Thessaloniki metropolitan area

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Thessaloniki's urban and metropolitan areas as of 2011 Thessaloniki urban and metropolitan areas map.svg
Thessaloniki's urban and metropolitan areas as of 2011

The Thessaloniki metropolitan area or larger urban zone (LUZ) is the complete area covered and directly influenced by Thessaloniki. The metropolitan area traditionally consisted of the municipality of Thessaloniki and its immediate surroundings, which is today referred to as the Thessaloniki urban area. However, since the mid to late 1990s, the areas surrounding the urban area have succumbed to urban sprawl and what used to be agrarian communities are rapidly urbanizing and being developed into suburbs or exurbs. This is creating new problems for a region already facing issues such as pollution, traffic congestion and social ills.

Contents

Thessalonians usually refer to 6 municipalities and 1 municipal unit as the "City of Thessaloniki" (or the Thessaloniki urban area); this is the contiguous densely built-up urban area of the city. However, the metropolitan area also includes the city's immediate surroundings, adjacent zone of influence and its low to medium density suburbs that surround the densely built-up urban area.

Thessaloniki spreads over 30 kilometres (19 mi) from Oraiokastro in the north to Thermi in the south.

Geography

The municipalities that have been historically associated with the Thessaloniki metropolitan area (and are part of the current Thessaloniki urban area), in descending order of population are Thessaloniki, Kalamaria, Neapoli-Sykies, Pavlos Melas, Kordelio-Evosmos, Ampelokipoi-Menemeni and the municipality of Pylaia.

However, with urban sprawl, more municipalities are being interconnected with the growing region. The region now consists of all the traditional areas noted above as well as the newly emerging suburbs and exurbs to the northwest, north, east and southeast of the city. Also, the industrial areas to the west are becoming more interwoven with the fabric of the city as new infrastructure encroaches on these areas.

Two old suburbs that are increasingly coalescing into the urban area, due to its expansion and the creation of new transportation networks, are those of Oraiokastro and Panorama. While Oraiokastro has traditionally been a middle class suburb, Panorama has been a more upscale suburb and is considered as the city's most exclusive.

The main eastern and southeastern suburbs include the municipal units of Thermaikos, Thermi, Chortiatis, Mikra, Michaniona, Vasilika and Epanomi; while the main western suburbs include the municipal units of Echedoros and Chalastra.

Demographics

The municipalities to the west of Thessaloniki are increasingly becoming home to new immigrants and are predominantly working class areas. The newly emerging suburbs to the east are where the vast majority of the middle class residents are moving to. Many of these suburbs are seeing rapid growth and development and infrastructure is not keeping pace.

Population

By far the largest municipality in the metropolitan area is the municipality of Thessaloniki (the city center).

A census carried out by Eurostat in 2004 has revealed an increased population for the metropolitan area or Larger Urban Zone (LUZ) of Thessaloniki of an estimated 995,766 residents (2004), while calculating its real area to be 1,455.62 square kilometres (562.02 sq mi). [1] The 2011 Greek census revealed that Thessaloniki's metropolitan area has a population slightly larger than 1.000.000 residents.

The table below lists the municipalities/suburbs of the Thessaloniki metropolitan area, among those of the city's urban area in italics. Population data from the Greek 2021 Census. Compared to the previous census in 2011, there is a slight decrease of 6,185 inhabitants, or approximately -0.61% population change. [2]

Table source: National Statistical Service of Greece [3]

Municipality [4] Population (2021) [5] Area in km2 [6]
Thessaloniki 319,04519.292
Kordelio-Evosmos 105,35213.358
Pavlos Melas 100,19423.763
Kalamaria 92,2486.401
Neapoli-Sykies 80,88812.903
Pylaia-Chortiatis 72,384155.634
Thermi 55,358382.106
Ampelokipoi-Menemeni 50,1439.792
Thermaikos 45,561133.410
Delta 44,935311.094
Oraiokastro 40,004217.855
Metropolitan area1,006,1121,285.608

Growth issues

A serious problem that particularly suburbs of the Thessaloniki metropolitan area have faced, was the lack of extending and introducing new growth boundaries on time (particularly in the southeast) by the national government, to manage the rapid suburban growth and urban sprawl that started in the 1990s. This allowed many new homes to be built on large blocks of land with no future urban provisions taken into consideration and in areas that were otherwise used for agriculture.

