Derik, Turkey
District and municipality in Mardin, Turkey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Derik (Kurdish: Dêrîka Çiyayê Mazî[2]) is a municipality and district of Mardin Province, Turkey.[3] Its area is 1,381 km2,[4] and its population is 62,028 (2022).[1] Derik is situated in Mardin Province within the predominantly Kurdish-speaking region of southeastern Turkey. The district's population is largely Kurdish-speaking, reflecting the broader demographic character of Mardin Province.[5]
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Derik | |
|---|---|
District and municipality | |
| |
 Map showing Derik District in Mardin Province | |
  Derik Location in Turkey | |
| Coordinates: 37°21′57″N 40°16′11″E | |
| Country | Turkey |
| Province | Mardin |
Area | 1,381 km2 (533 sq mi) |
| Population (2022)[1] | 62,028 |
| • Density | 44.92/km2 (116.3/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (TRT) |
| Area code | 0482 |
| Website | www |
Government
In the local elections of April 10 Mülkiye Esmez from the Peoples' Democratic Party was elected mayor.[6] But on 15 November 2019 she was detained and a day later dismissed from her post as mayor and the District Governor Hakan Kafkas was appointed as trustee instead.[7]
History
The town is first mentioned in the late 14th century, however a Roman fort indicates that the area has been inhabited for longer. Prior to the Assyrian and Armenian genocide, Assyrians and Armenians formed the majority in the district.[8] The Armenian population of the county continued to form the majority even up until the 1930s, when systematic state persecution forced many to emigrate. One family continues to live here, and they maintain the old Armenian Church.[9][10] The Armenian Apostolic Church in Derik is only one out of six in Anatolian Turkey that operates as a church.[11]
Geography
Geographically the town includes areas from Mazıdağı foot descending towards Ceylanpınar plains. Town area descends from the north to the south. The city center is surrounded by mountains from 3 sides and has a temperate climate with some mediterranean climate effects.
Composition
There are 80 neighbourhoods in Derik District:[13]
- Adak (Simaqî)
- Adakent (Çildiz)
- Ahmetli (Qizil)
- Akçay (Çemê Qentir)
- Akıncılar (Tirbamamo)
- Alagöz (Talbeş)
- Alanlı (Enterî)
- Alibey (Elîbeg)
- Ambarlı (Heboşî)
- Aşağımezraa (Mezra Newalê)
- Atlı (Qesra Qenco)
- Aydınlar (Kasan)
- Bağarası
- Bahçelievler
- Ballı (Zorava)
- Balova (Balfis)
- Başaran (Misrik)
- Bayırköy (Qizileyşan)
- Bayraklı (Girêsor)
- Beşbudak (Qibilme)
- Böğrek (Beyrok)
- Boyaklı (Qizil)
- Bozbayır (Mansûrî)
- Bozok (Meşkina)
- Burçköy (Birc)
- Çadırlı (Şabana)
- Çağıl (Qubil Çagil)
- Çataltepe (Erbetê)
- Çayköy (Şêba jêr)
- Cevizpınar
- Çukursu (Xanuk)
- Dağ
- Demirli (Demirlê)
- Denktaş (Xêdûk)
- Derinsu (Bixur)
- Dikmen (Kanîzil)
- Doğancı (Bizdoxan)
- Dumanlı (Xirar)
- Dumluca (Sîpnat)
- Düztaş (Tahtik)
- Göktaş (Kevirşîn)
- Gölbaşı (Bedrasê)
- Hayırlı (Mizgewr)
- Hisaraltı (Rebet)
- Ilıca (Germik)
- İncesu (Maşmaşk)
- Issız (Hedbê)
- Kale
- Kanatlı (Heyal)
- Karaburun (Xirbêreş)
- Karataş (Kufirlê)
- Kayacık (Mixat)
- Kocatepe (Dêşî)
- Koçyiğit (Rewşet)
- Konak (Elaska)
- Konuk (Remok)
- Köseveli (Kosewelî)
- Kovalı (Endewl)
- Kovanlı (Xirbê Heriyê)
- Küçükpınar
- Kuruçay (Zemberor)
- Kuşçu (Garsarinc)
- Kutluca (Warga Xensê)
- Kuyulu (Selmê)
- Meşeli (Xerabreşk)
- Ortaca (Reqaqî)
- Pınarcık (Fitnê)
- Pirinçli (Ketu)
- Şahverdi (Şawerdî)
- Şerefli (Şîrîfbaba)
- Soğukkuyu (Şaweled)
- Söğütözü (Qetaro)
- Subaşı (Zok)
- Taşıt (Taşît)
- Tepebağ (Tilbisim)
- Üçkuyu (Bira)
- Üçtepe (Belotî)
- Yazıcık (Koderê)
- Yukarımezraa (Mezra Suravêrkê)
- Zeytinpınar
Demographics
| Turkish | Arabic | Kurdish | Circassian | Armenian | Unknown or other languages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 254 | 72 | 14,694 | – | 17 | – |
| Muslim | Christian | Jewish | Other and Undeclared |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14,949 | 74 | – | 41 |
These historical patterns align with contemporary demographic studies, which consistently identify Mardin Province as a region with a predominantly Kurdish-speaking population, with Kurmanji (Northern Kurdish) as the principal vernacular language.[15][16]
Notable natives
- Qedrîcan (1911-1972), Kurdish poet, writer and translator
- Ahmet Türk (* 1942), politician
- Bülent Tekin (* 1952), Kurdish poet and writer
- Firat Cewerî (* 1959), writer, translator and journalist
- Enwer Karahan (* 1962), Kurdish writer
- Leyla Birlik (* 1972), Kurdish politician
- Mülkiye Esmez (* 1975), politician
- Mem Ararat (* 1981), musical artist
- Pervin Chakar (* 1981), musical artist
- Sultan Kösen[17] (* 1982), tallest living human
- Hacı Lokman Birlik (*1988), murdered by Turkish security forces
- Civar Çetin (* 1992), footballer
