Gevgelija

Name

In Macedonian the town is called Gevgelija (Гевгелија). In other languages, it is known as Yevyeli (Γευγελή) in Greek, Gevgeli (Гевгели) in Bulgarian, Đevđelija (Ђевђелија, ) in Serbian and Gevgeli in Turkish. Furthermore, in Megleno-Romanian, the city is known as Ghivgheliia.

Gevgelija is known as the "Balkan Las Vegas" for its wide number of casinos.

History

In the late 19th and early 20th century, Gevgelija was part of the Salonica Vilayet of the Ottoman Empire. According to the statistics of the French geographer Alexandre Synvet, the town had a total Christian population of 290 families (1.740 people) in 1878, consisting of 35 Bulgarian Christian ones and 255 Greek Christian families. The town had also 4 Greek schools.

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

Transport

The town is served by Gevgelija railway station, outside the city limits on its eastern edge.

Demographics

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

As of 2021, the village of Gevgelija has 15,156 inhabitants and the ethnic composition was the following:

• Macedonians – 13,621
• Aromanians – 260
• Serbs – 196
• Turks – 53
• Romani – 21
• Albanians – 8
• Bosniaks – 8
• others – 134
• Person without Data – 855

Geography

Located between the mountains Kožuf and Pajak only 70 km from Thessaloniki and 165 km 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 southeast of the country gives it a warm Mediterranean climate (Csa classification), making it the optimal location in North 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.

Climate

Gevgelija has a hot-summer mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification: Csa), making it one of North Macedonia's warmer towns.

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Sports

Local football club FK Kožuf have played in the Macedonian First Football League.

International relations

Twin towns – Sister cities

Gevgelija is twinned with:

Notable people

Main article: Category:People from Gevgelija

Gallery

Gevgelija, panorama na razglednica, 1930ti.jpg|Postcard of Gevgelija, 1930s Gevgelija, skolo na razglednica od 1930ti.jpg|Postcard of Gevgelija, Primary School in 1930s Izgradba na most kaj Malosiste Gevgelisko, 1950te.jpg|The construction of the bridge near Malosiste, Gevgelija. The bridge connects the motorway Ljubljana-Gevgelija (1950s).

References

References

1. [http://www.politika.rs/rubrike/region/makedonski-las-vegas.lt.html Makedonski Las Vegas] (in Serbian). [[Politika]]. ''Mile Radenković; 21-01-2008''
3. [https://www.academia.edu/10069098 Megleno-Romanians in Gudurica: Language and Identity]
4. Dimova, Rozita. (2021). "Border Porosities". Manchester University Press.
5. (2011). "Identitäten und Imaginationen der Bevölkerung in Grenzräumen". LIT.
6. Synvet, A., [https://anemi.lib.uoc.gr/metadata/8/e/b/metadata-388-0000002.tkl Les Grecs de l'Empire ottoman: Etude statistique et ethnographique], Constantinople ("L Orient illustre") 1878, p. 50, ΑΡΒ 1366
7. According to [[Bulgarian Exarchate]] secretary Dimitar Mishev (D. M. Brancoff), in 1905 the town had a population of 4,375 Christians, consisting of 2.240 [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Patriarchist]] [[Bulgarians]] ([[Grecomans]]), 1.840 [[Bulgarian Exarchate. Exarchist Bulgarians]], 80 [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Serbian Patriarchist]] Bulgarians ([[Serbomans]]), 8 [[Bulgarian Greek Catholic Church
8. [http://www.stat.gov.mk/Publikacii/knigaX.pdf Macedonian census, language and religion]
9. (April 2023). "Total resident population of the Republic of North Macedonia by ethnic affiliation, by settlement, Census 2021".
10. link. (2012-02-06 . Retrieved on 2007-06-18.)