The city consists largely of middle class housing blocks with ground floor retail and a mix of office uses.

In 2009, the city undertook a significant waterfront redevelopment campaign which entailed the construction of a beachfront and pedestrian promenade.

Construction of the waterfront promenade and Tram was led by former Samsun Province governor Yusuf Ziya Yılmaz.

The land that encompasses Atakum was once used for growing tobacco, tea, corn, rice, beans, strawberries and nuts.

The land located between the hills to the south and the Black Sea shore was an attractive place to farm and live.

After the Turkish War of Independence the land became a popular place for residents of adjacent Samsun to take their summer holiday's.

With the establishment of Ondokuz Mayıs University and the construction of State road D.010 (Turkey), the agricultural lands were rapidly developed with stores and apartment blocks.

[4][5] At the 2013 Turkish local government reorganisation, the rural part of the district was integrated into the municipality, the villages becoming neighbourhoods.

Atakum has been given the status of district, and local government structuring has been made with the surrounding municipalities and towns.