Istiaia (Greek: Ιστιαία, pronounced [istiˈe.a], before 1913: Ξηροχώρι - Xirochori[2]) is a town and a former municipality in Euboea, Greece. It was named after the ancient town Histiaea, which was mentioned by the ancient Greek poet Homer.[3] Since the 2011 local government reform, it has been part of the municipality Istiaia-Aidipsos, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit.[4] The municipal unit has an area of 181.299 km2.[5]
Istiaia
Ιστιαία | |
|---|---|
 Central square | |
  Istiaia Location within the regional unit  | |
| Coordinates: 38°57′N 23°09′E / 38.950°N 23.150°E | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Central Greece |
| Regional unit | Euboea |
| Municipality | Istiaia-Aidipsos |
| Area | |
| • Municipal unit | 181.3 km2 (70.0 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
| • Municipal unit | 6,457 |
| • Municipal unit density | 36/km2 (92/sq mi) |
| • Community | 5,107 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Vehicle registration | ΧΑ |
The town is located in the northwestern end of the island Euboea, 5 km from the north coast, and north of the mountain Telethrio. It was the capital of Istiaia Province until the province was abolished in 2006. Visitor attractions of Istiaia include the Museum of Natural History and the church of Agios Nikolaos.[6]
Subdivisions
editThe municipal unit Istiaia is subdivided into the following communities (constituent villages and population at the 2011 census given in brackets):
- Avgaria (pop. 96)
- Galatsades (Galatsades, Kamatriades, pop. 148)
- Galatsona (pop. 65)
- Istiaia (Agios Georgios, Istiaia, Kanatadika, Nea Sinasos, Neochori, pop. 5,522)
- Kamaria (pop. 381)
- Kokkinomilea (pop. 72)
- Kryoneritis (pop. 189)
- Milies (pop. 169)
- Monokarya (Kato Monokarya, Monokarya, pop. 155)
- Voutas (Voutas, Kyparissi, Simia, pop. 294)
Population history
edit| Year | Population community | Population municipal unit |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 3,966 | - |
| 2001 | 5,343 | 7,353 |
| 2011 | 5,522 | 7,091 |
| 2021 | 5,107 | 6,457 |
History
editIstiaia was named after the ancient town of Histiaea, already mentioned by Homer in his Iliad. The old town was situated 2 km west of the present town. Archaeological findings from 2000 BC have been done, suggesting a settlement existed here in the Middle Helladic period.
Near the ancient town, a new town was founded, named Xirochori. Its name was changed into Istiaia in 1913, after the ancient town Histiaea.[2]
References
edit- ^ "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
- ^ a b EETAA, Local government changes (in Greek)
- ^ Iliad 2.537 Archived 2009-10-02 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities" (in Greek). Government Gazette.
- ^ "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-21.
- ^ "Voria Evia travel guide". Archived from the original on 2016-08-12. Retrieved 2020-01-27.
- Drandakis Great Greek Encyclopedia, Vol XIII, p. 268
External links
edit- Official website for Istiaia-Aidipsos
- Istiaia Radio Station (in Greek)
- Touristic Directory for Northern Euboea (in Greek)
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