Chalastra

{{About|the modern town in Northern Greece|the moth genus|Chalastra (moth)|the salt lake known in ancient times as lake Chalastra|Pikrolimni (lake)}} {{Infobox Greek Dimos |name = Chalastra |name_local = Χαλάστρα |type = municipal unit |image_coa = |image_map = DE Chalastras.svg |map_caption = Location within the regional unit | periph = Central Macedonia | periphunit = Thessaloniki |municipality = Delta |pop_municunit = 9066 |pop_community = 6657 |area_municunit = 121.415 |area_community = 98.449 |population_as_of = 2021 |elevation = |coordinates = {{coord|40|38|N|22|44|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}} |postal_code = |area_code = |licence = |website = |image_skyline = ΕΠΑΛ Χαλάστρας.jpg |caption_skyline = |city_flag = |city_seal = |districts = }} '''Chalastra''' ({{langx|el|Χαλάστρα}}) is a town and former municipality in the Thessaloniki regional unit, Greece. Before 1926, it was known as Κουλουκιά - ''Kouloukia'' ({{langx|bg|Кулакия}} - ''Kulakiya''). It was renamed to ''Chalastra'' in 1926, to Πύργος - ''Pyrgos'' in 1955 and back to ''Chalastra'' in 1980.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.eetaa.gr/eetaa/metaboles/oikmet_details.php?id=15711 |title=EETAA local government changes |access-date=2021-09-05 }}</ref> Since the local government reform of 2011 it has been part of the municipality Delta, of which it is a municipal unit.<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}}</ref> The town is located 20 km west from the city of Thessaloniki, on the north side of Greek National Road 1, near the Axios river and the Thermaic Gulf. The municipal unit of Chalastra consists of the two communities of Chalastra itself and Anatoliko. The population was 9,066 inhabitants according to the 2021 census, most of them working in agriculture and small industry. The municipal unit Chalastra has an area of 121.415 km<sup>2</sup>, and the community Chalastra has an area of 98.449 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 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921212047/http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00098%20.pdf |archivedate=2015-09-21 }}</ref>

==History== [[file:Bulgarian woman from Kolakia and young girl from Balca.jpg|thumb|left|160px|A Bulgarian woman from Chalastra/Kulakia (left) by Raphäel Jacquemin, 19th century]] [[File:KulakiaGospel.jpg|thumb|160px|The ''Kulakia Gospel'', a Bible written in the native Slavic dialect of Chalastra in 1863 with the Greek alphabet. On the title page there is also inscription "written in Bulgarian language".<ref>Mazon, Andre et Andre Vaillant. L'evangeliaire de Kulakia un parler slave du Bas-Vardar, Paris 1938.</ref><ref>''Господново и сфетаго евангелио на бога нашаго голема црикфа христианоф, искарено на '''бугарцко изик''' тувашно збор на Вардариа за уф неделите сати за гудината и за сати празницити големите за цела година за литургиата. Са писало ут Евстатио Киприади уф селото Колакиа на 30 ноемврио месиц 1863.''</ref> ]]

Chalastra ({{langx|grc|Χαλάστρα}}, Strabo vii.; {{lang|grc|Χαλέστρη}}, Herod. vii. 123; {{lang|grc|Χαλαίστρα}}, Plut. ''Alex.'' 49; Plin. iv. 10. § 17, xxxi. 10. § 46) was known as a town of Mygdonia in ancient Macedonia, situated on the Thermaikos gulf at the mouth of the Axios river, which belonged to the Thracians and possessed a harbor.<ref>{{Cite Stephanus|''s.v.''}}</ref> A large part of the population was absorbed in Thessaloniki when it was founded by Cassander.

The site of the ancient town is tentatively placed at Anchialos at {{coord|40.631151|N|22.729683|E|display=inline|format=dms|source:http://dare.ht.lu.se/places/32091}}.<ref>{{Barrington Atlas|page=50}}</ref><ref>{{Cite DARE|32091}}</ref>

During the Byzantine Middle Ages, the name of the area was "Campania".

In the 19th century it was inhabited by a mixed Bulgarian and Greek-speaking population.

==References== {{reflist}} {{SmithDGRG|title=Chalastra}}

Category:Populated places in Thessaloniki (regional unit) Category:Delta, Thessaloniki Category:Populated places in ancient Macedonia Category:Cities in ancient Macedonia Category:Geography of ancient Mygdonia