Gevgelija (Macedonian: Гевгелија; [ɡɛvˈɡɛlija] (listen)) is a town with a population of 15,685 located in the very southeast of the North Macedonia along the banks of the Vardar River, situated at the country's main border with Greece (Bogorodica-Evzoni), the point which links the motorway from Skopje and three regional capitals, Belgrade, Zagreb, and Sofia with Thessaloniki in Greece. The town is the seat of Gevgelija municipality.

Gevgelija Гевгелија (Macedonian)
Town
Gevgelija town centre
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname:  Macedonian Las Vegas[1]
Gevgelija Location within North Macedonia
Coordinates: 41°8′25″N 22°30′10″E
Country	North Macedonia
Region	Southeastern
Municipality	Gevgelija
Government
• Mayor	Andon Saramandov (VMRO-DPMNE)
Elevation	60 m (200 ft)
Population  (2002)
• Total	15,685
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	1480
Area code	+389 34
Car plates	GE
Website	Official Website

Name

In Macedonian the town is called Gevgelija (Гевгелија). It is known as Gevgeli (Гевгели) in Bulgarian, Gevgeli in Turkish, Đevđelija (Ђевђелија, IPA: [dʑeʋdʑělija]) in Serbian and Yevyelí (Γευγελή) in Greek.^{[citation needed]} Furthermore, in Megleno-Romanian, the city is known as Ghivgheliia.[2]

Gevgelija is known as the "Balkan Las Vegas".[3][4]

History

In the late 19th and early 20th century, Gevgelija was part of the Salonica Vilayet of the Ottoman Empire. According to the statistics of the French geographer Alexandre Synvet, the town had a total Christian population of 290 families (1.740 people) in 1878, consisting of 35 Bulgarian Christian ones and 255 Greek Christian families.[5] The town had also 4 Greek schools.[5] According to Geographers Dimitri Mishev and D. M. Brancoff, in 1905 the town had a population of 4,375 Christians, consisting of 2.240 Patriarchist Bulgarians (Grecomans), 1.840 Exarchist Bulgarians, 80 Serbian Patriarchist Bulgarians (Serbomans), 8 Uniat Bulgarians, 90 Roma people, 72 Vlachs (Megleno-Romanians), 30 Albanians and 15 Greeks.[6]

From 1929 to 1941, Gevgelija was part of the Vardar Banovina of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

Transport

The town is served by Gevgelija railway station, located outside the city limits.

Demographics

According to the 2002 census, the town of Gevgelija had 15,685 residents, most of whom were ethnic Macedonians.[7]

Geography

Located between the mountains Kožuf and Pajak only 70 kilometres (43 miles) from Thessaloniki and 165 km (103 mi) from Skopje, the town acts as a rail depot between the two countries, making it a central location in its region. Its position in the south of the country gives it a warm Mediterranean climate (Csa classification), making it the optimal location in North Macedonia for cultivation of fruits and vegetables such as figs, lemons, and grapes. The town is also a centre for raising silkworms, an integral part of the country's silk trade. Alongside its agriculture, Gevgelija's economy consists of a light industry sector. Tourism is growing, with a spa located in a nearby village.

Climate

Gevgelija has a hot-summer mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification: Csa).

Sports

Local football club FK Kožuf have played in the Macedonian First Football League.

International relations

Twin towns – Sister cities

Gevgelija is twinned with:

Notable people

Gallery

• 
  Postcard of Gevgelija, 1930s
• 
  Postcard of Gevgelija, Primary School in 1930s
• 
  The construction of the bridge near Malosiste, Gevgelija. The bridge connects the motorway Ljubljana-Gevgelija (1950s).

See also

• Vardarski Rid

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gevgelija.

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Gevgelija.

• Gevgelija Photo Essay – Photos of Gevgelija
• Official website of the municipality of Gevgelija – Website with detailed information and history of Gevgelija

На других языках

[de] Gevgelija

[ru] Гевгелия