Agrinio

---

title: "Agrinio" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["agrinio", "cities-in-ancient-greece", "aetolia", "populated-places-in-aetolia-acarnania"] description: "City in Greece" topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agrinio" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary City in Greece ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox Greek Dimos"]

Field	Value
name	Agrinio
name_local	Αγρίνιο
type	municipality
image_map	2011 Dimos Agriniou.png
periph	Western Greece
periphunit	Aetolia-Acarnania
pop_municipality	89691
area_municipality	1229.33
pop_municunit	60609
area_municunit	162.73
pop_community	50690
population_as_of	2021
elevation	91
coordinates
postal_code	301 00
area_code	26410
licence	ΑΙ
mayor	Georgios Papanastasiou
party	New Democracy
since	2014
website	https://agrinio.gov.gr/
image_skyline	Agioschristoforosagrinio.jpg
caption_skyline	Aerial view of the city with the Saint Christopher church in the center
city_seal	Agrinio Siegel.png
::

|name = Agrinio |name_local = Αγρίνιο |type = municipality |image_map = 2011 Dimos Agriniou.png |periph = Western Greece |periphunit = Aetolia-Acarnania |pop_municipality = 89691 |area_municipality = 1229.33 |pop_municunit = 60609 |area_municunit = 162.73 |pop_community = 50690 |population_as_of = 2021 |elevation = 91 |coordinates = |postal_code = 301 00 |area_code = 26410 |licence = ΑΙ |mayor = Georgios Papanastasiou |party = New Democracy |since = 2014 |website = https://agrinio.gov.gr/ |image_skyline = Agioschristoforosagrinio.jpg |caption_skyline = Aerial view of the city with the Saint Christopher church in the center |city_flag = |city_seal = Agrinio Siegel.png |districts = Agrinio (Greek: Αγρίνιο, ) 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 km 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.

History

Antiquity

Main article: Agrinium

According to mythology, the ancient city of Agrinion (or Agrinium), situated in the area of Megali Chora, was built by king Agrios, son of Portheus and a great-grandson of Aetolos (king of Plevron and Calydon) around 1600–1100 BC.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Saint_John_church_in_Dafnias,_Agrinio,_Greece.jpg" caption="Saint John church in Dafnias, Agrinio, Greece" alt=""] ::

The town, built near the banks of river Achelous (the natural border between Aetolia and Acarnania), was claimed by both states during ancient times. Agrinio became member of the Aetolian League and it was later destroyed by Cassander in 314 BC during the League's wars against the Kingdom of Macedonia.

Ottoman era

The city reappeared during the Ottoman period with the name Vrachori and apart from its Greek population it was also inhabited by many Turks (Muslims). In 1585 it was deserted during the revolt of Theodoros Migas. At the beginning of the 18th century, it became the administrative centre of Aetolia-Acarnania (then as the sanjak of Karleli), depended on the imperial harems. Vrachori participated in the Greek Revolution and was temporarily liberated, by an army group led by Alexakis Vlachopoulos, on 11 June 1821. In August 1822, while Reşid Mehmed Pasha's (Kütahi) troops were marching towards Vrachori, its citizens decided to burn and evacuate their city, following the strategy of scorched earth. The deserted city was recaptured by the Turks. The city was finally included in the borders of the newborn Greek state permanently in 1832 with the Treaty of Constantinople (9 July 1832) and was renamed after its ancient name, Agrinion.[[File:Kentriki xoris logotypo.jpg|thumb|Christmas Central Square|240x240px|left]]

Modern era

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/Agrinio,_Etolio-Acarnania_Prefecture,Greece-_city_by_evening.jpg" caption="Epirus]] and [[Evrytania]]."] ::

During the Interwar period, in spite of economical crisis, works of infrastructure took place in the city, like the paving of streets and the installation of electricity, and a water tower was installed in 1930. At the same time excavations revealed the ancient city of Agrinion. Growth and prosperity returned after World War II and the Greek Civil War. This growth was boosted by the building of two major hydroelectric dam installations at Kremasta and Kastraki, on the north of the city. The tobacco industry and olive tree cultivation became the main income sources of the city.

Geography

Geology

The area, like nearly all of Greece is prone to earthquakes. On 10 April 2007, the city was struck by several earthquakes, with their epicenter located in the nearby Lake Trichonis on the southeast of the city. The first earthquake rumbled at around 2:20 AM, the second around 6:15 AM, three earthquakes shook at 10:13, 10:14 and 10:15 AM, and the last one at around 13:45 PM, they measured between 5.0 and 5.7 on the Richter scale. Residents reported that the buildings and its glasses were shaking and rumbling. Minor damages were reported without any victims.

