Ilçesi

Ilçesi is the Turkish possessive form of ilçe, meaning the district’s or its district. In Turkey, ilçe refers to an administrative division within a province (il). Each province is divided into several districts, and the district seat is typically the central town that bears the district’s name.

An ilçe operates as a local level of government with distinct administrative roles. It is headed by a kaymakam, an official appointed by the central government to represent national authorities and coordinate administration, public order, and development programs at the district level. Many districts also have a municipality (ilçe belediyesi) responsible for urban services within the central town, such as water, waste management, and local infrastructure. Rural areas within a district are organized as villages (köy) governed by local muhtars, while neighborhoods in towns (mahalle) have their own local leadership structures.

Turkey’s administrative geography varies with metropolitan areas. In provinces designated as Büyükşehir (metropolitan) municipalities, district governance is integrated into the larger metropolitan framework. The metropolitan municipality handles broad urban planning and services, while district municipalities still manage local matters within their boundaries.

The term ilçesi appears in Turkish texts as the possessive form indicating ownership or association, translating roughly to “the district’s” or “its district.” It is commonly found in official documents, budgets, and legal language to specify resources, plans, or authorities belonging to a particular district.

See also: Il (province), Ilçe (district), Büyükşehir municipality.