Kamatero

Infobox Greek Dimos
name = Kamatero
name_local = Καματερό


caption_skyline =
city_

city_

caption_skyline =
city_

city_

---

lat_deg = 38
lat_min = 3.583
lon_deg = 23
lon_min = 42.717
elevation_min =
elevation_max = 160
periph = Attica
prefec = Athens
districts =
mayor = Nikitas Kamarinopoulos
party = PASOK
since = 2006
population_as_of = 2001
population = 22234
area = 5.950
population_metro =
area_metro =
postal_code = 13451
area_code = 210
licence = Zxx
website =

Kamatero (Greek/Katharevousa, Καματερόν, Kamateron (official name according to Ministry of the Interior); Demotic: Καματερó), is a suburb northwest of Athens, Greece. It is located about 10 kilometres northwest of Athens and north of Piraeus.

History

Antiquity

Although there are no known archaeological finds in Kamatero, the area around it is known to have been inhabited since the Bronze Age, as a Mycenaean tholos tomb has been found in the neighbouring municipality of Acharnai. In classical times, the area of modern Kamatero was under the authority of the polis of Athens, forming part of the deme of Cholargos, of the Acamantis phyle. It probably lay on the border with the deme of Acharnai to the north. The deme extended as far south as modern Peristeri.

Cholargos may have been the site of the ancient festival of Thesmophoria in Athens. The sacred site of the festival, the Thesmophorion, has traditionally been placed at the hill of Pnyx, but this has been called into question. Broneer, Oscar "Hesperia", Vol. 11, No. 3, The American Excavations in the Athenian Agora: Twenty-Second Report (Jul. - Sep., 1942), p. 250 ] Also, decrees of the deme of Cholargos have been found regulating the Thesmophoria. Tracy, Stephen V. "Athenian Democracy in Transition", University of California Press, Berkeley, Los Angeles, Oxford, 1995, p. 12 ] However, it is conceivable that the decrees referred to a local version of the festival, rather than the panathenian one. At any rate, the festival itself was a significant part of Athenian life, and forms the setting for the play Thesmophoriazusae by Aristophanes.

The deme of Cholargos was also the birthplace of the great Athenian statesman, general, and orator Pericles.

Medieval and Ottoman era

There are no known medieval references to Kamatero as separate from the rest of the Athens area, and it can be assumed that the area followed the fate of the rest of Athens. The prominent Byzantine family of the Kamateroi may have given their name to the settlement. A Kamateros family exists in the area today, and is one of the oldest and most prominent in modern Kamatero. However, there are no known links between them and their Byzantine namesakes. Furthermore, "kamateros" is an old Greek adjective meaning "hard-working", and it was also commonly used to refer to oxen. Thus, the name Kamatero could simply be a reference to the agricultural economy which was then prevalent in the settlement. Alternatively, the modern family name Kamateros could be derived from the common word "kamateros". Thus, while it is likely that the settlement was named after the modern family, this family may bear no connection to the medieval aristocratic one.

The modern settlement was probably founded sometime during the Ottoman era, possibly by Arvanites (Albanian-speaking populations with a Greek ethnic identity). This is highly probable, in light of the fact that the neighbouring areas of Ano Liossia and Ilion (formerly Nea Liossia) were founded by, and named after, an Arvanitic clan. Furthermore, most of the older Kamateriot families (those present before the major population influx of the 1950s) are of Arvanitic origin. At any rate, the first known written occurrence of the name Kamatero as referring to this settlement dates from 1827, during the Greek War of Independence.

From the Greek War of Independence to World War II

The first known reference to the settlement, using the name Kamatero, is from the "Memoirs" of General Makrygiannis, written in the 19th century. The settlement is mentioned in connection to the Battle of Kamatero, which took place in 1827, at which time a village by that name was already extant in the area. Makrygiannis, Ioannis "Απομνημονεύματα" ("Memoirs"), Papyros, 1996 (in Greek), p. 174 ] The battle itself was part of the Greek War of Independence, and ended in a Turkish victory, largely due to a poor choice of terrain by one of the Greek commanders, Vasos Mavrovouniotis. It was also the first and only engagement in the war of Colonel Denis Bourbaki, who was beheaded by the Turks after the engagement. The outcome of the battle had considerable impact on the course of the siege of the Acropolis then ongoing by the Turks.

