Gevgelija

Gevgelija
Гевгелија
Town

Gevgelija town centre

Flag
Coat of arms
Nickname(s): Macedonian Las Vegas[1]
Gevgelija

Location within Macedonia

Coordinates: 41°8′25″N 22°30′10″E / 41.14028°N 22.50278°E / 41.14028; 22.50278Coordinates: 41°8′25″N 22°30′10″E / 41.14028°N 22.50278°E / 41.14028; 22.50278
Country  Macedonia
Municipality Gevgelija Municipality
Government
 • Mayor Ivan Frangov (VMRO-DPMNE)
Elevation 60 m (200 ft)
Population (2002)
 • Total 15,685
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 1480
Area code(s) +389 34
Car plates GE

Gevgelija (Macedonian: Гевгелија; [ɡɛvˈɡɛlija]) is a town with a population of 15,685 located in the very southeast of the Republic of Macedonia along the banks of the Vardar River, situated at the country's main border with Greece (Bogorodica-Evzoni), the point which links the motorway from Skopje and three other former Yugoslav capitals (Belgrade, Zagreb and Ljubljana) with Thessaloniki. The town is the seat of Gevgelija Municipality.

Name

In Macedonian the town is called Gevgelija (Гевгелија). It is known as Gevgeli in Turkish, Gevgelí (Γευγελή) in Greek, Gevgeli (Гевгели) in Bulgarian and Đevđelija (Ђевђелија, IPA: [dʑeʋdʑělija]) in Serbian. Gevgelija is often referred to as "Macedonian Las Vegas", particularly because of the number of casinos in and around the city.

History

In the late 19th and early 20th century, Gevgelija was part of the Salonica Vilayet of the Ottoman Empire.

From 1929 to 1941, Gevgelija was part of the Vardar Banovina of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

Demographics

According to the 2002 census, the town of Gevgelija had 15,685 residents, most of whom were ethnic Macedonians.[2]

Ethnic group Number
Macedonians 15,060 (96.22%)
Serbs 292 (1.9%)
Vlachs 201 (1.3%)
Others 132 (0.8%)
Total 15,685

Geography

Gevgelija former passport stamp.

Located between the mountains Kožuf and Pajak only 70 kilometres (43 miles) from Thessaloniki and 165 km (103 mi) from Skopje, the town acts as a rail depot between the two countries, making it a central location in its region. Its position in the south of the country gives it a warm Mediterranean climate (Csa classification), making it the optimal location in the Republic of Macedonia for cultivation of fruits and vegetables such as figs, lemons, and grapes. The town is also a centre for raising silkworms, an integral part of the country's silk trade. Alongside its agriculture, Gevgelija's economy consists of a light industry sector. Tourism is growing, with a spa located in a nearby village.

Gevgelija has recently seen the construction of a number of casinos in the city itself and its surroundings.

International relations

Twin towns – Sister cities

Gevgelija is twinned with:

See also

References

  1. ↑ Makedonski Las Vegas (in Serbian). Politika. Mile Radenković; 21-01-2008
  2. ↑ Macedonian census, language and religion
  3. ↑ Stalna konferencija gradova i opština. Retrieved on 2007-06-18.
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