Loutrochori, Pella

Loutrochori
Λουτροχώρι

Panoramic view of Loutrochori in May 2004.
Location
Loutrochori
Coordinates
Government
Country: Greece
Region: Central Macedonia
Regional unit: Pella
Municipality: Skydra
Municipal unit: Skydra
Population statistics (as of 2001)
Village
 - Population: 466
 - Area: 7.506 km2 (3 sq mi)
 - Density: 62 /km2 (161 /sq mi)
Other
Time zone: EET/EEST (UTC+2/3)
Elevation (min-max): 59 - 90 m ­(194 - 295 ft)
Postal: 585 00
Telephone: 23810
Auto: ΕΕ

Loutrochori(on) (Greek: Λουτροχώρι(οv) meaning "bath town"; formerly Paina, Πάινα and Bania, Μπάνια meaning "baths")[1] is a village in the Pella regional unit, of Macedonia in Greece. According to the 2001 census, it has a population of 466[2], its area is 7.506 km2, and its population density is 62.08 per km2. The village is on a hill and thus it has a view of the surrounding countryside.

Loutrochori is situated 25 km north of the Egnatia Highway (or GR-2, or E90). Its nearest railroad (train) stations with Hellenic OSE's SPAP line are 2.5 km east (Petrea), 5 km southeast (Episkopi) and 7 km northeast (Skydra). The Loutrochori area was famous from ancient times for its spa. The spa of Loutrochori (iamatica loutra, ιαματικά λουτρά)[3] is situated just 0.5 km away near the local mountain of Canber (358 m/1,175 ft).

Contents

History

Ancient era

The Loutrochori area has been a spa from the 4th century BC under the Macedonian Kingdom.

Modern era

Modern Loutrochori is a relatively new village; it was founded in the 1920s by the first Greek refugees from Pontus, under the name "Μπάνια" (Bania).[4] After the Greek Genocide and the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922), a large number of Pontic Greek refugees arrived at the village as a result of the population exchange under the Treaty of Lausanne. In 1926, the village's name was changed to "Λουτροχώρι" (Loutrochori).[1]

Demographics

Historical populations
(Statistics, 1923–2001)
Census Population Change Percentage Density
1913*
---
---
---
---
1920
---
---
---
---
1928**
115
---
---
15 /km2
1940
---
---
---
---
1951[5]
367
---
---
49 /km2
1961[5]
435
+68
+ 18.53%
58 /km2
1971[5]
391
- 44
- 10.12%
52 /km2
1981[5]
772
+381
+ 97.44%
103 /km2
1991[5]
483
-289
- 37.43%
64 /km2
2001[5]
466
-17
- 3.52%
62 /km2
2007***
445
-21
- 4.51%
59 /km2
*Foundation. **Post-Population exchange. ***Estimate.

The village's population grew rapidly after 1923. After the Second World War and the Greek Civil War, the population steadily declined as residents moved to larger towns and cities or emigrated.

The inhabitants are (100%) ethnic Greeks and Greek Orthodox Christians.

Geography

Loutrochori in the Pella Prefecture

Loutrochori is the southwestern part of the municipality of Skydra. It is 20 km southeast of the prefectural capital of Edessa in Central part of Macedonia in Greece. Loutrochori is bounded by the prefecture of Imathia to the southwest and it is 25 km northwest of the capital Veria. It sits at an elevation of around 90 meters above mean sea level and the population is approximately from 500 (in winter) to 800 (in summer) inhabitants.

Loutrochori covers an area of some 7.506 km2 (3 sq.mi.), between the mountains Vermio (2,052 m/6,732 ft) to the southwest, Voras (2,524 m/8,281 ft) to the northwest and Paiko (1,650 m/5,410 ft) to the northeast.

Loutrochori is located at a distance of 540 km northwest of the present day Greek capital - Athens by road, 38 km north of the royal capital of ancient Macedon - Vergina, 53 km west of the first capital of the Greek Macedonian Kingdom and birthplace of Alexander the Great - Pella and 77 km northwest of Thessaloniki, the present-day capital of Greek Macedonia.

Locations and distance

Nearest places

Place - Prefecture km - nm
Polla Nera Imathia 2.0 1.5
Plevroma Pella 2.0 1.5
Rizo Pella 2.5 1.5
Petrea Pella 3.0 1.8
Marina Imathia 3.1 1.9
Arseni Pella 4.5 2.7
Episkopi NE of Naousa Imathia 4.6 2.8
Sevastiana Pella 5.1 3.1
Kesariana Pella 6.1 3.7
Skydra Pella 6.1 3.7

Big cities

Cities km - nm
Naousa 15 9
Edessa 20 12
Veria 25 15
Giannitsa 33 20
Kozani 75 45
Thessaloniki 77 46
Larissa 187 113
Kavala 253 153
Athens 540 326
Constantinople 683 413

Nearest airports

Airport IATA/"ICAO Cities km
Alexandreia ----- / LGAX Alexandreia 39.8
Filippos KZI / LGKZ Kozani 64.6
Macedonia SKG / LGTS Thessaloniki 91.9
Aristotelis KSO / LGKA Kastoria 92.5
Thessaly LRA / LGLR Larissa 148.5
Stefanovikio ----- / LGSV Stefanoviki-Volos 182.1
Alexander the Great KVA / LGKV Kavala 228.6
N.Anchialos VOL / LGBL N. Anchialos 231.4

Climate

Loutrochori, Pella
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
43
 
7
1
 
 
51
 
9
3
 
 
45
 
14
6
 
 
35
 
18
8
 
 
41
 
24
12
 
 
28
 
29
17
 
 
27
 
31
19
 
 
23
 
32
18
 
 
34
 
27
15
 
 
39
 
22
12
 
 
51
 
14
6
 
 
53
 
8
3
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: Met Office<

The average temperature is 14.8 degrees Celsius and the average rainfall about 470 millimetres per year.

Loutrochori has a Mediterranean climate with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. The warmest month is August, with 18 to 32 °C (64 to 90 °F). Record high temperatures of up to 42 °C (108 °F). The coolest month is January, averaging 1 to 7 °C (34 to 45 °F).

Economy

Loutrochori produces cherries, apples, some strawberries and peaches.

Gallery

Churches and Chapels in Loutrochori

References

  1. ^ a b Pandektis: Name Changes of Settlements in Greece, Retrieved on April 2, 2009, compiled by the Institute for Neohellenic Research
  2. ^ (Greek) 2001 Census, National Statistical Service of Greece (ΕΣΥΕ), (PDF 875 KB / GR-591109 02 : Λουτροχώρι (Loutrochori)
  3. ^ (Greek) Ιαματική Πηγή Λουτροχωρίου (Δήμος Σκύδρας)
  4. ^ (Greek) „Κατάλογος των προσφυγικών συνοικισμών της Μακεδονίας σύμφωνα με τα στοιχεία της Επιτροπής Αποκαταστάσεως Προσφύγων (ΕΑΠ) έτος 1928“.
  5. ^ a b c d e f (Greek) Συγκριτικά στοιχεία απογραφών, ετών 1951-2001, του Δήμου Σκύδρας. Municipality of Skydra. Retrieved on 2008-01-04.

External links

Kesariana, Flamouria Sevastiana, Rizari Rizo, Skydra
Agia Foteini, Polla Nera Petrea, Arseni
   Loutrochori    
Rodochori, Gianakochori Marina, Lefkadia Plevroma, Episkopi