Floor area ratios (FAR) are recommended by the national government to manage growth and have been used to deter landowners from building homes outside the growth boundaries (city/town zones) of each suburb. It is common practice to violate the FARs by building structures that are larger than recommended, with many suburban homes being in direct violation of Greek planning laws.[ citation needed ] Only recently have actions been taken on by the government to extend the growth boundaries, [7] create new much needed urban layouts and address current issues by introducing new planning laws. However actual implementation of such actions for each municipality is usually expected to be complete in five years time, from the time that the government announced it.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nea Chalkidona</span> Municipal unit in Greece

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thessaloniki (regional unit)</span> Regional unit in Greece

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kalamaria</span> Suburbs of the Thessaloniki Urban Area, Greece

Kalamariá is among the most densely populated suburbs in Thessaloniki, located about 7 kilometres southeast of the downtown area, with a population of 92,248.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neapoli, Thessaloniki</span> Suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area, Greece

Neapoli is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and a former municipality in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Neapoli-Sykies, of which it is a municipal unit. The municipal unit population is 25,822, while its land area is only 1.168 km2 (0.45 sq mi), with a resulting population density of 22,108/km2 (57,260/sq mi), making it one of the densest places in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sykies</span> Suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area, Greece

Sykies or Sykeai (Συκεαί) is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was a former municipality in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Neapoli-Sykies, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. The municipal unit population is 35,545. Its land area is 7.982 km².

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pylaia</span> Municipal unit in Greece

Pylaia is a former municipality in the Thessaloniki Prefecture of Greece. In the 2011 local government reform, Thessaloniki Prefecture became the regional unit of Thessaloniki, and Pylaia became a part of the new municipality of Pylaia-Chortiatis. Pylaia continues under its old boundaries as a municipal unit within Pylaia-Chortiatis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thermi</span> Suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area, Greece

Thermi is a Southeastern suburb and a municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Macedonia, Greece. Its population was 55,358 at the 2021 census. It is located over the site of ancient Therma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lagkadas</span> Municipality in Greece

Lagkadas is a town and municipality in the northeast part of Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece. There are 37,022 residents in the municipality and 8,447 of them live in the community of Lagkadas (2021). Lagkadas is located northeast of Thessaloniki, at a distance of about 20 km from its center and at an altitude of about 130m, in the center of the valley of Mygdonia, through which Alexander the Great passed at his campaigns and also the Apostle Paul towards Thessaloniki and Athens. The climate is continental. Nearby is Lake Koroneia. The inhabitants of Lagkadas participated in the revolution of 1821, with the most famous fighter being Stavros Tzanis, who took part in many battles in southern Greece. The consequence was the destruction of the town in retaliation. During the Macedonian Struggle, the people of Lagkadas offered a lot, with the main Macedonian warrior, the chief Christos Dremlis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mikra, Thessaloniki</span> Municipal unit in Greece

Mikra is a former municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Thermi, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 17,150 (2021). The seat of the municipality was in Trilofo. The municipal unit has an area of 80.827 km2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mygdonia, Thessaloniki</span> Municipal unit in Greece

Mygdonia is a suburb and a former municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Oraiokastro, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 9,830 (2021). The municipal unit of Mygdonia includes three communities, Drymos (Δρυμός), Liti (Λητή) and Melissochori (Μελισσοχώρι). The seat of the municipality was in Liti. The municipal unit has an area of 98.506 km2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oraiokastro</span> Municipality in Greece

Oraiokastro is a municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece and a suburb of Thessaloniki.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kamena Vourla</span> Municipality in Greece

Kamena Vourla is a town and a municipality in Phthiotis, Greece. At the 2011 local government reform it became part of the municipality Molos-Agios Konstantinos, which was renamed to Kamena Vourla in July 2018. The population of the town proper was 2,796 at the 2011 census.

Tagarades is a village and a community of the Thermi municipality. Before the 2011 local government reform it was part of the municipality of Thermi, of which it was a municipal district. The 2021 census recorded 2,122 inhabitants in the village. The community of Tagarades covers an area of 15.325 km2.

Neo Rysio is a village and a community of the Thermi municipality. Before the 2011 local government reform it was part of the municipality of Thermi, of which it was a municipal district. The 2021 census recorded 2,845 inhabitants in the village. The community of Neo Rysio covers an area of 15.068 km2.

Nea Raidestos is a village and a community of the Thermi municipality. The village was settled by Greek refugees from Raidestos after the 1923 Population Exchange. Before the 2011 local government reform it was part of the municipality of Thermi, of which it was a municipal district. The 2021 census recorded 4,061 inhabitants in the community. The community of Nea Raidestos covers an area of 14.65 km2.

Nea Filadelfeia, known before 1927 as Naresh, is a village and a community of the Oraiokastro municipality. Before the 2011 local government reform it was part of the municipality of Kallithea, of which it was a municipal district. The 2021 census recorded 770 inhabitants in the village. The community of Nea Filadelfeia covers an area of 12.624 km2.

References

  1. ↑ "Urban Audit – Data that can be accessed". Urbanaudit.org. Archived from the original on 2011-04-06. Retrieved 2010-09-05.
  2. ↑ "Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός - ELSTAT". www.statistics.gr. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  3. ↑ "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
  4. ↑ Municipalities in italics are part of the urban area
  5. ↑ "Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός - ELSTAT". www.statistics.gr. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  6. ↑ "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece.
  7. ↑ "73.659 στρέμματα εντάσσονται στο σχέδιο πόλης - Εφημερίδα Μακεδονία της Θεσσαλονίκης". www.makthes.gr. Archived from the original on 2011-04-08.

40°38′N22°57′E / 40.633°N 22.950°E / 40.633; 22.950

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