Agrinio

Agrinion Αγρίνιο
Panorama of Agrinio
Location
Agrinio
Coordinates	38°37′N 21°24′E / 38.617°N 21.4°E / 38.617; 21.4Coordinates: 38°37′N 21°24′E / 38.617°N 21.4°E / 38.617; 21.4
Government
Country:	Greece
Periphery:	West Greece
Prefecture:	Aetolia-Acarnania
Population statistics (as of 2001[1])
City
- Population:	57,174
- Area:	162.7 km² (63 sq mi)
- Density:	351 /km² (910 /sq mi)
Other
Time zone:	EET/EEST (UTC+2/3)
Elevation (center):	91 m (299 ft)
Postal:	301 00
Telephone:	26410
Auto:	ΑΙ
Website
www.agrinio.gr

Agrinion (Greek, Modern: Αγρίνιο, Ancient/Katharevousa: -on, older form: Agrinion, Latin: Agrinium) is the largest city and a municipality of the Aetolia-Acarnania prefecture of Greece, with about 100,000 inhabitants (57,174 official population) home to around a quarter of the prefecture's population. The settlement dates back to ancient times. Ancient Agrinion was 3 km northeast of the present town; some walls and foundations have been excavated. In medieval times and until 1925, the area was known as Vrachori or Vrahori (Βραχώρι).

The majority of local people were for a time tobacco farmers at the close of 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries; companies included the famous Papastratos, alongside Panagopoulou and Papapetrou. Agrinion is agriculturally famous for its main production of Agrinion olives.

History

Antiquity

According to mythology, it was built by king Agrios, son of Portheus^[2] and a great grandson of Aetolos. It was destroyed by Cassander in 314 BC.

Ottoman Era

The area during the Ottoman period was inhabited mostly by Turks. In 1585 it was deserted during the revolt of Theodoros Migas. At the beginning of the 18th century it became the administrative center of Aitoloakarnania (then as the sanjak of Karlieli), depended on the imperial harems. It participated in the Greek Revolution. It was temporarily liberated on June 11, 1821. It became member of the newborn state permanently in 1832 with the treaty of Kalendar Kiosk (July 9, 1832) and was again named Agrinion.

Modern Era

During the Greco-Turkish War or the Asia Minor Catastrophe, many inhabitants coming from Asia Minor in what is now western Turkey settled the city and in Agios Konstantinos where the population had come from Epirus and Evrytania.

The city saw the pavement of streets and a water tower was installed in 1930. The city received electricity and the ancient city was uncovered. Growth and prosperity returned after World War II and the Greek Civil War which saw repairs to some buildings. The growth generated economic growth by the dam.

Climate

Lake Trichonida

The city was struck by several earthquakes, its epicenter was in nearby Lake Trichonida southeast of the city, close to the centre. The first quake rumbled at around 2 AM, the second around 6 AM, three earthquakes shook at 10:13, 10:14 and 10:15 AM, and the last one at around 10:45 AM, it measured 5.3, 5.4, 5.6 and 5.7 on the Richter scale. Residents living and walking in the city centre reported that the buildings and its glasses were shaking and rumbling. Minor damages were reported.

On June 7, 2007 a low pressure-system including heavy torrential rains arrived from Southern and Central Europe stranding several persons, and flooding several homes.

Transportation

It is linked by GR-5/E55 which since the 1960s bypasses Agrinion and GR-38/E862? linking to Karpenisi and Lamia to the east. The city is located NW of the Rion-Antirrhion Bridge, N of Messolonghi, NE of Astakos, ESE of Lefkada and Preveza, S of Arta and Ioannina, and WSW of Karpenisi and Lamia.

Government

Divisions

• Agios Ioannis Riganas
• Akropotamos
• Bouzi
• Giannouzi
• Diamanteika
• Eleftheria
• Lefka
• Liagkeika (Liagkaiika)
• Pyrgi
• Schinos
• Strongyleika or Strongileika (Strongylaiika or Strongilaiika)

Subdivisions

• Agios Konstantinos, Aetolia-Acarnania
• Agios Nikolaos Trichonidos
• Agrinio
• Dokimi
• Kalyvia
  • Agios Georgios
  • Platanos
• Kamaroula
  • Kokkinopylia
• Skoutesiada
  • Raina

Seal

Its main seal includes a characteristic moment of the ancient Greek mythology. More Specifically its seal depicts Hercules fighting the river-god Achelous

Mayors

• Andreas Panagopoulos (1925-1934 and 1951-1952)
• Giannis Vainas
• Christos Sokos

Historical population

Landmarks

• Archaeological Museum of Agrinion, located at 1-2 Diamantis Street, website
• The great tobacco storehouses of the early 20th century.
• The city's big park, the Papastrateio Park.
• The city's major park, the Dimokratias Square
• Lakes Trichonida and Lysimachia.
• Agrinio Airport, IATA code: AGQ, ICAO: LGAG, Agrinio's airport is located near the city. The airport also has a club named the Agrinion Aeroclub, website.
• Society of Agrinio’s Youth and Students in Athens,the website provides information in English website

Persons

• Stratos Apostolakis (1964) - footballer
• Gerasimos Avgeropoulos - ELAS Partizan Leaders
• Panagiotis Danglis (1853-1924) - general and politician
• Filipos Darlas (1983) - footballer
• Petros Fyssoun (1933) - actor
• Christos Kapralos (1909-1993) - artist
• Michalis Kousis (1953-2005) - Marathon runner
• Aristidis Moschos (1930-2001) - musician
• Pythagoras Papastamatiou (1930-1979) - writer
• Thodoros (1931) - sculptor
• Christos Garoufalis (1959) - writer
• Evangelos Papastratos (1910-1988) - businessman
• Loukia Pistiola - actor
• Yannis Yfantis (1949) - poet

Sporting teams

• Panetolikos - second division

See also

Look up agrinio in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Communities of Aetolia-Acarnania
• Agrinium aluminum, a fictional element in Star Wars

References

External links

• Official site (Greek) (English)
• Richard Stillwell, ed. Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites, 1976: "Agrinion Greece"