Thessaloniki metropolitan area
The Thessaloniki metropolitan area, has traditionally consisted of the municipality of Thessaloniki and its immediate surroundings. However, since the mid to late 1990s, the area has succumbed to urban sprawl. What used to be agrarian communities are rapidly urbanizing and being developed into suburbs. This is creating new problems for a region already facing issues such as pollution, congestion, and social ills.
Scope of the Area
The municipalities that have been historically associated with the Thessaloniki metropolitan area, have been Thessaloniki, Kalamaria, Evosmos, Stavroupoli, Ampelokipoi, Sykies, Polichni, Neapoli, Pylaia, Eleftherio-Kordelio, Menemeni, Triandria, Agios Pavlos and the community of Efkarpia, in descending order of population.
However, with urban sprawl, more municipalities are being interconnected with the growing region. The region now consists of all the traditional areas noted above as well as the newly emerging suburbs to the east and south of the city. Also, the industrial areas to the west are becoming more interwoven with the fabric of the city as new infrastructure encroaches on these areas.
Two old suburbs that are increasingly coalescing into the metropolitan area, due to its expansion and new transportation networks are those of Oraiokastro and Panorama. Oraiokastro has traditionally been a middle class suburb. Panorama has been a more upscale suburb.
The main eastern and southern suburbs include Thermi, Asvestohori, Epanomi, Perea, Kardia, Plagiari, Trilofos. The western expansion includes Echedoros, and Sindos.
Demographics
The municipalities to the west of Thessaloniki are increasingly becoming home to new immigrants and are predominantly working class areas. The newly emerging suburbs to the east are where the vast majority of the middle income residents are moving to. Many of these suburbs are seeing rapid growth and development, and infrastructure is not keeping pace.
Growth Issues
Throughout much of the metropolitan area, one will see a lack of drainage, sidewalks, and sewage disposal. There is one sewage treatment plant for the entire metropolitan area, whose capacity is one million residents. It is very likely that that mark has been surpassed since the last census.
Population of the Area
By far the largest municipality is Thessaloniki. The table below lists population from the 2001 Census.
| Municipality | Population |
|---|---|
| Thessaloniki | 385,406 |
| Kalamaria | 90,096 |
| Evosmos | 54,825 |
| Stavroupoli | 43,576 |
| Ampelokipon | 43,016 |
| Sykies | 42,787 |
| Polihni | 37,569 |
| Neapoli | 31,830 |
| Ehethorou | 23,565 |
| Pylaias | 22,928 |
| Eleftherio-Kordelio | 22,349 |
| Thermaikou | 19,802 |
| Thermi | 16,014 |
| Menemeni | 15,133 |
| Panorama | 14,456 |
| Oraiokastron | 11,987 |
| Triandria | 11,750 |
| Mikras | 10,146 |
| Agios Pavlos | 8,192 |
| Epanomi | 8,138 |
| Efkarpia | 6,442 |
| Total | 920,007 |