Gevgelija
| Gevgelija Гевгелија | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Town | |||
|
Gevgelija town centre | |||
| |||
| Nickname(s): Macedonian Las Vegas[1] | |||
  Gevgelija Location within Macedonia | |||
| Coordinates: 41°8′25″N 22°30′10″E / 41.14028°N 22.50278°ECoordinates: 41°8′25″N 22°30′10″E / 41.14028°N 22.50278°E | |||
| 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
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
- ↑ Makedonski Las Vegas (in Serbian). Politika. Mile Radenković; 21-01-2008
- ↑ Macedonian census, language and religion
- ↑ Stalna konferencija gradova i opština. Retrieved on 2007-06-18.
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