Alaçam is a municipality and district of Samsun Province, Turkey. Its area is 598 km2, and its population is 24,647 (2022). Scholars believe that Alaçam is the site of the ancient city of Zaliche or Zaliches.
History
Alaçam has a long history. It has been held by Phrygian, Cimmerians, Lydians and Persians before the area was taken by Alexander the Great. The Pontus Kingdom came in the 1st century BC which was in turn annexed by the Roman Empire. After the division of the Roman Empire, the Byzantines called the town Zalikus.
The Seljuk named the town Uluköy, until 1385 when it was briefly part of the Candaroğulları Beyliği rump state and it took the name of the Alaçam county. The name Alaçam means spruce from the pine trees endemic to the area. Then in 1398 Alaçam entered the Ottoman empire, becoming a Turkish town after World War I.
Economy
Alaçam County's economy relies mainly on agriculture and animal husbandry. Like most of the region Tobacco is the leading agricultural product. In addition to this wheat, rice, corn and nuts production will follow. It also has some raising fruits and vegetables. being on the Black Sea coast fishing is also done. In animal husbandry and livestock farming is carried out. Approximately 6200 farmers engaged in tobacco farming.
Composition
There are 65 neighbourhoods in Alaçam District:
Akbulut
Akgüney
Alidedebölmesi
Alpaslan
Aşağıakgüney
Aşağıısırganlı
Aşağıkoçlu
Bahşioymağı
Bekiroğlu
Çeşme
Demircideresi
Doğankent
Doyran
Esentepe
Etyemez
Fatih
Göçkün
Gökçeağaçoymağı
Gökçeboğaz
Gülkaya
Gültepe
Gümüşova
Güvenli
Habilli
Harmancık
İncirli
Kadıköy
Kalıkdemirci
Kapaklı
Karaçukur
Karahüseyinli
Karlı
Karşıyaka
Killik
Kışlakonak
Kızlan
Köseköy
Madenler
Örenli
Ortaköy
Pelitbükü
Pelitbüküsekicek
Sancar
Sarılık
Şirinköy
Soğukçam
Taşkelik
Tefekli
Tepebölmesi
Terskırık
Toplu
Umutlu
Uzunkıraç
Vicikler
Yakacık
Yenicami
Yenice
Yeniköy
Yeşilköy
Yoğunpelit
Yukarıelma
Yukarıısırganlı
Yukarıkoçlu
Yukarısoğukçam
Zeytinköy
Attractions
Alaçam is known for its natural environment. 2km north of the town by the Black Sea beaches are groves of sycamore and poplar trees which take their name from Geyikkoşan Baba's Tomb said to be in the woods. This is both as a picnic area and is a place to swim.
In the south of the town at an altitude of 1,500 m is the Dürtmen Yaylası Plateau, which is also a recreational area. A portion of the Kızılırmak River delta is within the boundaries of the district.
On May 6 the Hidirellez Festival are held annually. This festival sees national amateur wrestlers competitions. It is said that the origin of the festival is based on a 600-year legend according to which an Arab army commander position gave beef portions to the poor people of the town. The plateau is a place where people living in Alaçam come at leisure. Tourists can stay here.