Nea Ionia (Greek: Νέα Ιωνία, meaning New Ionia) is a town and a northern suburb of the Athens agglomeration, Greece, and a municipality of the Attica region. It was named after Ionia, the region in Anatolia from which many Greeks migrated in the 1920s as a part of the population exchange between Greece and Turkey. Many of the town families originated from the town of Alanya which is currently a part of Turkey.

Nea Ionia
Νέα Ιωνία
Nea Ionia is located in Greece
Nea Ionia
Nea Ionia
Location within the region
Coordinates: 38°2′N 23°45′E / 38.033°N 23.750°E / 38.033; 23.750
CountryGreece
Administrative regionAttica
Regional unitNorth Athens
Government
 • MayorPanagiotis Manouris[1] (since 2023)
Area
 • Municipality4.421 km2 (1.707 sq mi)
Elevation
130 m (430 ft)
Population
 (2021)[2]
 • Municipality64,611
 • Density15,000/km2 (38,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
142 xx
Area code(s)210
Vehicle registrationZ
Websiteneaionia.gr

Nea Ionia is 7 km northeast of Athens city centre. The municipality has an area of 4.421 km2.[3] It is served by three Line 1 metro stations: Nea Ionia, Pefkakia and Perissos.

History

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In the past, the area was named Podarades after Greek Revolution Hero of Albanian origin Ziliftar Poda and his followers, settled in this area.[4] The modern settlement was built after the Greco-Turkish War (1919-22) and the subsequent population exchange between Greece and Turkey in 1923.[5] That year refugees, mainly from Pisidia of Asia Minor, settled in the area. The new settlement was originally named Nea Pisidia. But later, due to the arrival of many refugees from other places of Ionia, the settlement was finally named Nea Ionia.[citation needed] The suburb developed rapidly thanks to carpet handicrafts. The refugees carried their expertise to Athens and opened important carpet handicrafts.[4][5] This branch was the main economical source for the residents of Nea Ionia for many years. Nea Ionia gradually increased its population and expanded into a large area. The suburb is composed of 13 neighborhoods: Nea Ionia (Center), Perissos, Inepoli, Pefkakia, Saframpoli, Neapoli, Eleftheroupoli, Alsoupoli, Kalogreza, Lazarou, Anthrakorihia, Irini, Omorfoklissia and Palaiologou.

Sports

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Nea Ionia is the seat of the clubs O.F. Nea Ionia (Όμιλος Φιλάθλων Νέας Ιωνίας), club founded in 1926 with achievements in handball[6] and Nea Ionia F.C. Other notable clubs are Eleftheroupoli F.C. with earlier presence in Beta Ethniki and DIKE.AS. Nea Ionia with current presence in A1 Ethniki handball. In the past there are also the important clubs PAO Saframpolis, PAO Kalogrezas and Ikaroi Neas Ionias which are inactive today.

Sport clubs based in Nea Ionia
Club Founded Sports Achievements
O.F. Nea Ionia 1926 Handball Panhellenic title in women handball
Eleftheroupoli F.C. 1929 Football Earlier presence in Beta Ethniki
Nea Ionia F.C. 1939 Football Presence in Gamma Ethniki
DIKE.AS. Nea Ionia 2004 Handball Presence in A1 handball men

Historical population

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Year Population
1981 59,202
1991 60,635
2001 66,017
2011 67,134
2021 64,611

Notable residents

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Municipality of Nea Ionia, Municipal elections – October 2023, Ministry of Interior
  2. ^ "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece.
  4. ^ a b "ΝΕΑ ΙΩΝΙΑ: "Ποδαράδες", το ταπητουργικό κέντρο της Ελλάδας". enet.gr. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  5. ^ a b "Ιστορία". neaionia.gr. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  6. ^ "Ιστορία". ofni.org.gr. Archived from the original on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
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