Narlıdere was founded as a village by semi-nomadic Tahtacı–Alevi Turkmens in the 18th century, whose descendants still constitute the backbone of the population, preserving their particular popular culture and folklore, and maintaining their recently restored seminary, called Cemevi. During the Greek Uprising, Greek pirates from Samos kidnapped these Tahtacı Türkmens for ransom from their relatives day and night and also stole animals and other property as there were no troops in the coast between İzmir and Urla.
Narlıdere was founded by semi-nomadic Tahtacı–Alevi Turkmens in the 18th century, with descendants still preserving their cultural traditions and folklore. During the Greek Uprising, Greek pirates from Samos kidnapped these people for ransom and stole property along the coast between İzmir and Urla.