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{{more citations needed|date=November 2023}}
{{use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox Greek Dimos
 |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        = {{coord|38|37|N|21|24|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
 |postal_code = 301 00
 |area_code = 26410
 |licence = ΑΙ
 |mayor              = Georgios Papanastasiou<ref name=mayor>[https://ekloges.ypes.gr/current/d/home/en/municipalities/9123/ Municipality of Agrinio, Municipal elections – October 2023], Ministry of Interior</ref>
 |party              = {{nowrap|[[New Democracy (Greece)|New Democracy]]}}
 |since              = 2014
 |website = [https://agrinio.gov.gr/agrinionews/ypiresies.php 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 language|Greek]]: Αγρίνιο, {{IPA|el|aˈɣrinio|pron}}) is the largest city of the [[Aetolia-Acarnania]] [[regional units of Greece|regional unit]] of [[Greece]] and its largest municipality, with 89,691 inhabitants (2021)<ref name="census21" /> 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 {{convert|3|km|0|abbr=off}} 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).

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 [[olive]]s.

== History ==

=== Antiquity ===
{{Main|Agrinium}}
{{further|Aetolian League}}

According to mythology, the ancient city of Agrinion (or Agrinium), situated in the area of [[Megali Chora]], was built by king [[Agrios]], son of [[Porthaon|Portheus]]<ref>Gerasimos Papatrehas, "The history of Agrinion", Municipality of Agrinion, 1991</ref> and a great-grandson of [[Aetolus (son of Endymion)|Aetolos]] (king of [[Pleuron, Aetolia|Plevron]] and [[Calydon]]) around 1600–1100 BC.

[[File:Saint John church in Dafnias, Agrinio, Greece.jpg|alt=|thumb|160x160px|Saint John church in Dafnias, Agrinio, Greece|left]]

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 [[Macedon|Kingdom of Macedonia]].

=== Ottoman era ===
{{further|Ottoman Greece}}
The city reappeared during the [[Ottoman Empire|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 War of Independence|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 (1832)|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 ===
[[File:Agrinio, Etolio-Acarnania Prefecture, Greece - city by evening.jpg|thumb|200x200px|View of the city]]In the years following the liberation, Agrinio went through an important growth and development, especially  at the end of the 19th century and the dawn of the 20th. After the [[Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922)|Greco-Turkish War]] and the Asia Minor Catastrophe, many refugees from [[Asia Minor]] (western [[Turkey]]) arrived in the city and settled in the district of Agios Konstantinos. At the same period there was an important internal immigration to Agrinio from the whole [[Aetolia-Acarnania]] region, along with immigration from the areas of [[Epirus (region)|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 Dam|Kremasta]] and [[Kastraki Dam|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 magnitude scale|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 climate|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 {{convert|40|°C|°F|}}.

<div style="width:100%">
{{Weather box
| 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]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.emy.gr/emy/el/climatology/climatology_city?perifereia=West+Greece&poli=Agrinio|title=Κλιματικά Δεδομένα ανά Πόλη- ΜΕΤΕΩΓΡΑΜΜΑΤΑ, ΕΜΥ, Εθνική Μετεωρολογική Υπηρεσία|website=www.emy.gr|accessdate=17 July 2023}}</ref> 1956-1997 sunlight <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hnms.gr/hnms/english/climatology/climatology_region_diagrams_html?dr_city=Agrinio&agriculture=true | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222213548/http://www.hnms.gr/hnms/english/climatology/climatology_region_diagrams_html?dr_city=Agrinio&agriculture=true | archive-date=2011-02-22 | title=HNMS }}</ref>
}}
</div>

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

[[Agrinion Airport|Agrinio's airport]] is located near the city, in the area of Dokimi. IATA code: AGQ, ICAO: LGAG. The airport hosts the Agrinion aeroclub [https://web.archive.org/web/20010428171218/http://users.forthnet.gr/agr/kostopk/ Agrinion Aeroclub], [https://web.archive.org/web/20040130183024/http://www.world-airport-codes.com/greece/agrinion-airport-59.html website].

