Katerini

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Katerini
Κατερίνη
Katerini town hall
Katerini town hall
Official seal of Katerini
Seal
Katerini is located in Greece
Katerini
Katerini
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Location within the region
2011 Dimos Katerinis.png
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Country Greece
Administrative region Central Macedonia
Regional unit Pieria
Government
 • Mayor Savvas Chionidis
Area
 • Municipality 681.863 km2 (263.269 sq mi)
 • Municipal unit 93.659 km2 (36.162 sq mi)
Elevation 14 m (46 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Municipality 85,851
 • Municipality density 130/km2 (330/sq mi)
 • Municipal unit 62,205
 • Municipal unit density 660/km2 (1,700/sq mi)
Community
 • Population 58309
 • Area (km2) 63.196
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code 601 32
Area code(s) 23510
Vehicle registration KN
Website www.katerini.gr

Katerini (Greek: Κατερίνη, [kate'ɾini]) is a town in Central Macedonia, Greece, the capital of Pieria regional unit. It lies on the Pierian plain, between Mt. Olympus and the Thermaikos Gulf, at an altitude of 14 m. The town, which is one of the newest in Greece, has a population of 85,851 (according to the 2014 census). It is near the city of Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city, which has been beneficial for Katerini's development over recent years. Katerini is accessible from the main Thessaloniki–Athens highway GR-1/E75 (with two interchanges near the town) and the Egnatia Odos to the north. It is served by both Intercity and local trains on the main railway line from Athens to Thessaloniki and there is a comprehensive regional and national bus service with its hub in the town.

A popular tourist destination in northern Greece, Katerini is close to the sea (6 km) and to several archaeological sites of great interest such as the ancient city of Dion (5th century BC, 17 km away) and the Castle of Platamon. The beaches of Korinos, Paralia and Olympiaki Akti (or Katerinoskala) are visited by both Greek and international tourists during the summer. The base of Mount Olympus and the town of Litochoro, are at a distance of around 20 kilometres from the centre of Katerini.

Name and history

The origin of the name is obscure. The modern town was probably founded during Ottoman rule, but already from the 13th century, travellers as well as maps record the existence of a settlement called Hatera (Ἅτηρα), which may have been the origin of the modern name. Thus Felix Beaujour recorded its name as "Katheri", while François Pouqueville gives the name of the settlement as "Kateri Hatera".[2] According to another theory, the town derives its name from the small chapel dedicated to Saint Catherine (Aikaterini in Greek) to the east of the town, dating to at least the early 19th century. The latter hypothesis influenced official usage in Greek, where the town is found as "Aikaterini" or "Agia Aikaterini" until the early 20th century, when the vernacular name Katerini prevailed.[2]

According to the reports of travellers, at the turn of the 19th century, the town had four to five thousand inhabitants, mostly Greeks. In 1806, William Martin Leake recorded 100 hearths, while four years later Daniel recorded 140. For the remainder of the 19th century, the number of homes remained steady at about 300, with a population in 1900 of 2,070 Greek Orthodox and 600 Muslims.[2]

The town was captured by the Greek 7th Infantry Division in 16 October 1912, during the First Balkan War, and has been part of Greece since then.[2] With the population exchange between Greece and Turkey in 1923, the town's Muslims left, and Greek refugees, particularly from Eastern Thrace and Greek Evangelicals from Asia Minor, took their place, almost doubling the town's population from 5,540 in 1920 to 10,138 in 1928.[2]

Geography

Administrative division

The municipality of Katerini was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 6 former municipalities, that became municipal units of the newly formed Katerini municipality:[3][1]

The municipal unit of Katerini consists of the following municipal communities:[3][1]

The municipal community of Katerini consists of the following settlements:[3][1]

Climate

Katerini has a Mediterranean climate that is characterised by warm to hot, dry summers and cool and more humid winters (Köppen climate classification: Csa/Csb).

Climate data for Katerini
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 9.0
(48.2)		 11.9
(53.4)		 15.0
(59)		 20.0
(68)		 25.1
(77.2)		 30.3
(86.5)		 33.3
(91.9)		 32.9
(91.2)		 28.5
(83.3)		 22.4
(72.3)		 15.7
(60.3)		 10.9
(51.6)		 21.25
(70.24)
Average low °C (°F) 0.8
(33.4)		 1.8
(35.2)		 4.6
(40.3)		 8.5
(47.3)		 12.8
(55)		 16.9
(62.4)		 19.4
(66.9)		 19.0
(66.2)		 15.7
(60.3)		 11.6
(52.9)		 7.4
(45.3)		 3.2
(37.8)		 10.1
(50.2)
Average precipitation cm (inches) 3.8
(1.5)		 3.6
(1.42)		 4.3
(1.69)		 3.3
(1.3)		 4.6
(1.81)		 3.1
(1.22)		 2.4
(0.94)		 1.8
(0.71)		 2.8
(1.1)		 4.5
(1.77)		 5.3
(2.09)		 5.3
(2.09)		 44.8
(17.64)
Source: Climate-data.org [4]

Politics

Local Government

The mayor of Katerini is Savvas Chionidis, a member of the Political Committee of New Democracy.[5][6] Chionidis was elected for a second term in the 2010 local elections.[5]

Results of the 2010 local elections in the Municipality of Katerini
Candidate Supporting Parties Votes %
Chionidis Savvas
New Democracy, Nea Dimokratia
26,779
54.12%
Miliotis Nikolaos
Panhellenic Socialist Movement, Panellinio Sosialistiko Kinima
14,494
29.29%
Karafoulidis Christos
-
4,046
8.18%
Salpistis Nikolaos
Communist Party of Greece, Komounistiko Kommada Elladas
2,735
5.53%
Mantzios Antonios
Coalition of the Radical Left, Synaspismos Rizospastikis Aristeras, Democratic Left, Dimokratiki Aristera, Ecologist Greens, Oikologoi Prasinoi
1,427
2.88%

Economy

A park in Katerini.

