Vlorë County

Vlorë County
Qarku Vlorë
County

Narta Lagoon

Seal

Location of Vlorë County within Albania.
Coordinates: 40°10′N 19°45′E / 40.167°N 19.750°E / 40.167; 19.750Coordinates: 40°10′N 19°45′E / 40.167°N 19.750°E / 40.167; 19.750
Country  Albania
Municipalities 7
Villages 197
Established 2000
County Seat Vlorë
Area
 • Total 2,706 km2 (1,045 sq mi)
Population (2011 census)
 • Total 175,640
 • Density 65/km2 (170/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
ISO 3166 code AL-12
Website http://www.qarkuvlore.gov.al/

Vlorë County (Albanian: Qarku i Vlorës) is one of the 12 counties of Albania. The population at the 2011 census was 175,640, in an area of 2706 km².[1] Its capital is the city Vlorë.

Names

The modern name for Vlorë is the Albanian form Vlorë or Vlora, pronounced [ˈvlɔɾə], while in the Gheg Albanian dialect it is known as Vlonë.[2] Vlorë was created in antiquity as a Greek colony in the territory of Illyria. Its first name, still used today in Greece, is Aulón (Greek: Αυλών), which means valley and may have been a reinterpretation of a pre-Greek name.[3] In early 20th century, Vlorë was referred to in English as Avlona or by the Italian name Valona.[4] During the Ottoman era, the Turkish name Avlonya was also used.[5]

History

In antiquity the region was inhabited by the Illyrian tribe of the Chaonians. The Ancient Greeks developed the town of Sarandë which they referred to as Onchesmos (or Anchiasmos)[6][7][8] Onchesmos flourished as the port of the Chaonian capital of Phoenice[9][10] (modern-day Finiq). Further north another Chaonian settlement was founded, Himarë,[11] while the Corinthians found the colony of Aulon at the bay of Vlorë. Additional ancient settlements in the region included Thronium, Amantia, Oricum.

In the Middle Ages, the region was part of the Byzantine Empire, while during the Slavic invasion there is evidence the Byzantine rule was maintained in the area.[12]

In 1204 the region became part of the Despotate of Epirus but returned to the Byzantine Empire. In 1335 Albanian tribes descended south and were in possession of the area between Berat and the bay of Vlore,[13] while in 1345 after the Serbian invasion an independent principality was formed in Vlorë.

In the middle of the 14th century the aristocratic Delvina family ruled Delvinë and in 1354, Mehmet Ali Pasha Delvina was testified as the owner of the castle and the city.

Geography

Vlorë County is located in the south of Albania and forms the Albanian Riviera. The southeastern part of the county borders Greece. The county has a total area of 2,706 km2 (1,044.8 sq mi).[1] The three main cities are Vlorë, Sarandë and Delvinë.

Administrative divisions

Until 2000, Vlorë County was subdivided into three districts: Delvinë, Sarandë, and Vlorë. Since the 2015 local government reform, the county consists of the following 7 municipalities: Delvinë, Finiq, Himarë, Konispol, Sarandë, Selenicë and Vlorë.[14] Before 2015, it consisted of the following 26 municipalities:

The municipalities consist of about 200 towns and villages in total. See Villages of Vlorë County for a structured list.

Demographics

According to the last national census from 2011 this county has 175,640 inhabitants.[1] The census results, have been widely disputed due to irregularities in the procedure and affected by boycott.[15][16][17] It counted the following numbers in the county per ethnic group:[1]

Economy

Beach in Vlora

The city of Vlorë remains a major seaport and commercial centre, with a significant fishing and industrial sector. The county produces petroleum, natural gas, bitumen and salt.

Vlorë County has grown in importance in agriculture with very large-scale planting of olive and fruit trees, and the city has become center of the food processing, oil and bitumen export industries. The county is mainly agricultural and pastoral, producing oats, maize, cotton, olive oil, cattle, sheep, skins, hides and butter. These commodities are exported.

Tourism has become a major industry in recent years, with many hotels, recreational centers, and vast beaches.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 2011 census results
  2. ↑ The New Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. 1974. p. 479. ISBN 0-85229-290-2.
  3. ↑ ,google book reference: Placenames of the World: Origins and Meanings of the Names for 6,600 Countries, Cities, Territories, Natural Features, and Historic Sites By Adrian Room Published by McFarland, 2005 ISBN 978-0-7864-2248-7, 433 pages
  4. ↑ Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th edition (1911), "Avlona" article.
  5. ↑ Gawrych, G. W. (2006). The crescent and the eagle: Ottoman rule, Islam and the Albanians, 1874-1913. I.B.Tauris. p. 23. ISBN 978-1-84511-287-5. Google Book Search. Retrieved on August 25, 2009.
  6. ↑ Strabo, The Geography, Book VII, Chapter 7.5: "...these mountains one comes to Onchesmus, another harbor, opposite which lie the western extremities of Corcyraea."
  7. ↑ Bowden, William. Epirus Vetus: The Archaeology of a Late Antique Province. London: Duckworth, 2003, ISBN 0-7156-3116-0, p. 14. "Anchiasmos (Onchesmos)"
  8. ↑ Hodges, Richard. Saranda - Ancient Onchesmos: A Short History and Guide. Butrint Foundation, 2007. ISBN 99943-943-6-3
  9. ↑ Talbert, Richard J.A. and Bagnall, Roger S. Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World, 2000, p. 815. "harbor, cape or town in Epirus between Onchesmos and Bouthroton."
  10. ↑ Eidinow, Esther. Oracles, Curses, and Risk Among the Ancient Greeks. Oxford University Press, 2007. ISBN 0-19-927778-8 "Onchesmos was the principal port of Phoinike, the capital of Chaonia,..."
  11. ↑ An Inventory of Archaic and Classical Poleis: An Investigation Conducted by The Copenhagen Polis Centre for the Danish National Research Foundation by Mogens Herman Hansen, 2005, page 340.
  12. ↑ Winnifrith Tom. Shattered eagles, Balkan fragments. Duckworth, 1995, ISBN 978-0-7156-2635-1, p. 102
  13. ↑ Nicholas Geoffrey Lemprière Hammond. Migrations and invasions in Greece and adjacent areas. Noyes Press, 1976, ISBN 978-0-8155-5047-1, p. 61 "By 1335 they were in possession also of the area between Berat and the Gulf of Valona"
  14. ↑ Law nr. 115/2014
  15. ↑ "Final census findings lead to concerns over accuracy". Tirana Times. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  16. ↑ Likmeta, Besar. "Albania Moves Ahead With Disputed Census". Balkaninsight. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  17. ↑ "Three Albanian journalists awarded with "World at 7 Billion Prize"". United Nations (Albania). Retrieved 26 May 2014. ...the controversial CENSUS data

Further Reading

External links

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