Mezitli


Mezitli is a municipality and district governorate in Greater Mersin, Turkey. Mersin is one of 30 metropolitan centers in Turkey with more than one municipality within city borders. Now in Mersin there are four second-level municipalities in addition to Greater Mersin municipality.

Geography

Mezitli at about composes the western part of Mersin proper. Southern quarters of Mezitli are popularly known as Viranşehir because of the ruins. Yenişehir, another municipality of Mersin, is in the east of Mezitli, Mediterranean Sea is in the south and Toros Mountains in the north. In the west of Mezitli there are summer houses and coastal villages most of which are specialized in citrus industry.

History

The ruins of the ancient Greek city of Soli, which was renamed by Roman general Pompey as Pompeipolis is within Mezitli. Soli was the dominion of Rhodes, Persian Empire, Macedonian Empire, Seleucid Empire, Roman Empire and its successor Byzantine Empire. But after the great earthquake in 528, the city lost its former glory. In later years, the ruins of the city was a part of Umayyad Caliphate, Seljuk Sultanate of Rum, Crusades, Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, Ramadanids, and Ottoman Empire. In the early 20th century, there was only a small village just north of Soli, named after "Mezitoğlu", an Oghuz tribe. The town municipality was established in 1968. But after the fast growth in population, the district of Mezitli is established within Greater Mersin and the municipality became one of Mersin intracity municipalities in 2008.

Population

According to 2012 figures the population of Mezitli is 140,326. as of 2012 approximately % 14 of Mersin citizens are living in Mezitli.

Living

Mezitli is known as a district of middle class residences. Most of Mezitli citizens are either retired or active working people.

Rural area

There are 15 villages and two towns in the rural area of Mezitli. The total population of the district is 151,394