Public
Life
Since
independence in 1960 and until the Turkish invasion of 1974, Ammochostos
flourished in all aspects of life. Its port concentrated most of the commercial
activity on the island, its fertile plains produced the majority of the highest
quality agricultural products, and its golden beaches transformed it into a
cosmopolitan tourist centre. It was only natural that this material progress
would form the foundation for the development of social and cultural progress.
The pursuit of human happiness in a free, just and democratic society was in
1974 the prime characteristic of Famagusta and its people.
Most
public and government buildings in Ammochostos were situated in Ammochostos
Avenue which started off from the medieval walls. On Ammochostos avenue we could
find the government Hospital, the district Police Headquarters, the Fire service
station, government offices and the Town Hall. Hermes St., which is essentially
the continuation of Ammochostos avenue, was the traditional trade centre of the
city, while very near there, between Gregores Afxentiou St., 3rd
October St., and Evagoras avenue, we could find the Central Market.
Tourism, the harbour and the extensive orange groves in the area earned
considerable revenue for the city and economic progress was accompanied by a
peaceful and quite pace in everyday living without anxieties.
In 1974, there were 39 star Hotels with 6.164 beds, 7 non-star hotels
with 148 beds, and 33 hotel apartment units with 2.722 beds. Some of the most
famous hotels wereQ Grecian, Cypriana, Constantia, Sandy Beach, Florida, Venus,
Mimoza, Kng George, Golden Sands, Marina, Salaminia Tower, Esperia Tower,
Famagusta Palace, and Savoy.
In 1972, the city produced 8.5 of the total industrial product on the
island, accounted for over 10% of the total industrial employment, concentrating
mainly on light industry compatible with its activity as a tourist resort and
turning out highly quality products ranging from food, beverages and tobacco to
clothing, footwear, plastics, small machinery and transport equipment. The
district of Famagusta before the 1974 invasion was characterized by a strong and
balanced agricultural economy based on citrus fruits, potatoes, tobacco and
wheat. It also offered the most substantial deep-water port handling 83% of the
total general cargo and 49% of the total passenger traffic to and from the
island.
According
to the 1960 official census, the
population of Famagusta District numbered 34.752, of which 24.492 Greek
Cypriots, 6.120 Turkish Cypriots, 152 Armenians, 24 Maronites, 3.660 British,
and 304 others. Administratively, 99 villages belonged to the Famagusta
District. These villages are:
Name
of Village |
Greek
Cypriots |
Turkish
Cypriots |
Total
population |
Avgolida* |
- |
117 |
117 |
Ayia
Napa |
836 |
- |
836 |
Ayia
Triada* |
1200 |
- |
1200 |
Ayios
Andronikos* |
890 |
388 |
1278 |
Ayios
Georgios |
480 |
- |
480 |
Ayios
Evstathios |
- |
117 |
117 |
Ayios
Elias |
500 |
- |
500 |
Ayios
Theodoros |
800 |
- |
800 |
Ayios
Iakovos |
- |
270 |
270 |
Ayios
Nikolas* |
360 |
- |
360 |
Ayios
Sergios* |
1700 |
- |
1700 |
Ayios
Symeon* |
- |
310 |
310 |
Ayios
Chariton* |
- |
90 |
90 |
Angastina* |
850 |
- |
850 |
Aindronikoudi
or Topsiou-Kiou* |
- |
280 |
280 |
Akanthou* |
1500 |
- |
1500 |
Aloa* |
- |
40 |
40 |
Apostolos
Andreas* |
- |
- |
- |
Ardana* |
500 |
- |
500 |
Arnadi* |
270 |
87 |
357 |
Artemi* |
- |
160 |
160 |
Asshia* |
2.111 |
- |
2111 |
Avgorou |
1870 |
- |
1870 |
Afania* |
433 |
260 |
693 |
Acheritou* |
1000 |
- |
1000 |
Achna* |
1886 |
- |
1886 |
Vathylakas* |
540 |
- |
540 |
Vasili* |
400 |
- |
400 |
Vatyli* |
2.000 |
700 |
2700 |
Vitsada* |
260 |
115 |
375 |
Vokolida* |
350 |
- |
350 |
Gaidouras* |
360 |
- |
360 |
Galatia* |
- |
1270 |
1270 |
Galinoporni* |
- |
690 |
690 |
Gastria* |
300 |
- |
300 |
Genagra* |
330 |
270 |
600 |
Gerani* |
268 |
- |
268 |
Gialousa* |
2500 |
- |
2500 |
Goufes* |
45 |
240 |
275 |
Gypsou* |
1200 |
- |
1200 |
Davlos* |
550 |
- |
550 |
Dherynia |
2741 |
- |
2741 |
Engomi* |
662 |
- |
662 |
Eptakomi* |
900 |
210 |
1110 |
Kalopsida* |
951 |
- |
951 |
Knodara* |
- |
634 |
634 |
Kilanemos* |
136 |
20 |
156 |
Kontea* |
1277 |
- |
1277 |
Kornokipos* |
- |
250 |
250 |
Korovia* |
- |
250 |
250 |
Kouklia* |
28 |
214 |
242 |
Kridia* |
- |
350 |
350 |
Komi
Kepir* |
830 |
370 |
1200 |
Komi
tou Gialou* |
860 |
- |
860 |
Lapathos* |
350 |
- |
350 |
Lefkoniko* |
2400 |
- |
2400 |
Livadia* |
- |
160 |
160 |
Limnia* |
1210 |
- |
1210 |
Leonarisso* |
700 |
- |
700 |
Liopetri |
1500 |
- |
1500 |
Lythrangomi* |
195 |
70 |
265 |
Lysi* |
3550 |
- |
3550 |
Makrasyka* |
750 |
- |
750 |
Mandres* |
371 |
- |
371 |
Maratha* |
- |
59 |
59 |
Marathovounos* |
2020 |
- |
2020 |
Melanarka* |
180 |
- |
180 |
Melounda* |
- |
225 |
225 |
Milia* |
1200 |
- |
1200 |
Monarka* |
- |
75 |
75 |
Apostolos
Varnavas Monastery* |
- |
- |
- |
Mousoulita |
255 |
- |
255 |
Neta* |
246 |
- |
246 |
Ovgoros* |
- |
423 |
423 |
Ornithi* |
|
|
|
Paralimni |
3500 |
- |
3500 |
Patriki* |
634 |
- |
634 |
Peristerona* |
- |
- |
- |
Pigi* |
1100 |
- |
1100 |
Platani* |
- |
370 |
370 |
Platanissos |
- |
373 |
373 |
Bogazi* |
85 |
- |
85 |
Prastio* |
1000 |
- |
1000 |
Pyrga* |
474 |
- |
474 |
Rizokarpaso* |
3200 |
- |
3200 |
Santalaris* |
- |
88 |
88 |
Sinda* |
- |
715 |
715 |
Spathariko* |
400 |
- |
400 |
Strongylos* |
190 |
200 |
390 |
Stylloi* |
|
|
|
Syngrasi* |
220 |
80 |
300 |
Sotira |
1516 |
- |
1516 |
Tavrou* |
350 |
- |
350 |
Trikomo* |
2190 |
- |
2190 |
Trypimeni* |
500 |
- |
500 |
Tsiamos* |
- |
670 |
670 |
Flamoudi* |
355 |
- |
355 |
Frenaros |
1450 |
- |
1450 |
Psylato* |
- |
387 |
387 |
|
|
|
|
The villages noted with asterisk are within the illegally occupied area.