The change of population in the province of Düzce: A socio-cultural and spatial analysis (1927-2018)

The province of Düzce is located in Western Black Sea region of Turkey and surrounded by the province of Bolu on the east, Sakarya on the west, and Zonguldak on the northern east. There is Black Sea on the north and its shore has the length of 30 km. including the central district, Düzce has 8 districts, 278 villages and 115 quarters. Düzce which became a province in 1999 always has the potential of allowing immigrants and changes were observed in terms of population throughout its history. In this study the population of Düzce which has underwent changes since 1927 and its socio-cultural development was studied and the obtained data was interpreted by means of tables, graphics and maps. Considering the effects of physical and human factors on the distribution of population, the spatial distribution of rural and urban population was discussed. Düzce which became the busiest and most prosperous district of Turkey during the Republican era achieved a structure of urban by means of public works. The urban development gained momentum after 1945 and especially after 1955. The structure of municipality was established in 1881 and the primary construction plan was prepared in 1956 but it went into force in 1963. From 1870 to 1999, Düzce remained as a county town. Düzce which experienced the earthquakes in August 17, 1999 and November 12, 1999 became a province through "the Statutory Decree about establishing one new province and two new districts and the decree with the law no of 584 about Making Amendments to the Statutory Decree with the law no of 190" issued in the Official Gazzette through the Decree of the council of Ministers dated 09.12.1999 and with the number of 23091. Upon Düzce gains its new status as a province, an increase in the incentives conducted in the region was observed and thus a continuous increase was observed in the population of the region throughout the period until 2018. Especially in 2006, Düzce University was established, new faculties and departments were opened and the university continuously enlarged, foundation of Organized Industry Site in Düzce and new investments all have important shares in the increase of population in the city. Although total population of Düzce in 2007 including all the districts was 157.894, it was observed that the population was 159.232 in 2013 with an increase of approximately 2.000 people. In 2018, the population of the city was 184.910. among the reasons for the aforementioned sudden increase in the population in 2014 can be listed as follows: the increase in the units of Düzce University in 2014, the establishment of Engine Factory, the inclusion of Konuralp and some other villages into the borders of Düzce Municipality. When the distribution of the population of the city is considered in terms of the province of Düzce and its district regions between 2007 and 2018 is analyzed, the densest district is the central district while the second one is Akçakoca. It is the only district of the province which has shore and the its touristic value explains the density of population in the town. The third town in terms of density of population is the district of Kaynaşlı. When the data related to the spatial distribution of the population in the province of Düzce is analyzed, it is observed that the central district has numerous spatial living areas (education, worshipping, shopping, health etc.,) that a person may need. Since the city has limited and less frequent public transport vehicles, workshops are generally in the center of town, the schools in downtown are more equipped in terms of the opportunities of education, there is a demand for a more luxurious life; the people of the district generally prefer living in the central district. Total surface area of the province of Düzce is about 249.200 hectares; 29,9% of the aforementioned area is agricultural area, 0,79% is grassland (meadow and forage), 48, 352% of it is non-agricultural area. The most active regions in terms of agriculture are the central district and Akçakoca. The main reason for this status is the convenient natural conditions in the aforementioned districts in terms of agriculture. The province of Düzce, is on the 6.th rank in the country in terms of the area of growing hazelnut while it is the 4.th in the production of hazelnut in Turkey. About 10.2% of the hazelnut production is conducted in the province of Düzce. In the country, the production quantity of hazelnut is 70.7 kg per decare while the quantity in Düzce is 83,4 kg/decare. This proportion proves that the hazelnut grown in the province of Düzce provides important contributions to the economies of both city and the country. The D-100 State Road the highway which traverses the city connects the capital, Ankara, to İstanbul. Those two aforementioned roads have the densest traffic in Turkey and they have provided another important contribution to Düzce as a city of vacation which is located between those two crowded cities. Since Düzce is on the passing route, it both allows migration and immigration. In the same time, the increase in the opportunities for employment also leads to an increase in the total population of the city. The city has also important value in terms of nature and summer tourism. Düzce is a promising city. Throughout its development process, the natural resources of the city and the activities of organic life, economics, agriculture and tourism should be protected through conscious urbanization and industrialization policies.