Human and economic geography of Alacakaya (Elâzığ) district

The subject of this study is the human and economic geography of Alacakaya district of Elâzığ province. Alacakaya district is located in the east of Elâzığ province. Alacakaya district, located at the 50th km of Elâzığ Bingöl highway, is a small district built on flat hills in a mountainous area. The first population of the district was realised through the enterprises established by Etibank in 1935. After 1935, with the establishment of enterprises, the population of the district increased and became a small settlement. With the processing of chromium ore in the region, Alacakaya, which had the status of a village in Maden district of Elazığ until 1986, became a town in 1986. Alacakaya, which was administratively a town, became a district in 1990. The district has rich underground resources. After chromium, the richest underground resource in the district is marble. In 1967, marble processing facilities were established after the discovery of marble quarries in Alacakaya district. Established in 1984, the marble processing facilities correspond to the period when the district formed the second population period. The economic function of Alacakaya district today consists of small workplaces and marble activities. With the cessation of chromium production in the district, Alacakaya, which experienced a decline in economic functions, tried to overcome this deficit with marble production. A total of 211 people work in 247 workplaces in the district. The total population of Alacakaya district in 1990 was 11.644 people. The population of Alacakaya in 2023 is 6157 people. After the establishment of the district in 1990, the population has been decreasing until today.