Drapetsona

Drapetsona (Greek: Δραπετσώνα) is a suburb and a former municipality in the southwestern part of the Athens agglomeration, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Keratsini-Drapetsona, of which it is a municipal unit.[2]

Drapetsona

Δραπετσώνα
Port of Drapetsona
Drapetsona
Location within the regional unit
Coordinates: 37°56.8′N 23°37.5′E
CountryGreece
Administrative regionAttica
Regional unitPiraeus
MunicipalityKeratsini-Drapetsona
 • Municipal unit1.725 km2 (0.666 sq mi)
Elevation
20 m (70 ft)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Municipal unit
13,968
 • Municipal unit density8,100/km2 (21,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
186 xx
Area code(s)210
Vehicle registrationZ

Geography

Drapetsona is situated on the north side of the inlet to the Port of Piraeus. The northwestern part of the port is on the territory of Drapetsona. Drapetsona lies 1.5 km west of Piraeus, and 10 km southwest of Athens city centre. The municipal unit has an area of 1.725 km2.[3] Its built-up area is continuous with those of neighbouring cities of Piraeus and Keratsini.

History

In 1805 the first church, Saint Dionysios was built. In the 1830s Drapetsona was constituted of people who moved from Greek islands and settled near Saint Dionysios church in the area called Vourla. In 1834 a part of the region was given to Piraeus in order to become a cemetery under the term of churches’ reconstruction. Also a great number of brothels was established in 1873 to the west of Saint Dionysios. After the 1922 Asia Minor Catastrophe there was a notable population increase.

Drapetsona was part of the municipality of Piraeus until 1950, when it became a separate community. It was elevated to municipality status in 1951.[4]

Since 19th century Drapetsona has become an important part of the Piraeus industrial area. The first major port facility was the Vasileiadis Shipyard, founded in 1898. Subsequently, other industries were established: a fertilizer factory, a plaster factory, a cement factory, a tannery and more recently installations of petroleum companies (Shell, Mobil, BP).

Drapetsona

There are plans to redevelop a 64 hectares (160 acres) section of the Drapetsona seafront on the Saronic Gulf for tourism and water sports. The plans include a Maritime Business Centre and two marinas.

"Drapetsona" is also the subject of a popular rebetiko song performed by folk singer Grigoris Bithikotsis in 1961 (Politia Vol.1).[5]

Historical population
YearMunicipality
198114,767
199113,094
200113,399
201113,968

References
  1. "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
  2. Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (in Greek)
  3. "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-21.
  4. "EETAA local government changes". Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  5. (in Greek) Δραπετσώνα 1960: Η μάχη της παράγκας και η ιστορία ενός τραγουδιού. Pandiera.gr. Δεκ 13, 2016. Retrieved: 28 June, 2018.
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