Erbaa (District)

Tokat’s one of its largest and most developed districts, Erbaa, is situated in a fertile plain where the Kelkit and Tozanlı streams converge to form the Yeşilırmak River, in the Central Black Sea Region. Due to its agricultural land, strategic location, and its role throughout history as a home to numerous civilizations, Erbaa has been an important cultural and economic center.

Erbaa’s history extends back to the Chalcolithic Age (5000–3000 BCE). Excavations in the region have shown that it has been an important settlement since the Hittite period. Throughout history, the region has been ruled successively by the Hittites, Phrygians, Persians, the Kingdom of Pontus, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Danişmendids, the Anatolian Seljuks, the Ilkhanids, and the Ottomans.

^{Erbaa Kale Köprüsü - Orta Karadeniz Kalkınma Ajansı}

• Important settlements such as the Horoztepe Ancient City are located in the region. Excavations at this mound have uncovered burial sites and various artifacts from the Early Bronze Age.
• During the reign of King Mithridates VI Eupator of Pontus, the region was known as “Eupatoria”.
• Under Roman rule, following the fall of the Kingdom of Pontus in 66 BCE, the region became part of the Roman Empire and developed into an important trade center.

• During the Byzantine period, the region was named “Magnapolis” and the Boğazkesen Castle was constructed for defensive purposes.
• After the 1071 Battle of Manzikert, Danişmend Gazi conquered the region and introduced the first Turkish-Islamic monuments to Erbaa and its surroundings.

Although the Byzantines briefly regained control of the region in the 11th century, it was once again incorporated into the Anatolian Seljuk State during the reign of II. Kılıçarslan.

• In 1392, Yıldırım Bayezid incorporated the region into Ottoman territory.
• During the Ottoman period, Erbaa prospered economically due to its position along major trade routes, becoming known for viticulture, tobacco, and cereal production.
• In 1872, Erbaa was organized as a district under the Amasya Sanjak and was attached to Tokat in 1892.

Due to its location on the North Anatolian Fault Line, Erbaa has been affected by numerous major earthquakes throughout history.

• 1939 Erzincan Earthquake: This 7.9 magnitude earthquake caused serious damage in Erbaa.
• December 20, 1942 Erbaa-Niksar Earthquake: This major earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.0, nearly destroyed Erbaa. Almost the entire district was devastated, hundreds of people lost their lives, and thousands were left homeless. Since the district center was largely destroyed, a new city plan was developed in 1946 and Erbaa was relocated to its current site.
• 1943 Ladik Earthquake: This 7.6 magnitude earthquake caused the complete collapse of structures already damaged in previous quakes.

After these earthquakes, construction and urban planning in Erbaa were made more resilient, accelerating the process of modernization.

• From the 1950s onward, tobacco and grape production increased rapidly, becoming one of the district’s most important sources of income.
• In 1973, after Tokat was included among the priority development provinces, small-scale industrial investments were made and the Erbaa Organized Industrial Zone was established.
• Today, Erbaa continues to grow economically through clay industry (brick and tile factories), textiles, forest products, and food processing.

Erbaa lies within the Yeşilırmak Basin, bordered by the Canik Mountains to the north and the Sakarat and Boğalı Mountains to the south. The district covers an area of 1,177 km² and is located 85 km from the city of Tokat.

Its climate exhibits transitional characteristics between the Black Sea and Central Anatolian climates:

• Winters are mild and rainy,
• Summers are hot and dry.
• Due to its microclimate characteristics, agricultural products such as grapes, walnuts, and tobacco are cultivated with high yields.

Erbaa is notable for its geographically protected agricultural and gastronomic products:

• It is considered one of Turkey’s finest table grapes.
• It stands out for its unique thin skin, aromatic flavor, and durability.
• This grape is also used in winemaking and is one of the foundational agricultural products of Erbaa’s economy.

• Vine leaves harvested from Narince grape vines are preferred for their soft texture and veinless structure.
• Ideal for making sarma, they are in high demand throughout Turkey.
• This geographically protected leaf holds an important place in the district’s agricultural development.

• Produced using natural methods, this pekmez is known for its high nutritional value and intense aroma.
• Its immune-boosting properties make it commonly consumed during winter months.
• These protected products reflect Erbaa’s agricultural potential and traditional production methods, contributing significantly to the regional economy.

Erbaa offers visitors a variety of cultural and historical experiences:

• Horoztepe Ancient City: An archaeological site yielding significant finds from the Chalcolithic and Bronze Ages.
• Boğazkesen (Kale) Bridge: A Roman-era structure and one of the region’s most important historical monuments.
• Silahtar Ömer Paşa Camii: Built in the 17th century, it is one of the finest examples of Ottoman wooden craftsmanship.
• Erbaa City Museum: A museum that sheds light on the district’s history and culture.

Erbaa lies along major routes connecting the Black Sea region with Central Anatolia:

• Road Network: Easy access to Samsun, Amasya, and Sivas.
• Railway: The Samsun–Sivas railway line passes through the district.
• Air Transport: Air connectivity has been restored since the reopening of Tokat Airport in 2022.

Throughout history, Erbaa has served as a home to multiple civilizations. Despite being destroyed by earthquakes, it has been rebuilt each time and continued to develop. Today, it remains one of Tokat’s most important districts through its strong agricultural sector, growing industry, and cultural richness.