Agrinio
Agrinio
Αγρίνιο | |
|---|---|
Aerial view of the city with the Saint Christopher church in the center | |
|
Seal | |
Agrinio | |
| Coordinates: 38°37′N 21°24′E / 38.617°N 21.400°E | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Western Greece |
| Regional unit | Aetolia-Acarnania |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Georgios Papanastasiou (New Democracy; since 2014) |
| Area | |
• Municipality | 1,229.33 km2 (474.65 sq mi) |
| • Municipal unit | 162.73 km2 (62.83 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 91 m (299 ft) |
| Population (2021) | |
• Municipality | 89,691 |
| • Density | 72.959/km2 (188.96/sq mi) |
| • Municipal unit | 60,609 |
| • Municipal unit density | 372.45/km2 (964.64/sq mi) |
| • Community | 50,690 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code | 301 00 |
| Area code | 26410 |
| Vehicle registration | ΑΙ |
| Website | https://agrinio.gov.gr/ |
Agrinio (Greek: Αγρίνιο, pronounced [aˈɣrinio]) is the largest city and municipality of the Aetolia-Acarnania regional unit of Greece, as well as the second largest city in Western Greece after Patras. It is the economic center of Aetolia-Acarnania, although its capital is the town of Mesolonghi. The settlement dates back to ancient times. Ancient Agrinion was 3 kilometres (2 miles) northeast of the present city; some walls and foundations of which have been excavated. In medieval times and until 1836, the city was known as Vrachori (Βραχώρι). According to the 2021 census, the municipality of Agrinio has a population of 89,691, of whom 50,690 live within the city limits of Agrinio.
The majority of the local population was occupied for an important period of time in the tobacco industry, from the last decades of 19th till the end of the 20th century. Big tobacco companies were founded in the city, including the famous Papastratos, alongside Panagopoulos and Papapetrou. Agrinion is also agriculturally known for its production of Agrinion olives.