After the Colchis Kingdom's reign and before the Roman Empire expanded, the king Mithridates VI of Pontus ran away to Sinoria and built 75 strongholds in this area.

Known as a fertile and rainy land, Yağlıdere is one of the most important Turkish eco-tourism centers in the 21st century.

Several native crops offer local organic cuisine, and the village is known for having healthy inhabitants as a result of the food.

Common tourist activities include a visit to the tomb of Sarı Halife in Tekkeköy, resting in Ayvat in Sinirköy (Sinoria) for a glass of tea, or sampling the local meat.

The terrain includes both beaches and forests, featuring oak, alder, pine, and hazelnut trees.

The cabbage is used in a variety of dishes, including "kara lahana dolmasi" and "dible", a variation on the standard Turkish dolma.

Most asylum seekers live on the East Coast, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Delawar.

In November 2017, U.S-born Hacıbey Çatalbaşoğlu, whose parents hail from Yağlıdere, became the youngest politician in U.S. history after his election to the municipal council in New Haven, Connecticut.