Sofades
Encyclopedia
Sofades is a town and municipality in Thessaly
, central Greece
belonging to the peripheral unit of Karditsa. Its 2001 census population was 6,106 people and 23,043 for the municipality, including a large Roma minority. Its elevation is around 120 m above sea level, and the economy is mainly agricultural (cotton, corn). It is the only municipality that has one municipal district with settlements. Sofades is located south of Palamas
, southwest of Larissa
, the capital of Thessaly, northwest of Lamia
and southeast of Karditsa
and Trikala
. Sofades is on GR-30
(Karditsa - Domokos
- Volos
) as well as the road between Mataragka and Palamas. It is on the OSE railway line linking Kalambaka and the main line and has a station.
The modern town is very close to the site of the ancient city of Kierion (Κιέριον) or Cierium, one of the most important cities of ancient Thessaly
. The name "Sofades" was first recorded as "Sofou" (Σοφού) around 1454-5 AD. The Greek inhabitants of the region are commonly known as Karagounides (Καραγκούνηδες).
Much of the area is hilly and consists of farmland and woodland. Mountains lie to the south and east. A river flows to the north.
Thessaly
Thessaly is a traditional geographical region and an administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name. Before the Greek Dark Ages, Thessaly was known as Aeolia, and appears thus in Homer's Odyssey....
, central Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
belonging to the peripheral unit of Karditsa. Its 2001 census population was 6,106 people and 23,043 for the municipality, including a large Roma minority. Its elevation is around 120 m above sea level, and the economy is mainly agricultural (cotton, corn). It is the only municipality that has one municipal district with settlements. Sofades is located south of Palamas
Palamas
Palamas is a town and a municipality in the Karditsa Prefecture, Greece. Population 10,050 . Palamas is located south-southwest of Larissa, the capital of Thessaly, northwest of Lamia, north of Sofades, east-northeast of Karditsa and east-southeast of Trikala. Palamas is linked with the road...
, southwest of Larissa
Larissa
Larissa is the capital and biggest city of the Thessaly region of Greece and capital of the Larissa regional unit. It is a principal agricultural centre and a national transportation hub, linked by road and rail with the port of Volos, the city of Thessaloniki and Athens...
, the capital of Thessaly, northwest of Lamia
Lamia (city)
Lamia is a city in central Greece. The city has a continuous history since antiquity, and is today the capital of the regional unit of Phthiotis and of the Central Greece region .-Name:...
and southeast of Karditsa
Karditsa
Karditsa is a city in western Thessaly in mainland Greece. The city of Karditsa is the capital of Karditsa peripheral unit.Inhabitation is attested from 9000 BCE. Karditsa ls linked with GR-30, the road to Karpenisi, and the road to Palamas and Larissa...
and Trikala
Trikala
Trikala is a city in northwestern Thessaly, Greece. It is the capital of the Trikala peripheral unit, and is located NW of Athens, NW, of Karditsa, E of Ioannina and Metsovo, S of Grevena, SW of Thessaloniki, and W of Larissa...
. Sofades is on GR-30
Greek National Road 30
The Greek National Road 30 is a highway or route that links the cities of Volos, Karditsa, Trikala and Arta.-Information:...
(Karditsa - Domokos
Domokos
Domokos is a town and a municipality in Phthiotis, Greece. The town Domokos is the seat of the municipality of Domokos and of the former Domokos Province...
- Volos
Volos
Volos is a coastal port city in Thessaly situated midway on the Greek mainland, about 326 km north of Athens and 215 km south of Thessaloniki...
) as well as the road between Mataragka and Palamas. It is on the OSE railway line linking Kalambaka and the main line and has a station.
The modern town is very close to the site of the ancient city of Kierion (Κιέριον) or Cierium, one of the most important cities of ancient Thessaly
Thessaly
Thessaly is a traditional geographical region and an administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name. Before the Greek Dark Ages, Thessaly was known as Aeolia, and appears thus in Homer's Odyssey....
. The name "Sofades" was first recorded as "Sofou" (Σοφού) around 1454-5 AD. The Greek inhabitants of the region are commonly known as Karagounides (Καραγκούνηδες).
Much of the area is hilly and consists of farmland and woodland. Mountains lie to the south and east. A river flows to the north.
Municipality
The municipality Sofades was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 5 former municipalities, that became municipal units:- ArniArni, KarditsaArni is a former municipality in the Karditsa peripheral unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Sofades, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 3,299 . The seat of the municipality was in Mataragka....
- MenelaidaMenelaidaMenelaida is a former municipality in the Karditsa peripheral unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Sofades, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 2,701 . The seat of the municipality was in Kedros....
- RentinaRentina, KarditsaRentina is a village and a former municipality in the Karditsa peripheral unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Sofades, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 756 ....
- Sofades
- TamasioTamasioTamasio is a former municipality in the Karditsa peripheral unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Sofades, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 4,072 . The seat of the municipality was in Leontari....
Subdivisions
The municipal unit of Sofades is divided into the following communities:- Agia Paraskevi
- Agios Vissarios
- Ampelos
- Anogeio
- Dasochori
- Filia
- Gefyria
- Kappadokiko
- Karpochori
- Mascholouri
- Melissochori
- Paschalitsa
- Sofades (Sofades, Tavropos)
Population
| Year | Town population | Municipal district population | Municipality population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 5,078 | - | - |
| 1991 | 5,415 | - | - |
| 2001 | 6,045 | 6,106 | 12,215 |