Drama, Greece
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Drama Δράμα |
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 Springs of Agia Varvara |
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| Location | |
  Drama, Greece
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| Coordinates | 41°9′N 24°8′E / 41.15°N 24.133°ECoordinates: 41°9′N 24°8′E / 41.15°N 24.133°E |
| Time zone: | EET/EEST (UTC+2/3) |
| Elevation (center): | 115 m (377 ft) |
| Government | |
| Country: | Greece |
| Periphery: | East Macedonia and Thrace |
| Prefecture: | Drama |
| Districts: | 13 |
| Mayor: | Thomas Margaritis[1] |
| Population statistics (as of 2001[2]) | |
| City | |
| - Population: | 55,632 |
| - Area:[3] | 488.830 km² (189 sq mi) |
| - Density: | 114 /km² (295 /sq mi) |
| Codes | |
| Postal: | 661 00 |
| Telephone: | 25210 |
| Auto: | ΡΜ |
Drama (Greek: Δράμα, Dráma, IPA: [ˈðɾama]) is a town and municipality in northeastern Greece. Drama is the capital of the prefecture of Drama which is part of the East Macedonia and Thrace periphery. The town (pop. 42,501 in 2001) is the economic center of the municipality (pop. 55,632), which in turn comprises 53.5 percent of the prefecture's population, the highest percentage in Greece. The next largest towns in the municipality are Choristi (pop. 2,625), Χiropótamos (2,601), Kalós Agrós (1,216), Kallífytos (1,083), and Koudoúnia (885). The municipality is the 12th-largest in Greece at 488.830 km², although it is only the third-largest in Drama Prefecture (following Kato Nevrokopi and Paranesti).
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[edit] History
In the Roman era, Drama was known as Dravescus (Δραβήσκος), and was a trade center and military camp on the Roman Via Egnatia. Drama has excellent water resources and may well owe its name to Hydrama (Hydro, Greek: having to do with water) a town which it is believed stood on the same site in ancient times.
Under the Ottoman Empire, Drama was the sanjak centre in Selanik vilayet with kazas of Drama, Kavala, Sarışaban, Pravişte and Ropçoz.
In 1912 during the First Balkan War, Drama was occupied by Bulgaria; however, in 1913 as a result of the Treaty of Bucharest following the Second Balkan War, it was incorporated into Greece along with the rest of eastern Macedonia and western Thrace. Drama was again occupied by Bulgarian troops from 1941 to 1944 during World War II.
[edit] Economy
In the recent past the economy of the Drama area relied heavily on the local paper and textile-clothing industries. However, these industries have either closed down or moved across the border to Bulgaria[1], with a devastating impact on the local economy and employment. Other sources of revenue include agriculture, consisting mainly of tobacco plantations, small-scale mining (particularly of marble) and forestry. Recently, there have been efforts to exploit the rich local natural environment and to develop ecotourism.
There is a modern ski resort on Mount Falakro. Drama also hosts an annual short film festival[2].
[edit] Municipal districts
There is a street named Armen, named after Armen Kouptsios a hero of the Macedonian struggle (1904-1908), who came from Volakas (a village to the north of Drama). The nearby village of Monastiraki was visited by a new journey show Exodus which has recently premiered on ERT and ERT Sat.
- Arkadikos
- Choristi
- Kallifytos
- Kalos Agros
- Koudounia
- Livadero
- Makryplagi
- Mavrovato
- Mikrochori
- Monastiraki
- Milopotamos
- Nea Amissos
- Nikotsaras (formerly Argyroupoli)
- Xiropotamos
[edit] Subdivisions
- Ampelakia (Αμπελάκια) [2001 pop: 335]
- Nea Sevasteia (Νέα Σεβάστεια) [2001 pop: 480]
- Taxiarches (Ταξιάρχαι) [2001 pop: 169]
- Nea Amissos (Νέα Αμισσός) [aprox pop: 1000]
- Adriani (Αδριανή)
[edit] Population
| Year | Population | Change | Municipal district population | Percent of the municipality |
Municipal population | Change | Percent of the prefecture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 37,118 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1991 | 37,604 | 486/1.39% | - | - | 47,925 | - | - |
| 2001 | 42,501 | 4,897/13.02% | 43,485 | 78.16% | 55,632 | 7,707/16.08% | 53.51% |
[edit] Sport teams
- Doxa Dramas - football team
- Pandramaikos FC - football team
- KAOD - Basketball team
- PAOP Neas Amissou - football team
[edit] Notable people
- Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt ruler of Egypt in 1848 (Son of Muhammad Ali of Egypt)
- Basilis C. Xanthopoulos (1951-1990) Theoretical Physicist
- Nikos Sergianopoulos (1952-2008), Television and stage Actor
- Giannis Papazisis - actor
- Natassa Theodoridou - singer
- Tania Tsanaklidou - singer
- Petros Gaitanos - singer
- Pasxalis Arvanitidis - singer
- Mahmud Dramali Pasha - Ottoman General in Greek Independence War
[edit] Photo gallery
 Church of Agia Sofia |
 Part of the town's Byzantine wall |
 Defunct Ottoman mosque |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Εκδηλώσεις για απελευθέρωση Δράμας" ("Events for Liberated Drama") Otenet Portal, in Greek, accessed 8 July 2009
- ^ "PDF (875 KB) 2001 Census" (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece (ΕΣΥΕ). www.statistics.gr. http://www.statistics.gr/gr_tables/S1101_SAP_1_TB_DC_01_03_Y.pdf PDF. Retrieved on 2007-10-30.
- ^ (Greek) "Basic Characteristics". Ministry of the Interior. www.ypes.gr. http://www.ypes.gr/topiki.htm. Retrieved on 2007-08-07.
[edit] External links
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