There is a World War II era description of Kamatero in the book "21 Battalion", by author J. Cody. The 21st Battalion was a New Zealand infantry battalion temporarily stationed in Kamatero in spring 1941. The description given by the author is of a "pleasant tree-studded area". It is repeatedly termed a "village", and, upon arrival, soldiers of the 21st chanced upon the villagers harvesting wheat. The battalion's encampment is characterised as "rolling country dotted with olive trees". Cody, Joseph F. "21 Battalion", Historical Publications Branch, Wellington, 1953, p. 36 ] The above description makes it clear that Kamatero at that time was still a small agricultural settlement.

After World War II

Major population influx only started in the 1950s, resulting in wide-scale urbanisation. By now, urban development has replaced most of the farmlands and forests, and about two thirds of the settlement are residential areas. According to the Association for the Development of West Athens, in 1981 only an estimated 2,8% of the economically active population was employed in the primary sector of industry. Website of the Association for the Development of West Athens, page on Kamatero (accessed July 15 2007) [http://home.asda.gr/WestAthens/kamatero.asp] ] More recent figures are unavailable, but probably lower.

More recently, Athens was struck by a major earthquake on September 7, 1999. Kamatero was very close to the epicentre, and several houses were heavily damaged. There were no casualties, but the homeless were in the hundreds range.

Geography

The western part of the municipality is dominated by Poikilo mountain. This forms part of the Aigaleo mountain range, which extends southwest to the Saronic Gulf. The remaining part of the municipality is characterised by a rolling, hilly landscape. Up to the mid-20th century, the area was made up of farmlands and some forests dominated its northern part.

After that point, urban development replaced much of the farmlands. Today, about two-thirds of the land are residential areas. Empty space today can be found mostly in the western part, on Poikilo mountain. This is a rocky mountain, consisting mostly of limestone, dotted with the occasional pine. There are also some last patches of forest to be found there, especially at the feet of the mountain.

The Antonis Tritsis Environmental Sensitisation Park lies to the southeast of the municipality. The park is considered to be "one of the last wildlife reserves in the Athens urban environment", and it covers "more than 100,000 m2". Website of Vodafone Greece, page on an environmental programme the company supports (in English) (accessed July 15 2007) [http://www.vodafone.gr/live1/page.jsp?pid=0106050314&vars=0000000000] ] It consists of water courses, evergreen and coniferous trees, reed beds and farmland, and attracts "many species of birds and animal throughout the year." Specifically, "members of the Hellenic Ornithological Society have been monitoring birds at the Park and have recorded 147 different species". While the Park technically lies outside the municipality's boundaries, its influence on its microclimate is evident. Furthermore, as it is directly on the municipality's boundaries, Kamatero municipality takes an active part in its administration, along with the neighbouring municipalities of Ilion and Agioi Anargyroi.

Geographic Location (8-way)
Centre = Kamatero
North = Ano Liossia and Zefyri
Northeast = Acharnai
East = Acharnai
Southeast = Ilion and Agioi Anargyroi
South = Ilion
Southwest = Ilion
West = Ilion
Northwest = Ano Liossia

Government and politics

Administration

Kamatero is a part of the Athens prefecture, itself a part of the Athens-Peiraeus hyperprefecture. The current hyperprefect is Foteini Gennimata, elected with the support of the socialist PASOK party. Administratively, it is part of the western sector of the Athens prefecture, with the administrative headquarters located in Aigaleo to the south. Furthermore, like the rest of the hyperprefecture, it is also part of the Attica periphery.

Kamatero itself is not further subdivided into smaller administrative sectors. While there are some traditional neighbourhoods in the municipality, they have no administrative function. Besides, the delineation between the various neighbourhoods has become somewhat blurred, as what were essentially separate settlements up to a few decades ago have now been merged into a single building complex, itself part of the larger Athens metropolitan complex.

Voting trends

Kamatero voters exhibit a long trend of supporting leftist and centre-leftist parties to a greater extent than the national average. After the military dictatorship of 1967-1974, Kamatero has almost exclusively elected left-wing mayors, with the exception of the 1974-1978 period, right after the junta. Kamatero was one of the few Greek municipalities to elect a communist mayor in 1978 when Vasilis Katsaros won. He was reelected in the 1982 and 1986 elections and remained in office until 1990 (although he later switched from the Communist Party to the radical leftist Synaspismos). Following 1990, and up to 2007, mayors supported by the socialist PASOK party have consistently been elected: Panagiotis Trakas (1990-1998), Dr Nikolaos Stenos [2002-2005 (resigned)] , Nikitas Kamarinopoulos (replacing Dr Stenos 2005-2006 and in his own right 2006-present). The only brake from PASOK domination came during the 1998-2002 period, when Christoforos Danakos was elected under the auspices of the center-leftist DIKKI party (itself a PASOK splinter).