Climate

The climate of Agrinio is Mediterranean (Csa) according to the Köppen climate classification, with a large amount of rainfall during the winter, just as the rest of Western Greece, and high daytime temperatures during the relatively dry summer, sometimes over 40 °C.

| location = Agrinio, 24 m asl (1956–2010) | single line = Yes | metric first = Yes | Jan high C = 13.6 | Feb high C = 14.4 | Mar high C = 17.0 | Apr high C = 20.8 | May high C = 26.2 | Jun high C = 30.8 | Jul high C = 33.5 | Aug high C = 33.8 | Sep high C = 29.6 | Oct high C = 24.4 | Nov high C = 19.0 | Dec high C = 14.8 | year high C = 23.2 | Jan mean C = 8.3 | Feb mean C = 9.1 | Mar mean C = 11.6 | Apr mean C = 15.3 | May mean C = 20.5 | Jun mean C = 25.0 | Jul mean C = 27.4 | Aug mean C = 27.1 | Sep mean C = 22.9 | Oct mean C = 18.0 | Nov mean C = 13.2 | Dec mean C = 9.6 | year mean C = 17.3 | Jan low C = 3.4 | Feb low C = 3.9 | Mar low C = 5.6 | Apr low C = 8.3 | May low C = 12.4 | Jun low C = 15.8 | Jul low C = 17.7 | Aug low C = 17.9 | Sep low C = 15.1 | Oct low C = 11.6 | Nov low C = 8.0 | Dec low C = 5.0 | year low C = 10.4 | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation mm = 114.7 | Feb precipitation mm = 105.5 | Mar precipitation mm = 80.6 | Apr precipitation mm = 62.0 | May precipitation mm = 41.0 | Jun precipitation mm = 21.1 | Jul precipitation mm = 15.2 | Aug precipitation mm = 17.0 | Sep precipitation mm = 52.5 | Oct precipitation mm = 100.2 | Nov precipitation mm = 154.4 | Dec precipitation mm = 154.5 | year precipitation mm = | Jan humidity = 76.2 | Feb humidity = 73.8 | Mar humidity = 70.4 | Apr humidity = 68.0 | May humidity = 62.7 | Jun humidity = 57.2 | Jul humidity = 55.1 | Aug humidity = 56.3 | Sep humidity = 64.3 | Oct humidity = 70.9 | Nov humidity = 78.6 | Dec humidity = 79.1 | year humidity = 67.7 | Jan precipitation days = 12.9 | Feb precipitation days = 12.4 | Mar precipitation days = 12.4 | Apr precipitation days = 11.2 | May precipitation days = 8.6 | Jun precipitation days = 4.9 | Jul precipitation days = 2.9 | Aug precipitation days = 3.1 | Sep precipitation days = 6.2 | Oct precipitation days = 9.6 | Nov precipitation days = 12.9 | Dec precipitation days = 15.5 | year precipitation days = 112.6 | Jan sun = 126.9 | Feb sun = 132.4 | Mar sun = 173.5 | Apr sun = 201.7 | May sun = 261.4 | Jun sun = 325.1 | Jul sun = 360.1 | Aug sun = 330.0 | Sep sun = 259.9 | Oct sun = 196.4 | Nov sun = 140.7 | Dec sun = 117.2 | year sun = 2625.3 | source 1 = | date = November 2011 | source = HNMS, 1956-1997 sunlight

Transportation

The main roads passing through Agrinio are the Greek National Road 5/E55 (Arta – Agrinio – Missolonghi) and the Greek National Road 38/E952 (Thermo – Agrinio – Karpenisi). Since 2009, the A5 motorway bypasses Agrinio to the west.[[File:Agrinio-center.jpg|thumb|200x200px|Central square]]

Agrinio's airport is located near the city, in the area of Dokimi. IATA code: AGQ, ICAO: LGAG. The airport hosts the Agrinion aeroclub Agrinion Aeroclub, website.

Municipality

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/2010_Dimos_Agriniou.svg" caption="Agrinio municipality map."] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3c/DE_Agriniou.svg" caption="Government Gazette]]}}"] ::

• Agrinio
• Angelokastro
• Arakynthos
• Makryneia
• Neapoli
• Panaitoliko
• Parakampylia
• Paravola
• Stratos
• Thestieis

The municipality has an area of 1229.330 km2, the municipal unit 162.728 km2.

Subdivisions

The municipal unit (former municipality) of Agrinio consists of the following communities:

• Agios Konstantinos
• Agios Nikolaos Trichonidos
• Agrinio
• Dokimi
• Kalyvia
• Kamaroula
• Skoutesiada

The city of Agrinio consists of the main city and the outlying villages Agios Ioannis Riganas, Akropotamos, Bouzi, Giannouzi, Diamanteika, Eleftheria, Lefka, Liagkaiika, Pyrgi, Schinos and Strongylaiika.

