Imathia

Imathia regional unit Περιφερειακή Ενότητα Ημαθίας (Ημαθία)
Basic data
State :	Greece
Region :	Central Macedonia
Area :	1,701 km²
Residents :	140,611 (2011)
Population density :	82.7 inhabitants / km²
NUTS 3 code no. :	EL521
Structure:	3 municipalities
Website:	www.imathia.gr

Imathia ( Greek Periferiaki Enotita Imathias ) is one of the seven regional districts of the Greek region of Central Macedonia with the main town of Veria . Up until the administrative reform of 2010 , Imathia had the status of a prefecture , since then its competences have been with the Central Macedonia region and the municipalities that have been reduced to three by merging. The Imathia regional district sends five members to the Central Macedonian Regional Council, but has no political significance beyond that.

history

Star of Vergina

The Imathia area was at the center of ancient Macedonian culture. The area was already inhabited in prehistoric times and flourished during the rule of Macedonia . In Imathia one encounters the traces of a culture, whose presence ranges from antiquity to Byzantium to the Christian era. The place Vergina was until 410 BC. Chr. The capital of the kingdom of Macedonia . The sixteen- pointed star of Vergina , a solar symbol , was also discovered here. This is said to have been the emblem of the Macedonian royal dynasty at the time of Philip II and Alexander the Great .

Major cities in the prefecture

• Veria , capital and largest city in the prefecture
• Naoussa
• Alexandria
• Macrochori
• Platy
• Vergina

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Results of the 2011 census at the National Statistical Service of Greece (ΕΛ.ΣΤΑΤ) ( Memento from June 27, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) (Excel document, 2.6 MB)