Gümüşhacıköy, on the site of the Roman city of Etonia, is the westernmost district of Amasya Province of Turkey, 20km from the larger town of Merzifon. It covers an area of 653 km², and the population (2000 census) is 29,795 of which 14,057 live in the town of Gümüşhacıköy, the remainder spread throughout the surrounding mountainous countryside.

The name Gümüşhacıköy is an amalgamation of two separate villages Gümüş (silver) and Hacıköy (the village of pilgrims).

History

The Roman city of Etonia was founded in 140 AD on a route through the mountains. By the 15th century it had been settled by various Turkish lords. Silver was mined here and the town grew and continued to thrive under Ottoman rule. The population shrank as the Ottoman Empire collapsed and the men of Gümüşhacıköy were lost in the Balkan Wars and the First World War.

Today Gümüşhacıköy is a small town in attractive countryside. Successive generations migrate to larger cities in search of careers leaving an aging and shrinking population behind.

Places of interest

• The town has had a rich history and the many Seljuk and Ottoman buildings include urban architecture such as Bedesten (the covered bazaar), Büyük hamam (Turkish bath), and Kabak çeşmesi (fountain) and especially.....
• Mosques such as Haliliye Medresesi, Yörgüç Paşa Camii, Darphane Camii, Maden Camii (a converted church).
• There is also an attractive picnic area with a waterfall in the forests near the district of Şarlayuk.

Villages of Gümüşhacıköy

Akpınar • Alören • Bacakoğlu • Bademli • Balıklı • Beden • Çalköy • Çavuşköy • Çetmi • Çiftçioğlu • Çitli • Derbentobruğu • Doluca • Dumanlı • Eslemez • Güplüce • Güllüce • Güvemözü • İmirler • Kağnıcı • Karaali • Karacaören • Karakaya • Keçiköy • Kılıçaslan • Kırca • Kızık • Kızılca • Kiziroğlu • Koltuk • Konuktepe • Korkut • Köseler • Kutluca • Kuzalan • Ovabaşı • Pusacak • Sallar • Saraycık • Sarayözü • Sekü • Yazıyeri