Darıca
Darıca (Greek: Δάριτζα, from the Byzantine τὰ Ῥίτζιον) is a municipality and district of Kocaeli Province, Turkey. Its area is 23 km2, and its population is 225,602 (2022). The district Darıca was created in 2008 from part of the district of Gebze, along with the districts Çayırova and Dilovası. The current mayor is Muzaffer Bıyık.
Darıca | |
|---|---|
District and municipality | |
Map showing Darıca District in Kocaeli Province | |
Darıca Location in Turkey Darıca Darıca (Marmara) | |
| Coordinates: 40°45′35″N 29°23′08″E | |
| Country | Turkey |
| Province | Kocaeli |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Muzaffer Bıyık (AKP) |
| Area | 23 km2 (9 sq mi) |
| Population (2022) | 225,602 |
| • Density | 9,800/km2 (25,000/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (TRT) |
| Postal code | 41700 |
| Area code | 0262 |
| Website | www |
Darıca takes its name from Darıca Castle which is situated in the centre of town and was constructed during the Roman period, between 297 BC and 74BC. Darıca exhibits the highest population density within the Kocaeli Province. In a contemporary context, the town plays host to an array of different cultures, however, prior to the 1920s, a vast majority of the population were of Greek, Orthodox origin.
The town is located 38 km (24 mi) from Istanbul and sits 10 km (6.2 mi) from Sabiha Gokcen Airport, 50 km (31 mi) away from the Atatürk International Airport (which is used for cargo and general aviation flights), and 90 km (56 mi) from Istanbul Airport in Arnavutköy. Darıca is in close proximity to large-scale transit infrastructure including the D-100 highway and the Turkish State Railway station for Kocaeli. Further, the district contains numerous social areas, plays host to a number of festivals and hosts the Faruk Yalçın Zoo in the Marmara Region.