Agrinio

Infobox Greek Dimos
name = Agrinion
name_local = Αγρίνιο
periph = West Greece
prefec = Aetolia-Acarnania
population = 54253
population_as_of = 2001
area = 162.7
elevation = 91
lat_deg = 38
lat_min = 37
lon_deg = 21
lon_min = 24
postal_code = 301 00
area_code = 26410
licence = ΑΙ
mayor =
website = [http://www.agrinio.gr www.agrinio.gr]


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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, Thestieus' son. 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 Karleli), 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

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 that arrived from Southern and Central Europe were ravaged by heavy torrential rains that stranded several persons, several homes including their properties and farmlands around the area, minor damages were reported.

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)

ubdivisions

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

eal

Its main seal includes the mermaid or Gorgon coloured in blue with its Greek form of the municipal name in the bottom-left.

Mayors

*Andreas Panagopoulos (1925-1934 and 1951-1952)

Historical population

Communications

=Radio=

* [http://www.ariafm.gr Aria FM 107.4]
* [http://www.kalitheafm.gr Kalithea FM 104]
*Radio Agrinio 102.2 FM
* [http://www.agriniofm.gr Agrinio 93.7 FM]

=Newspapers=

*" [http://www.29dytika.gr/ 29Dytika] "
*"AgrinioSPOR"
*" [http://www.anaggelia.gr/ Anaggelia] "
*"Evdomada"
*"Foni Tis Aitoloakrnanias"
*"Gegonos"
*"Machitis"
*" [http://www.epoxi.gr Nea Epohi] "
*"Ta Nea Tis Aitoloakarnanias
*"Neoi Kairoi"
*"Palmos Aitoloakarnanias"
*"Panaitoliki"
*" [http://www.efhmeridapoliteia.gr/ Politeia] "
*" [http://www.sinidisi-news.gr/home/ Syneidisi] "
*"Titlos SPOR" - sport

Landmarks

*Archaeological Museum of Agrinion, located at 1-2 Diamantis Street, [http://www.culture.gr/2/21/211/21106m/e211fm06.html 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 [http://users.forthnet.gr/agr/kostopk/ Agrinion Aeroclub] , [http://www.world-airport-codes.com/greece/agrinion-airport-59.html website] .
*Society of Agrinio’s Youth and Students in Athens,the website provides information in English [http://www.agriniotes.gr/ website]

Persons

*Stratos Apostolakis Footballer
*Anthi Barbaki
*Theodoros Blitsas
*Filipos Darlas Footballer
*Kostas Dimahis
*Dimitris Hatzopoulos - screenwriter
*Konstantinos Hatzopoulos or Chatzopoulos - screenwriter
*Christos Kapralos
*Dimitra Kolovou
*Michalis Kousis
*Aristidis Moschos - musician
*Anastasios Panagopoulos
*Pythagoras Papastamatiou (1930-1979) writer
*Thodoros Papadimitriou (1931) sculptor
*Christos Garoufalis (1959) writer
*Evangelos Papastratos
*Loukia Pistiola - actor
*Athanasios Safacas - renowned professor of Patra's university
*Yannis Yfantis - poet
*Giorgos Zaravinas - hodgeball player

porting teams

*Panetolikos - third division
* [http://www.panaitolikos6.gr "Gate 6" fun club.The supporters of Panetolikos]

ee also

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

References

External links

* [http://www.agrinio.gr Official site]
* [http://icarus.umkc.edu/sandbox/perseus/pecs/page.92.a.php Richard Stillwell, ed. "Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites", 1976:] "Agrinion Greece"