Katerini is the administrative and economic centre of Pieria. The Chamber of commerce and industry of Pieria is based in Katerini.[7] The same applies for the Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Pieria and the Union of hotel owners of Pieria.[8][9]

Agriculture

Katerini lies in the middle of a plain and thus, it is greatly an agricultural town. As of 2000 26,775 people were occupied in agriculture, in Pieria.[10] The Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Pieria has 9,000 members, of which 2,000 grow tobacco.[11] Kiwifruit is also produced in Katerini.[11]

Tourism

Katerini is a popular tourist destination, that attracts tourist both from Greece and abroad. Within the boundaries of the municipality, there are over 230 hotels that can accommodate more that 8,600 people.[12] The vast majority of the tourist infrastructure lie in Paralia and Olympiaki Akti and it also includes tens of tavernas and cafes.[13] Winter tourism has started developing in the area, since the construction of the Elatochori ski resort.[14]

Transport

Local transport

The Urban KTEL of Katerini serves the connention between Katerini and its nearby settlements.[15] The bus hub is in Katerini and it has lines towards Moschochori, Paralia, Dion, Pieria, Aronas and Nea Trapezounta. These lines serve all the settlements that lie between Katerini and the aforementioned final destinations.[15]

Road transport

Katerini is served by A1 and National Road 1 that run north-south from Evzonoi to Athens. The connection between Katerini and Elassona is served by National Road 13. Single carriageways run from Katerini to every settlement of the Pieria. Bus lines, delivered by the Intercity KTEL of Pieria, connect Katerini directly with Athens, Thessaloniki, Elassona, Alexandreia and all the settlements of Pieria that are not served by the Urban KTEL of Katerini.[16] There are also privately held international bus lines that connect Katerini with several cities in Albania and Bulgaria.

Rail links

The main line of the Greek railway system that connects Athens with Thessaloniki passes through Katerini. As a result the town is connected directly with Larisa and Thessaloniki via the Proastiakos[17] It is also connected with Athens and all the intermediate stations by Intercity train lines.

Demographics

Historical population

Year Community population Municipal unit population Municipality population
1913[18] 7,393 - -
1920[2] 6,540 - -
1928[2] 10,138 - -
1940[2] 16,938 - -
1951[2] 24,605 - -
1961[2] 28,046 - -
1971[2] 29,046 - -
1981[2] 38,404 - -
1991[2] 42,381 - -
2001 [2] 53,418 57,098 83,387
2011 [1] 58,309 62,205 85,851

Local communities

Katerini is home to a significant Aromanian population that exceeds 3,000 people.[19] Aromanians of Katerini mainly descend from nearby Aromanian settlements of Livadi and Kokkinopilos, and in lesser numbers from Samarina, Moscopole, Avdella, Perivoli and Smixi.[19] According to some sources the Aromanians formed a majority amongst the town's Christian population in the beginning of the 20th century.[19]

Religion

The Greek Evangelical Church in Katerini.
The seat of the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan in Katerini.

Georgios, a Greek orthodox Metropolitan of the Church of Greece has his seat in Katerini.[20] The Metropolis of Kitros, Katerini and Platamonas has 16 congregations within the town of Katerini.[20] There is also an Old Calendarist church in the town.[21] Katerini has a relatively numerous Protestant community, as a result of the organised settlement of Evangelical Greek refugees from Asia Minor and Pontus.[22] Today the Greek Evangelical Church of Katerini has almost 1,100 followers.[22] Other Protestant denominations, that have a church within the town, are the Free Apostolic Church of Pentecost, the Greek Apostolic Church of Pentecost and the Seventh-day Adventist Church.[23][24] The Protestant community is fully integrated in the life of the town, but in the past there were tensions between the Evangelical community and the Greek Orthodox majority. These tensions led to the arson of the Evangelical Church of Katerini from a Greek Orthodox mob in March 1930.[22]

Immigrants

As of 2001, the Municipal unit of Katerini (then Municipality of Katerini) was home to 2,794 foreign nationals (4.9% of the total population). Amongst them the most populous ethnic group was Albanians (2.5%) followed by Georgians (0.5%), Russians (0.4%) and Bulgarians (0.3%).[25]

Sports

Football

Katerini is represented by two football teams in the national leagues; Pierikos, a club currently playing in the Second Division and Vataniakos competing in Football League 2. The women's football club of Pierides Muses plays in the Women's Second National Division.

Other Sports

Pierikos-Archelaos B.C. currently competes in the A2 League, the second tier of Greek basketball. GAS Archelaos plays in the A2 League the second tier of the Greek handball league system.

Sport clubs based in Katerini
Club Founded Sports Achievements
Pierikos
(Former:Megas Alexandros Katerini)		 1961
(1922)		 Football , Volleyball Earlier presence in A Ethniki football, finalist Greek cup
GAS Archelaos 1956 Handball, Track and Field and other sports Panhellenic titles in Greek Handball
Ethnikos Katerini 1973 Football Earlier presence in Gamma Ethniki
Vataniakos F.C. 1978 Football Earlier presence in Beta Ethniki
Pierikos-Archelaos B.C. 2008 Basketball Presence in A2 Ethniki

Notable People

Sports

Music

International relations

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Main article: List of twin towns and sister cities in Greece

Twin towns — Sister cities

Katerini is twinned with:

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (Greek)
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ TrainOSE timetables, Table 7A-7B
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ <26><http://sports.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/3133599/georgios-tsalmpouris>

External links

Media related to Katerini at Wikimedia Commons

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