Piraeus (prefectural district)

Piraeus Prefectural District (1972-2010) Νομαρχία Πειραιώς
Basic data (April 2010)
State :	Greece
Administrative region :	Attica
Surface:	929.38 km²
Residents:	553,450
Population density:	-
Prefecture logo:
Capital:	Piraeus
Municipalities (δήμοι):	16
Rural communities (κοινότητες):	2
ISO-3166-2 code :	GR-A4
NUTS 3 code :	EL307
Website :	www.nomarhiapeiraia.gr

The prefectural district of Piraeus ( Greek Νομαρχία Πειραιώς Nomarchia Pireos , also Πειραιάς Pireas ) was until 2010 one of the four prefectural districts (nomarchíes) of the administrative region and prefecture of Attica, which in fact resembled the other self-governing prefectures (nomi) .

Piraeus was initially formed as an independent prefecture in 1964: the municipality of Piraeus with some surrounding suburbs as well as the islands of Salamis, Aegina and Angistri came from the prefecture of Attica, from the prefecture of Argolis Trizinia and the islands of Poros, Hydra and Spetses, from the then prefecture of Laconia the islands of Kythira and Andikythira Piraeus closed. In 1972, this area fell back to the prefecture of Attica, but received - next to Athens, West and East Attica - the status of a district (Greek diamerisma ). From 1995, the prefecture districts of Piraeus and Athens were merged to form the Athens-Piraeus super-prefecture. With the administrative reform in 2010 , the prefectures were abolished; their competencies were transferred to the municipalities and the now self-administered region of Attica. The area was divided into the two regional districts (singular Greek periferiaki enotita ) Piraeus (the mainland area in Attica) and islands (the areas in the Peloponnese and the islands), which, however, apart from the allocation of seats for the regional council, have no political significance.

geography

The prefectural district stretched from its capital Piraeus in the north to the island of Andikythira in the south , located between the Peloponnese and Crete , and exceeded all other Greek prefectures with its north-south extension of 240 km.

Municipalities 1997–2010

The prefectural district of Piraeus included

• the big city of Piraeus (1)

with their suburbs

• Agios Ioannis Rendis (2),
• Drapetsona (5),
• Keratsini (6),
• Korydallos (7),
• Nikea (10),
• Perama (11),

the islands of the Saronic Gulf

• Salamis with the municipalities of Salamina (13) and Ambelakia (4),
• Aegina (3),
• Angistri (17),
• Poros (12),
• Hydra (16) and
• Spetses (14)

including the communities on the Peloponnese

• Trizina (15) and
• the Methana peninsula (9),

as well as the islands southeast of the Peloponnese

• Kythira (8) and
• Andikythira (18).

While Piraeus with its suburbs is urban and industrial, the islands are primarily of interest to tourists, the areas in the Peloponnese are still more agricultural.

Population and history

As the port of Athens, Piraeus already occupied an important strategic position in ancient times. The Battle of Salamis in 480 BC was a decisive turning point in the Persian Wars.

In the 20th century, industrialization and the exodus from the countryside, which was intensified by the invasion of refugees from Asia Minor, changed the face of the port city and its surroundings.

The southern parts of the prefectural district, which are dominated by agriculture and tourism, are more closely connected to Piraeus than to the closer Peloponnese, despite the fact that they are sometimes far away, thanks to regular ship and ferry connections .

The strong structural differences are clear from the different population density: In Piraeus it is over 16,000 inhabitants per km², in Andikythira less than 2 inhabitants per km².

politics

The prefectural district was represented by a 37-member prefectural council. In the 2006 elections, the socialist PASOK achieved an absolute majority.

Giannis Michas ( Γιάννης Μίχας , * 1954, shipbuilder and painter), PASOK , has been prefect since 2002 .

The island of Kythira also had a three-member provincial council (Greek Επαρχιακό Συμβούλιο ).

Individual evidence

1. ↑ The population figures come from a brochure of the Greek Ministry of the Interior from May 2010 on the occasion of the administrative reform under the 'Kallikratis Law': Elliniki Dimokratia, Ypourgeio Esoterikon, Apokendrosis ke Ilektronikis Diakyvernisis: "Programma Kallikratis", Systasi, syngrotisi Dimon, Periferion ke Apikokendromenon ti Nea Architektoniki tis Aftodiikisis ke tis Apokendromenis Diikisis, Athens 2010.
2. ↑ Law Gazette of October 30, 1964 , Greek, PDF (456 kB)
3. ↑ Law Gazette of May 8, 1972 , Greek, PDF (402 kB)
4. ↑ Source: National Statistical Service of Greece (ΕΣΥΕ), ( [1] p. 44)
5. ↑ Election results ( Memento of the original from May 22, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on the website of the Greek Ministry of the Interior 

Web links

• Official Website (Greek)