Agrinio
| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Prefecture: | Aetolia-Acarnania |
| Province: | Trichonida |
| Location: Latitude: Longitude: |
38.622/38°37'20' N lat. 21.4075/21°24'26' E long |
| Population: (2001) - Total - Density¹ - Rank |
52,081 -/km² |
| Elevation: -lowest: -centre: -highest: |
Acheloos river 91 m(centre) about 500 to 600 m |
| Postal code: | 301 00 |
| Area/distance code: | 11-30-26410 (030-26410)-2 through 4 |
| Municipal code: | 0202 |
| Car designation: | AO
|
| 3-letter abbreviation: | ARN Agrinio |
Agrinio (Greek, Modern: Αγρίνιο, Ancient/Katharevousa: -on, older form: Agrinion, Latin: Agrinium) is the largest town and a municipality of the Aetolia-Acarnania prefecture of Greece, with about 80.000 inhibitants. It is one of the few prefectures, including Argolis, that have cities larger than the prefectural capital. The settlement dates back to the ancient times. In the medieval times until 1925, the area was known as Vrachori or Vrahori (Βραχώρι). It is linked by GR-5/E55 which since the 1960s bypasses Agrinio and GR-38/E862? linking to Karpenisi and Lamia to the east. It is located NW of the Rio-Antirio Bridge, N of Messolonghi, NE of Astakos, ESE of Lefkada and Preveza, S of Arta and Ioannina and WSW of Keratsini and Lamia.
The majority of the local people are tobacco farmers. Agrinio is agriculturally famous for its main production of Agrinio olives.
History
According to mythology, it was built by king Agrios, Thestia's son. It was destroyed by Cassander in 314 BC. In 1585 it was deserted during the revolt of Theodoros Migas. At the beginning of the 16th century it became the administrative center of Aitoloakarnania. At the time, is was known as Vrachori. It participated in the Greek Revolution. It was temporarily liberated on June 11, 1821 and was included in the newly-independent Greek state in 1832 with the treaty of Treaty of Constantinople (July 9, 1832). It was again named Agrinio in 1925.
Communications
Radio
- Agrinio 93.7 FM, website: http://www.agriniofm.gr
Newspaper
- Nea Epohi, website: http://www.epoxi.gr
Historical population
| Year | Population | Change | Municipal population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 35,773 | - | - |
| 1991 | 39,638 | 3,865/10.8% | 52,081 |
Sites of interest
- Archaeological Museum of Agrinio, located at 1-2 Diamantis Street, website
- Agrinio Airport, IATA code: AGQ, ICAO: LGAG, Agrinio's airport located near the city. The airport also has a club named the Agrinio Aeroclub, greece/agrinion-airport-59.html website.
Other
Agrinio has schools, lyceums, gymnasia, churches, banks, a police station, a water tower, a post office, a junior soccer team, and a squares (plateies).
Persons
- Giovas Vlachiotis, a person where he fought on the Greek side during the Greek War of Independence, he did not make it, his son Michail continued to fight against the Turks.
- Dimitrios Bairaktaris, police chief of Greece known for his extreme measures in combating "manges".
- Panagiotis Danglis, general and politician.
- Petros Fyssoun, actor.
- Pythagoras, composer.
Sporting teams
- Panaitolikos FC - third division