== Municipality ==
[[File:2010 Dimos Agriniou.svg|thumb|250px|Agrinio municipality map.]]
[[File:DE Agriniou.svg|thumb|250px|Agrinio municipal unit.]][[File:Agr papastratos.jpg|thumb|200x200px|left|[[Papastratos]] storehouses]]The extended municipality of Agrinio was formed during the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 10 former municipalities, that became municipal units:<ref name=Kallikratis>{{Cite web|url=http://www.et.gr/idocs-nph/search/pdfViewerForm.html?args=5C7QrtC22wGYK2xFpSwMnXdtvSoClrL81-32jgAMSfbnMRVjyfnPUeJInJ48_97uHrMts-zFzeyCiBSQOpYnT00MHhcXFRTsb2fGphpq4MKX2ZkaHobySNnvZCNHXvYVvlf80XevW0Q.|title=ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities|language=el|publisher=[[Government Gazette (Greece)|Government Gazette]]}}</ref>
*Agrinio
*[[Angelokastro, Aetolia-Acarnania|Angelokastro]]
*[[Arakynthos]]
*[[Makryneia]]
*[[Neapoli, Aetolia-Acarnania|Neapoli]]
*[[Panaitoliko]]
*[[Parakampylia]]
*[[Paravola]]
*[[Stratos, Greece|Stratos]]
*[[Thestieis]]

The municipality has an area of 1229.330&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, the municipal unit 162.728&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name=stat01>{{cite web|url=http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00098%20.pdf |publisher=National Statistical Service of Greece |title=Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation) |language=el |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921212047/http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00098%20.pdf |archive-date=2015-09-21 }}</ref>

=== 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 ===
[[File:Αρχαίο θέατρο Στράτου.jpg|thumb|200x200px|[[Stratos, Greece|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 ==

{| class="wikitable"
! 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 ==
[[File:Garganta de Kleisoura.JPG|thumb|220px|The gorge of Kleisoura.]]
[[File:Lysimachia Lake, Etoloakarnania, Greece - View upon the lake with the city of Agrinio in the background.jpg|thumb|220px|[[Lysimachia Lake]]]]

*The [[Archaeological Museum of Agrinion]], located in the city center, at 1-2 Diamantis Street. [https://web.archive.org/web/19981201063719/http://www1.culture.gr/2/21/211/21106m/e211fm06.html website]
*The [[Neoclassical architecture|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 (Agrinio)|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 [[lake Trichonida|Trichonida]] and [[lake Lysimachia|Lysimachia]].
*The ancient city of [[Stratos, Greece|Stratos]].
*The gorge of Kleisoura, on the old national road, {{convert|15|km|0|abbr=off}} south of the city.
*The hydroelectric dams of [[Kremasta (lake)|Kremasta]], [[Kastraki (lake)|Kastraki]] and [[Stratos Hydroelectric Dam|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 ==
[[File:255 2 Danglis.jpg|thumb|140px|[[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 Papadimitriou|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
*[[Aristovoulos Kois]] - Revolutionary

== Sporting teams ==
[[File:Panetolikos Stadium 2006.jpg|thumb|[[Panetolikos Stadium]]]]

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

== Gallery ==
<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)
</gallery>

== See also ==
*[[List of settlements in Aetolia-Acarnania]]
*[[List of ancient Greek cities]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Wiktionary}}
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.cityofagrinio.gr/ Official site]
*[http://icarus.umkc.edu/sandbox/perseus/pecs/page.92.a.php Richard Stillwell, ed. ''Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites'', 1976:] "Agrinion Greece"
*[http://www.agriniovoice.gr/ www.agriniovoice.gr], local news
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120826081208/http://www.mytowndeals.gr/ Agrinio City Guide]

{{Kallikratis-West Greece}}
{{Agrinio div}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Agrinio| ]]
[[Category:Cities in ancient Greece]]
[[Category:Aetolia]]
[[Category:Populated places in Aetolia-Acarnania]]