Archeological researches on “Dündar Tepe” Mound proved that a civilization from chalcolithic period and copper age lived there. The district, during the times that Greek Colonies were established on Anatolia, was a small center of population called Amisos. It is accepted that the city was established by Miletus, one of the city-states of Ion.

The city came under the domination of Julius Caesar in 47 B.C. And during the Byzantine period that Christianity has spread, it took its place in the history of religions and politics as a prelacy center. After the opening of Anatolian gates to Turks with 1071 Malazgirt Victory, the city came under the domination of Melik Danişment Gazi, one of the commanders who is responsible of conquest of Anatolia,  and his Principality.

It came under the domination of Ottoman Empire by Çelebi Sultan Mehmet in 1413 and it appeared on the map in 1427 with the name of Canik. In 19th century, after the spreading of tobacco production and acting up steamboats in the Black Sea, the city was not a small seaport anymore. It started to develop economically and socially. In 1869 it was burnt out, and then houses were built again according to the plan of a French Architect. It managed to develop in a short time because it was a rich trade center and city.

Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha started the War of Independence by setting foot on Samsun on May 19, 1919 to save our country, which is invaded by enemies after the 1st World War.

In the War of Independence story, which was telling by Atatürk himself, the first sentence is “I set foot on Samsun in the year of 1919, on May 19.” May 19 is a starting point; it is the first step of Atatürk on the way to his aim.

After setting foot of Atatürk on Samsun on May 19, 1919, the transition period from personal sovereignty to national sovereignty in Turkish history has begun. Atatürk, since the moment of setting foot on Samsun, gave importance to religious and western ideas together; and with the syntheses of them and by moving through the ideas of unitary administration, unitary state, unitary sovereignty, unitary commander, unitary parliament and unitary nation he tried to apply national sovereignty principle at every aspect.

İLKADIM is a region that such a historical step was taken and it was named after the step changed the Turkish history.

The district was established in the city center in 2008 and its population is almost 312 thousand. It is placed at 7.5 km along shore and main economic activity is trade. There are 3 museums and two libraries. The activities of Ministry of Culture State Opera and Ballet, Samsun State Turkish Classical Music Chorus, Turkish Folk Music Chorus, Turkish Classical Music Youth Chorus, Turkish Folk-dancing are being held regularly. In addition State Theatres Samsun Stage was set up and acts are performed in AKM on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

İlkadım District is neighbor with Atakum on the west, Canik on the east, Kavak on the south, Back Sea on the north. It has three different features in terms of geography. The first one is mountainous terrain in the south, the second one is plateaus between mountainous terrain and shoreline, and the third one is plains between plateaus and Black Sea.

It is placed on the lands that ranging from the north to south between Kürtün and Mert Rivers.