Introduction
For other places with the same name, see Akçakoca (disambiguation).
Municipality in Düzce, TurkeyAkçakocaMunicipalityAkçakoca beachAkçakocaLocation in TurkeyCoordinates: 41°05′16″N 31°07′28″E / 41.08778°N 31.12444°E / 41.08778; 31.12444CountryTurkeyProvinceDüzceDistrictAkçakocaGovernment • MayorAlev Ünal (AKP)Population (2022)27,878Time zoneUTC+3 (TRT)Area code0380ClimateCfaWebsitewww.akcakoca.bel.tr
Akçakoca is a town in Düzce Province, in the West Black Sea Region of Turkey, located about 200 km east of Istanbul. It is the seat of Akçakoca District. Its population is 27,878 (2022). The town was named after a Turkish chieftain of the 14th century CE who captured the area for the Ottoman Empire, and sports a statue in his honor. The town features a modern mosque of unusual design. Tourist attractions include beaches and a small ruined Genoese castle. It is the regional center of hazelnut cultivation.
Name
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In the classical period the town Dia or Diospolis was located at the site of present Akçakoca. After the Turkish conquest, the town was named Akçaşehir, which was changed to Akçakoca in 1934.
Population
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Akçakoca's estimated population of about 30,000 increases during the summer months, due to tourism activities and cottage owners. Due to war, specifically the one between the Ottomans and Russia in 1877–1878, a wide range of people, most of whom had roots in the Pontic region (Lazes, Georgians, and Abkhazians, Hamshenis, etc.) and from the Balkans (Albanians, Bosniaks, etc.), emigrated from their native lands to settle in Akçakoca.
Historical populationYearPop.±% p.a.200722,416—    201223,359+0.83%201725,573+1.83%202227,878+1.74%Source: TÜIK (2007-2022)
History
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Latin-Nicea Empires Period and Genoese[edit]
During the Fourth Crusade, European armies conquered Constantinople in 1204, founding the Latin Empire for a short period. Because of this situation, the Genoese established commercial bases on the Western Black Sea coasts for their interests, which included a Genoese castle in Akçakoca. This castle helped to protect trade routes in the area and was used for commercial activities itself. When the Nicea Empire reconquered Constaninople in 1261, Akçakoca, which was under the auspices of the Nicea Empire, came under Byzantine rule again.[excessive citations]
The Seljuks and Ottoman[edit]
Before the crusades, The Seljuk Sultanate of Rum controlled the region around Akçakoca.
There is no evidence that a military action was taken by the Ottomans to conquer Akçakoca from the Byzantines. According to some historians, the Turk population submitted to Ottoman rule without military action.
In the late 19th and early 20th century, Akçakoca was part of the Kastamonu Vilayet of the Ottoman Empire.
Republic[edit]
After the foundation of Turkish Republic, it was renamed Akçakoca. The first governor was Ali Zarifi (Okay). Due to the 1999 Düzce and Marmara earthquakes, Düzce had been declared a province by the government, and the town was included in the new province as a district.
