platform cover and civil servant housing.
• Yeşilırmak River Shore: It hosts recreation areas arranged as waterside walking paths and resting areas.
Turhal cuisine features regional varieties based on beets and grains. Sugar produced from sugar beets, homemade pestil (fruit pulp), and tarhana, along with wheat-based pastries such as noodles, manti, and katmer, are featured on both daily and special occasion tables. Soups made from locally grown legumes and local broad beans are complemented by river fish, which are also available through recreational fishing to some extent. Cheese and yogurt are consumed as fresh dairy products, especially those produced in the highland settlements.
