Arslanköy
{{Short description|Town in Mersin Province, Turkey}}
{{for|the village|Arslanköy, Çorum}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox Turkey place
| type = neighbourhood
| province = Mersin
| district = Toroslar
| name = Arslanköy
| population_total = 1683
| population_as_of = 2022
| coordinates = {{coord|37|01|N|34|17|E|region:TR|display=inline,title}}
| image_skyline =
| image_caption =
|other_name = Efrenk
|elevation_m = 1475
|postal_code = 33251
|area_code = 0324
}}
Arslanköy (also called Efrenk) is a neighbourhood in the municipality and district of Toroslar, Mersin Province, Turkey.[https://www.e-icisleri.gov.tr/Anasayfa/MulkiIdariBolumleri.aspx Mahalle], Turkey Civil Administration Departments Inventory. Retrieved 12 July 2023. Its population is 1,683 (2022).{{Cite web |title=Address-based population registration system (ADNKS) results dated 31 December 2022, Favorite Reports|url=https://biruni.tuik.gov.tr/medas/?kn=95&locale=en |access-date=12 July 2023|publisher=TÜİK|language=en|format=XLS}} Before the 2013 reorganisation, it was a town (belde).{{Cite web |title=Law No. 6360|url=https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2012/12/20121206-1.htm |date=6 December 2012 |work=Official Gazette|language=tr}}{{Cite web |title=Classification tables of municipalities and their affiliates and local administrative units|url=https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2010/09/20100912-1-1.doc |date=12 September 2010|work=Official Gazette|language=tr|format=DOC}}
Geography
Arslanköy is a mountain town situated in the Toros Mountains at an altitude of approximately {{convert|1475|m}}. The distance by road to Mersin is {{convert|51|km}}.
History
Located about 3 kilometers south from the town is a small garrison fort that consists of several walls and a gate that block access to the summit of a limestone outcrop. The masonry indicates that it dates from the early Byzantine period with additions in the 12th or 13th century during the period of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. It is located in the Taurus Mountains near the junction of several strategic roads which lead from both Çandır Castle (Papeṙōn) and the Mediterranean Sea to Cappadocia.{{cite book|last1=Edwards|first1=Robert W.| title=The Fortifications of Armenian Cilicia: Dumbarton Oaks Studies XXIII | date=1987|publisher=Dumbarton Oaks, Trustees for Harvard University| location=Washington, D.C.|isbn=0-88402-163-7|pages=76–77}} The fortification was surveyed in 1979.{{Cite web|url=https://charlvarchive.org/Site/77|title=ChArLv Archive - Arslanköy|website=charlvarchive.org}}
Among the early settlers were nomadic Oghuz Turks (Turkmens) who began to use the vicinity as a summer camp ({{langx|tr|yayla}}) in the 14th century. Later a village was established.
Some of the most influential folk poets like Karacaoğlan of the 17th century and Dadaloğlu of the 19th century are believed to have spent some years in Arslanköy.
Arslanköy previously an ambiguous village, made news in 1947 local elections. The candidate of the opposition won the elections for village headman ({{langx|tr|muhtar}}). A civil servant supporting the governing party, tried to alter the official minutes . But residents of the village resisted and fought for their preference.{{Cite web|url=http://www.midyathabur.com/yazar.asp?yaziID=252|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100429013646/http://www.midyathabur.com/yazar.asp?yaziID=252|url-status=dead|title=An essay in Turkish|archivedate=29 April 2010}}
Arslanköy was declared a seat of township in 1954.
Economy
Owing to high altitude, Arslanköy is one of the coolest parts of the province. The main crops are cereals and some fruits such as apples and peaches.
References
{{Authority control}}
{{Toroslar District}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Arslankoy}}