Katerini

      Katerini
      Κατερίνη
      Katerini's Town Hall
      Katerini's Town Hall
      Seal of Katerini
      Location
      Katerini is located in Greece
      Katerini
      Coordinates 40°16′N 22°30′E / 40.267°N 22.500°E / 40.267; 22.500Coordinates: 40°16′N 22°30′E / 40.267°N 22.500°E / 40.267; 22.500
      Government
      Country: Greece
      Region: Central Macedonia
      Regional unit: Pieria
      Mayor: Savvas Chionidis
      Population statistics (as of 2011)[1]
      Municipality
       - Population: 85,851
       - Area: 682.4 km2 (263 sq mi)
       - Density: 126 /km2 (326 /sq mi)
      Municipal unit
       - Population: 62,205
       - Area: 93.7 km2 (36 sq mi)
       - Density: 664 /km2 (1,719 /sq mi)
      Community
       - Population: 58,309
      Other
      Time zone: EET/EEST (UTC+2/3)
      Elevation (center): 14 m (46 ft)
      Postal code: 601 00
      Telephone: 23510
      Auto: KN
      Website
      www.katerini.gr

      Katerini (Greek: Κατερίνη, former name: Αικατερίνη - Aikaterini; "Catherine") 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 2011 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, 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 Venetian 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

      Some 13th century sources state that there was a settlement called Hatera in the area nearby contemporate Katerini.According to this version Hatera evolved to Katera and that led to the modern name Katerini.[2] Another version attributes the name of the town to a chapel dedicated to St. Catherine (Greek: Agia Aikaterini) that is located in the eastern part of the town.[2] At the beginning of the 20th century the town was recorded as Agia Aikaterini and Aikaterini but finally the vernacular name Katerini prevailed.[2]

      ↑Jump back a section

      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]

      • Andromachi, population 1,061
      • Katerini, population 55,997
      • Nea Chrani, population 467
      • Neo Keramidi, population 464
      • Olympiaki Akti, population 320

      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
      (48)      		 11.9
      (53.4)      		 15
      (59)      		 20
      (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
      (70.22)
      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
      (66)      		 15.7
      (60.3)      		 11.6
      (52.9)      		 7.4
      (45.3)      		 3.2
      (37.8)      		 10.14
      (50.23)
      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]
      ↑Jump back a section

      Politics

      Local Government

      The rulling 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%
      ↑Jump back a section

      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]

      ↑Jump back a section

      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.

      ↑Jump back a section

      Demographics

      Historical population

      Year Community population Municipal unit population Municipality population
      1913[18] 7,393 - -
      1920[19] 6,540 - -
      1928[19] 10,138 - -
      1940[19] 16,938 - -
      1951[19] 24,605 - -
      1961[19] 28,046 - -
      1971[19] 29,046 - -
      1981[19] 38,404 - -
      1991[19] 42,381 - -
      2001 [19] 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.[20] Aromanians of Katerini mainly descend from nearby Aromanian settlements of Livadi and Kokkinopilos, and in lesser numbers from Samarina, Moscopole, Avdella, Perivoli and Smixi.[20] According to some sources the Aromanians formed a majority amongst the town's Christian population in the beginning of the 20th century.[20]

      Religion

      Agathonikos, a Greek orthodox Metropolitan of the Church of Greece has his seat in Katerini.[21] The Metropolis of Kitros, Katerini and Platamonas has 16 congregations within the town of Katerini.[21] There is also an Old Calendarist church in the town.[22] Katerini has a relatively numerous Protestant community, as a result of the organised settlement of Evangelical Greek refugees from Asia Minor and Pontus.[23] Today the Greek Evangelical Church of Katerini has almost 1,100 followers.[23] 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.[24][25] 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 on March 1930.[23]

      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%).[26]

      ↑Jump back a section

      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.

      ↑Jump back a section

      Notable Natives

      Arts

      • Dimos Anastasiadis, singer

      Sports

      ↑Jump back a section

      International relations

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

      Twin towns — Sister cities

      Katerini is twinned with:

      ↑Jump back a section

      See also

      ↑Jump back a section

      References

      1. ^ a b c d e Detailed census results 2011 (Greek)
      2. ^ a b c "Η Ιστορία της Κατερίνης" (in Greek). Municipality of Katerini. Retrieved 14 January 2013. 
      3. ^ a b c Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (Greek)
      4. ^ "Climate, Climate data for Katerini". Climate-data.org. 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2013. 
      5. ^ a b "Ο Δήμαρχος" (in Greek). Δήμος Κατερίνης (Municipality of Katerini). Retrieved 29 January 2012. 
      6. ^ "Νέα Δημοκρατία: Η Πολιτική Επιτροπή" (in Greek). Νέα Δημοκρατία. Retrieved 29 January 2012. 
      7. ^ "ΕΠΙΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΑ" (in Greek). Επιμελητήριο Πιερίας. Retrieved 7 July 2012. 
      8. ^ "Στοιχεία Επικοινωνίας" (in Greek). Ένωση Αγροτικών Συνεταιρισμών Πιερίας. Retrieved 7 July 2012. 
      9. ^ "Γνωρίστε μας" (in Greek). Ένωση Ξενοδόχων Πιερίας. Retrieved 7 July 2012. 
      10. ^ "Number of holdings,physical persons,owners and their household members" (in Greek, English). Hellenic Statistical Authority). 2000. Retrieved 7 July 2012. 
      11. ^ a b "Η Ένωση" (in Greek). Ένωση Αγροτικών Συνεταιρισμών Πιερίας. Retrieved 7 July 2012. 
      12. ^ "Accomodation" (in English). Pieria Tourism. Retrieved 7 July 2012. 
      13. ^ "RESTAURANTS & TAVERNS" (in English). Pieria Tourism. Retrieved 7 July 2012. 
      14. ^ "Σχετικά με το Ελατοχώρι" (in Greek). web-greece.gr. Retrieved 7 July 2012. 
      15. ^ a b "Γραμμές και Δρομολόγια" (in Greek). ΑΣΤΙΚΟ ΚΤΕΛ ΚΑΤΕΡΙΝΗΣ. Retrieved 13 January 2013. 
      16. ^ "Schedule" (in English). Υπεραστικό ΚΤΕΛ Πιερίας. Retrieved 13 January 2013. 
      17. ^ TrainOSE timetables, Table 7A-7B
      18. ^ "Απαρίθμηση κατά οικισμό των κατοίκων του ελληνικού τμήματος της Μακεδονίας το έτος 1913" (in Greek). Η προσωπική Ιστοσελίδα του Δημήτρη Λιθοξόου. Retrieved 28 January 2012. 
      19. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Η ιστορία της Κατερίνης" (in Greek). Δήμος Κατερίνης (Municipality of Katerini). Retrieved 29 January 2012. 
      20. ^ a b c "Οι Βλάχοι της Κατερίνης" (in Greek). Βλάχοι.Net. 25 November 2006. Retrieved 26 January 2012. 
      21. ^ a b "Ιερά Μητρόπλις Κίτρους, Κατερίνης και Πλαταμώνος" (in Greek). Ιερά Μητρόπλις Κίτρους, Κατερίνης και Πλαταμώνος. Retrieved 29 January 2012. 
      22. ^ "Ιεροί Ναοί Εκκλησίας Γ.Ο.Χ. Ελλάδος" (in Greek). Εκκλησία Γ.Ο.Χ. Ελλάδος. Retrieved 29 January 2012. 
      23. ^ a b c "Η ιστορία μας" (in Greek). Ελληνική Ευαγγελική Εκκλησία Κατερίνης. Retrieved 10 November 2012. 
      24. ^ "Διευθύνσεις Εκκλησιών και παραρτημάτων" (in Greek). Ελευθέρα Αποστολική Εκκλησία Πεντηκοστής. Retrieved 10 November 2012. 
      25. ^ "Χριστιανικές Συναθροίσεις Επαρχίας" (in Greek). Σύνοδος Αποστολικής Εκκλησίας Πεντηκοστής Ελλάδας. Retrieved 10 November 2012. 
      26. ^ "Αλλοδαποί κατά υπηκοότητα, ομάδες ηλικιών και φύλο, Νομοί,Δήμοι / Κοινότητες" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. pp. 166–167. Retrieved 26 January 2012. 
      ↑Jump back a section

      External links

      Media related to Katerini at Wikimedia Commons
      Area
      18,811 km²
      Population
      1,880,058 (2011)
      Capital
      Thessaloniki
      Regional unit of Chalkidiki
      Periferia Kendrikis Makedonias.png
      Regional unit of Imathia
      Regional unit of Kilkis
      Regional unit of Pella
      Regional unit of Pieria
      Regional unit of Serres
      Regional unit of Thessaloniki
      Regional governor
      Apostolos Tzitzikostas (el)
      Website
      www.pkm.gov.gr
      Subdivisions of the municipality of Katerini
      Municipal unit of Elafina
      Municipal unit of Katerini
      Municipal unit of Korinos
      Municipal unit of Paralia
      Municipal unit of Petra
      Municipal unit of Pierioi
      ↑Jump back a section
      Last modified on 8 June 2013, at 19:52