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Drama, Greece

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Drama
Δράμα
Settlement
CountryGreece
Administrative regionEast Macedonia and Thrace
Regional unitDrama
Government
 • MayorKiriakos Charakidis[1]
Area
 • Municipal unit488.8 km2 (188.7 sq mi)
Elevation
115 m (377 ft)
Population
 (2001)[2]
 • Municipal unit
55,632
 • Municipal unit density110/km2 (290/sq mi)
 • Community
43,485
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
661 00
Area code(s)25210
Vehicle registrationΡΜ

Drama (Greek: Δράμα [ˈðrama]), the ancient Drabescus (Greek: Δράβησκος), is a town and municipality in northeastern Greece. Drama is the capital of the peripheral unit 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 next largest communities in the municipality are Choristi (pop. 2,625), Χiropótamos (2,601), Kalós Agrós (1,216), Kallífytos (1,083), and Koudoúnia (885).

Name

Drama has excellent water resources and may well owe its name to Hydrama (Greek: "having to do with water"), a town which it is believed stood on the same site in ancient times. In the Roman era, Drabescus was a trade center and military camp on the Via Egnatia. Since the Middle Ages it has been known as Δράμα in Greek and Драма in Bulgarian.

History

Part of the town's Byzantine walls.

In 1912 during the First Balkan War, Drama was taken from the Ottomans by Bulgarian troops; Subsequently, 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 occupied by Bulgarian troops from 1941 to 1944 during World War II.

Economy

Old mansion in Drama.
The church of St.Panteleimon.
The springs of Agia Varvara.

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,[3] 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].

Municipality

The municipality Drama was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 2 former municipalities, that became municipal units (constituent communities in brackets):[4]

  • Drama (Choristi, Drama, Kallifytos, Kalos Agros, Koudounia, Livadero, Makryplagi, Mavrovatos, Mikrochori, Monastiraki, Mylopotamos, Nikotsaras, Xiropotamos)
  • Sidironero (Sidironero, Skaloti)

Population

Year Town Municipal district Municipality
1981 37,118 - -
1991 37,604 - 47,925
2001 42,501 43,485 55,632

Corporation with other cities

Sport teams

Notable people

See also

References

Notes
  1. ^ "Εκδηλώσεις για απελευθέρωση Δράμας" ("Events for Liberated Drama") Otenet Portal, in Greek, accessed 8 July 2009
  2. ^ De Facto Population of Greece Population and Housing Census of March 18th, 2001 (PDF 39 MB). National Statistical Service of Greece. 2003.
  3. ^ [1]
  4. ^ Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior Template:El icon
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