Loutrochori, Pella

Loutrochori(on) (Greek: Λουτροχώρι(οv) meaning "bath town"; formerly Paina, Πάινα and Bania, Μπάνια meaning "baths")[2] is a village in the Pella regional unit, of Macedonia in Greece. According to the 2011 census, it has a population of 458,[1] its area is 7.506 km2, and its population density is 62.08 per km2. The village is on a hill and thus it has a view of the surrounding countryside.

Loutrochori

Λουτροχώρι
Panoramic view of Loutrochori in May 2004.
Loutrochori
Coordinates: 40°43′N 22°06′E
CountryGreece
Administrative regionCentral Macedonia
Regional unitPella
MunicipalitySkydra
Municipal unitSkydra
Area
 • Rural
7.506 km2 (2.898 sq mi)
Highest elevation
90 m (300 ft)
Lowest elevation
59 m (194 ft)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Rural
458
 • Rural density61/km2 (160/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
585 00
Area code(s)23810
Vehicle registrationΕΕ

Loutrochori is situated 30 kilometres (19 miles) north of the Egnatia Highway (or A2, the Greek part of the E90) and 10 km (6 mi) south of the EO2 (or E 86). The nearest railroad (train) stations, on the OSE's Thessaloniki–Bitola railway, are 3 km (2 mi) east (Petrea), 8 km (5 mi) southeast (Episkopi) and 9 km (6 mi) northeast (Skydra). The Loutrochori area was famous from ancient times for its spa. The spa (iamatica loutra, ιαματικά λουτρά) of Loutrochori (spa-drinking therapy)[3] is situated just 0.5 km (0.3 mi) away near the local mountain of Canber (358 m or 1,175 ft).

History

Ancient era

The Loutrochori area has been a spa from the 4th century BC under the Macedonian Kingdom.

Modern era

Modern Loutrochori is a relatively new village; it was founded in the 1920s by the first Greek refugees from Pontus, under the name "Μπάνια" (Bania).[2] After the Greek Genocide and the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922), a large number of Pontic Greek refugees arrived at the village as a result of the population exchange under the Treaty of Lausanne. In 1926, the village's name was changed to "Λουτροχώρι" (Loutrochori).[2]

Demographics
Historical population
(Statistics, 1913-2001)
Census Population
1913 [4] 23
1920 [5] 56
1928 [6] 165
1940 [7] 323
1951 [8] 367
1961 [9] 435
1971 [10] 391
1981 [11] 739
1991 [12] 483
2001 [13] 466
2011 [1] 458
*Estimate.

The village's population grew rapidly after 1923. After the Second World War and the Greek Civil War, the population steadily declined as residents moved to larger towns and cities or emigrated.

The inhabitants are (100%) ethnic Greeks and Greek Orthodox Christians.

Geography
Loutrochori in the Pella regional unit

Loutrochori is the southwestern part of the municipality of Skydra. It is 21 kilometres (13 miles) southeast of the regional unit capital of Edessa in Central part of Macedonia in Greece. Loutrochori is bounded by the Imathia to the southwest and it is 28 kilometres (17 miles) northwest of the Imathian capital Veria. It sits at an elevation of around 90 metres (295 feet) above mean sea level and the population is approximately from 500 (in winter) to 800 (in summer) inhabitants.

Loutrochori covers an area of some 7.506 km2 (2.898 sq mi), between the mountains Vermio (2,052 m or 6,732 ft) to the southwest, Voras (2,524 m or 8,281 ft) to the northwest and Paiko (1,650 m or 5,410 ft) to the northeast.

Loutrochori is located at a distance of 533 kilometres (331 miles) northwest of the present day Greek capital - Athens by road, 44 km (27 miles) north of the royal capital of ancient Macedon - Vergina, 40 km (25 miles) west of the first capital of the Greek Macedonian Kingdom and birthplace of Alexander the Great - Pella and 82 km (51 miles) northwest of Thessaloniki, the present-day capital of Greek Macedonia.

Locations and distance

Climate
Loutrochori, Pella
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
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A
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O
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D
 
 
43
 
 
7
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51
 
 
9
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45
 
 
14
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35
 
 
18
8
 
 
41
 
 
24
12
 
 
28
 
 
29
17
 
 
27
 
 
31
19
 
 
23
 
 
32
18
 
 
34
 
 
27
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39
 
 
22
12
 
 
51
 
 
14
6
 
 
53
 
 
8
3
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: Met Office<

The average temperature is 14.8 degrees Celsius and the average rainfall about 470 millimetres per year.

Loutrochori has a Mediterranean climate with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. The warmest month is August, with 18 to 32 °C (64 to 90 °F). Record high temperatures of up to 42 °C (108 °F). The coolest month is January, averaging 1 to 7 °C (34 to 45 °F).

Economy

Loutrochori produces cherries, apples, some strawberries and peaches.

Churches and Chapels in Loutrochori
  • Agii Pantes (All Saints) Greek Orthodox Church in Loutrochori.
  • Ruins of Agios Georgios (Saint George) Greek (Byzantine) Orthodox country Church in Loutrochori.
  • Analipseos Tou Kiriou (Ascension of Jesus) Greek Orthodox chapel in Loutrochori.
  • Profitis Ilias (Prophet Elias) Greek Orthodox Church in Loutrochori.

References
  1. "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
  2. Pandektis: Name Changes of Settlements in Greece, Retrieved on 30 November 2016, compiled by the Institute for Neohellenic Research
  3. (in Greek) Ιαματική Πηγή Λουτροχωρίου (Δήμος Σκύδρας), History and Information about the baths of Loutrochori Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine
  4. (in Greek) 1913 Census, National Statistical Service of Greece (ΕΣΥΕ), (Απογραφή 1913 (πληθυσμός των νέων χωρών) - Σελ. 16
  5. (in Greek) 1920 Census, National Statistical Service of Greece (ΕΣΥΕ), (Απογραφή 1920 (πραγματικός πληθυσμός) - Σελ. 244
  6. (in Greek) 1928 Census, National Statistical Service of Greece (ΕΣΥΕ), (Απογραφή 1928 (πραγματικός πληθυσμός) - Σελ. 286
  7. (in Greek) 1940 Census, National Statistical Service of Greece (ΕΣΥΕ), (Απογραφή 1940 (πραγματικός πληθυσμός) - Σελ. 316
  8. (in Greek) 1951 Census, National Statistical Service of Greece (ΕΣΥΕ), (Απογραφή 1951 (πραγματικός πληθυσμός) - Σελ. 155
  9. (in Greek) 1961 Census, National Statistical Service of Greece (ΕΣΥΕ), (Απογραφή 1961 (πραγματικός πληθυσμός) - Σελ. 149
  10. (in Greek) 1971 Census, National Statistical Service of Greece (ΕΣΥΕ), (Απογραφή 1971 (πραγματικός πληθυσμός) - Σελ. 147
  11. (in Greek) 1981 Census, National Statistical Service of Greece (ΕΣΥΕ), (Απογραφή 1981 (πραγματικός πληθυσμός) - Σελ. 155
  12. (in Greek) 1991 Census, National Statistical Service of Greece (ΕΣΥΕ), (Απογραφή 1991 (πραγματικός πληθυσμός) - Σελ. 190
  13. (in Greek) 2001 Census, National Statistical Service of Greece (ΕΣΥΕ), (Απογραφή 2001 (πραγματικός πληθυσμός) - Σελ. 191
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