The population is about 89 thousand. The word of “Canik” is being used among native population and means that the pit where the flocks live during the winter but rather refers to a geographical and administrative area. The name of “Canik” in the recent years  has been given to the district that its center is Samsun.  Until 1960’s, as a settlement Canik district was composed of villages of Hasköy, Hacı İsmail, Teknepınar and farmer houses settled sparsely. These villages have become the regions in which the people that came from Balkans during the exchange settled after the Independence War. Rejuvenation of Ordu-Ankara highway, establishment of small industrial sites have created an important mobility in the region and the residential areas has grown rapidly.  19 Mayıs Stadium, Doğu Park, Amphitheater, Bandırma Gemisi Museum and Toptepe Tumulus are within the boundaries of the district.

History

There is not much more information about the ancient history of Samsun so Canik. The classical history indicates that Samsun had been founded by migrant sailors from Miletus in the  6th century B.C. It came under domination of Persian in the 4th century B.C. and it had joined to Kingdom of Pontus in the mid of 3rd century B.C. Great Mithridates, King of Pontus, had chosen Sinop and Amisos as headquarter for him. Amisos during Byzantine period is in the Armeniak theme (county). The city continued to live as a trade center until the conquest of Turks. Until 1960’s, as a settlement Canik district was composed of villages of Hasköy, Hacı İsmail, Teknepınar and farmer houses settled sparsely. These villages have become the regions in which the people that came from Balkans during the exchange settled after the Independence War.

There was hippodrome instead of stadium; there was a small airplane area in Yeni Mahalle and marshes locally. Rejuvenation of Ordu-Ankara highway, establishment of small industrial sites, establishment of urban fittings as stations and marketplaces have created an important mobility in the region and the residential areas has grown rapidly. 

There are important places in Canik, district from 2009, like 19 Mayıs Stadium, Doğu Park, Amphitheatre, Bandırma Gemisi Museum and Toptepe Tumulus, Meşe Roadhouse and Canik Başarı University.