Furthermore, leftist parties generally pole better in Kamatero than their national average. This is especially true of the Communist Party, which in the latest legislative elections (2004) polled 11,14% of the vote in Kamatero, as opposed to its national average of 5,90%. PASOK polled 41,94% in Kamatero, as opposed to its national average of 40,55%, while Synaspismos and DIKKI also polled better than their national average (3,69% and 2,94% respectively, as opposed to their national averages of 3,26% and 1,79% respectively). By contrast, the centre-right New Democracy party, that won the national election, came in a distant second in Kamatero, polling 35,24% as opposed to its national average of 45,26%. However, it is noteworthy that the far-right LAOS party also polled better in Kamatero, gaining 3,68% of the vote as opposed to its national average of 2,19%. Website of the Greek Ministry of the Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization, page on national election results (in English). Includes detailed results per voting department. (accessed July 14 2007) [http://www.ypes.gr/ekloges/content/EN/ethnik_fr.htm] ]

Demographics

The area is mainly made up of urban areas, as residential areas account for about two-thirds of the municipality. Kamatero is not divided into administrative districts, however there are some traditional neighbourhoods: the Centre, Attalos, Aghios Trifonas and Gerovouno. Construction regulations vary throughout the municipality, but most houses are up to two floors.

The influx of population from the 1950s onwards mostly consisted of low-income individuals. Furthermore, Kamatero has a distinct working-class character, as in 1981 56,7% of the economically active population was employed in the secondary sector of industry, while 36,3% was employed in the tertiary sector. The primary sector accounted only for 2,8% of the population. Kamatero is considered to have potentials for further development, as it has one of the largest reserves of building space in Attica. Furthermore, it has been called one of the fastest growing municipalities in Attica.

Population

As can be seen from the table below, the population has been on a steady increase from 1971 onwards. What should be noted, however, is that the actual population is likely to be significantly higher than these official figures. This is because a lot of Greeks remain registered in their places of origins, while residing in various other municipalities, mostly in the Athens area. This is evident from the fact that in 1989, the official population would have ranged somewhere between 16,000 and 19,000 residents, as can be seen from the table. However, according to the public power corporation of Greece's estimate for that year, based on statistical sheets it asked its consumers to fill in, the actual population was 25,515 (higher than even the official figure for 2001). It can be assumed that the actual population is to this day higher than the official figure, but there can be no accurate estimate.

Economy

Aside from small family businesses, Kamatero houses four banks, a sports centre, a post office and a few small factories. One of these was destroyed in a major fire on 10 October, 2003. However, there is a considerable growth of small-scale businesses, such as stores and restaurants, mostly focused around the town squares (plateies).

Culture

Education

Kamatero has 8 elementary schools, 3 lower-level secondary schools, and 2 upper-level secondary schools (high schools), as well as a vocational school. Most high school graduates enroll in the universities and technical colleges of Athens or other Greek cities.

port

Notes

References

* Broneer, Oscar "Hesperia", Vol. 11, No. 3, The American Excavations in the Athenian Agora: Twenty-Second Report (Jul. - Sep., 1942), pp. 250-274
* Cody, Joseph F. "21 Battalion", Historical Publications Branch, Wellington, 1953 [available on line at [http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-21Ba.html] (accessed July 14 2007)]
* Makrygiannis, Ioannis "Απομνημονεύματα" ("Memoirs"), Papyros, 1996 (in Greek)
* Tracy, Stephen V. "Athenian Democracy in Transition", University of California Press, Berkeley, Los Angeles, Oxford, 1995
* Website of the Association for the Development of West Athens [http://home.asda.gr] (accessed July 14 2007)
* Website of the Greek Ministry of the Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization (accessed July 14 2007) [http://www.ypes.gr]
* Website of Vodafone Greece (accessed July 15 2007) [http://www.vodafone.gr/live1/page.jsp]

See also

* List of municipalities of Attica

External links

* [http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?tb=1&city=Kamatero&country=GR Mapquest - Kamatero]
* [http://www.kamaterojobs.gr/ City of Kamatero website] el icon
* [http://directory.kompass.com/en/Greece/Sterea%20Ellada%20and%20Evoia/Kamatero/dir.php A Directory of Companies Based in Kamatero]
* [http://www.kamatero.com/index.html Local News and Information for Kamatero]