City seal

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Αρχαίο_θέατρο_Στράτου.jpg" caption="Stratos]] ancient theater]]The city's official seal includes a characteristic moment of the ancient Greek mythology. More specifically, the seal depicts [[Hercules]] fighting the river god [[Achelous]]. According to the myth, Hercules fought against the river god for the sake of Diianira, the princess of [[Calydon]], which both of them wanted as a wife. Despite Achelous' transformations, Hercules managed to win the battle and married the princess. According to [[Strabo]], the myth symbolises the struggle of ancient Aetolians to control the river's power with embankments, by which the river was confined to its bed and thus the area gained large tracts of land for cultivation."] ::

Historical population

::data[format=table]

Year	Town	Municipal unit	Municipality
1971	32,190	39,667	-
1981	35,773	45,087	-
1991	39,638	52,081	-
2001	42,390	54,523	-
2011	48,645	59,329	94,181
2021	50,690	60,609	89,691
::

Landmarks

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/Garganta_de_Kleisoura.JPG" caption="The gorge of Kleisoura."] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Lysimachia_Lake,_Etoloakarnania,Greece-_View_upon_the_lake_with_the_city_of_Agrinio_in_the_background.jpg" caption="[[Lysimachia Lake"] ::

• The Archaeological Museum of Agrinion, located in the city center, at 1-2 Diamantis Street. website
• The neoclassical buildings of the tobacco storehouses Papastratos and Papapetrou, which date from the early 20th century.
• The Papastrateio Municipal Park.
• The Papastratios Municipal Library.
• The Dimokratias Square, the main square of the city.
• The remains of the Church of the Holy Trinity of Mavrika (8th-9th century), situated at the banks of lake Lysimachia.
• Lakes Trichonida and Lysimachia.
• The ancient city of Stratos.
• The gorge of Kleisoura, on the old national road, 15 km south of the city.
• The hydroelectric dams of Kremasta, Kastraki and Stratos.

Mayors

• Georgios Baibas (1899–1907)
• Andreas Panagopoulos (1925–1934 and 1951–1952)
• Dimitrios Votsis (1934–1941)
• Anastasios Panagopoulos (1964–1967)
• Stelios Tsitsimelis (1975–1986)
• Giannis Vainas (1986–1994)
• Thimios Sokos (1994–2006)
• Pavlos Moscholios (2006–2014)
• Georgios Papanastasiou (2014–present)

Famous citizens

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/255_2_Danglis.jpg" caption="[[Panagiotis Danglis"] ::

• Stratos Apostolakis (1964) – footballer
• Petros Michos (1959) – footballer
• Kostas Chatzopoulos (1868–1920) – poet
• Christos Garoufalis (1959) – writer
• Katia Gerou – actress
• Panagiotis Danglis (1853–1924) – general and politician
• Filipos Darlas (1983) – footballer
• Maria Dimadi (1907–1944) – resistance fighter
• Petros Fyssoun (1933) – actor
• Panos Kaponis (Caponis) (1947) – poet & writer
• Christos Kapralos (1909–1993) – artist
• Michalis Kousis (1953–2005) – Marathon runner
• Aristidis Moschos (1930–2001) – musician
• Pythagoras Papastamatiou (1930–1979) – writer
• Thodoros (1931–2018) – sculptor
• Evangelos Papastratos (1910–1988) – industrialist and benefactor of Agrinio
• Loukia Pistiola – actress
• Yiannis Yfantis (1949) – poet
• Kostis Maraveyas (1974) – singer and composer
• Spiros and Eleni Tsiknia – Benefactors of Agrinio
• – Greek army officer

Sporting teams

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/08/Panetolikos_Stadium_2006.jpg" caption="[[Panetolikos Stadium"] ::

• Panetolikos– Super League Greece
• Gymnastiki Etairia Agriniou (G.E.A.)
• A.O. Agriniou
• Ionikos 80 Volleyball
• Nautikos Omilos
• Asteras Agriniou
• PAO Agriniou
• Panagriniakos

Gallery

File:Kalydon Aetolias 01.JPG|The ancient theatre of Calydon near Evinochori File:Agiatriada.JPG|Agia Triada Maurika Byzantine church File:Agrinio-center.jpg|Central square, Κεντρική Πλατεία Αγρινίου (Dimokratias square) AGRINIO XAR TRIKOUPI.jpg|Charilaou Trikoupi street File:Agr mouseio.jpg|Agrinio Archaeological museum File:Agrinio railway station.jpg|Old railway station File:AGRINIO REGION.jpg|Rural area in the municipality of Agrinio File:Trichonida lake.jpg|Trichonida Lake File:Ruins of Voukatio castle.jpg|Voukatio castle, Paravola File:Πλατεία Χατζοπούλου.jpg|Hatzopoulou Square File:Saint John church in Dafnias, Agrinio, Greece.jpg|Saint John church, Dafnias File:Ευαγγελισμός της Θεοτόκου Οχθίων Ακαρνανίας. - panoramio.jpg|Annunciation church File:Agia Triada Maurika. Agrinio, Aitoloakarnania, Greece.jpg|Agia Triada Maurika (another angle)

References

References

1. [https://ekloges.ypes.gr/current/d/home/en/municipalities/9123/ Municipality of Agrinio, Municipal elections – October 2023], Ministry of Interior
2. Gerasimos Papatrehas, "The history of Agrinion", Municipality of Agrinion, 1991
3. "Κλιματικά Δεδομένα ανά Πόλη- ΜΕΤΕΩΓΡΑΜΜΑΤΑ, ΕΜΥ, Εθνική Μετεωρολογική Υπηρεσία".
4. "HNMS".
5. "ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities". [[Government Gazette (Greece).
6. "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)". National Statistical Service of Greece.

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