# Nea Ionia

> suburb of Athens, Greece

**Wikidata**: [Q530191](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q530191)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nea_Ionia)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/nea-ionia

## Summary
Nea Ionia is a suburb of Athens, Greece, founded in 1923 and named after the historical region of Ionia. It is a municipality within the Attica region, with a 2021 resident population of 64,611 and an area of 4.4 square kilometres.

## Key Facts
- **Inception**: Founded in 1923.
- **Area**: 4.4 square kilometres.
- **Population (2021)**: 64,611 residents (according to the 2021 Greek census).
- **Population (2011)**: 67,134 residents.
- **Population (2001)**: 69,508 residents.
- **Population (1991)**: 62,137 residents.
- **Population (1951)**: 33,821 residents (de facto population).
- **Coordinates**: 38.03333333° N, 23.75° E.
- **Elevation**: 130 metres above sea level.
- **Country**: Greece.
- **Native Name**: Νέα Ιωνία (Nea Ionia).
- **Alias**: Nouvelle-Ionie.
- **Postal Code**: 142 xx.
- **Local Dialing Code**: 210.
- **Administrative Unit**: Located in Nea Ionia Municipality.
- **Borders**: Shares a border with Irakleio.
- **Twin Town**: Lefkoniko, Cyprus (twinned since 24 March 2008).
- **UN/LOCODE**: GRNOA.
- **Geonames ID**: 256614.
- **Instance Of**: City, human settlement.
- **Named After**: Ionia.
- **Wikipedia Presence**: Article exists in 30 languages, including Greek (el), English (en), French (fr), and German (de).
- **Commons Category**: Nea Ionia.

## FAQs
**When and why was Nea Ionia founded?**
Nea Ionia was founded in 1923. Its name, meaning "New Ionia," directly references the historical region of Ionia in Asia Minor, indicating a cultural or commemorative naming connection.

**How has the population of Nea Ionia changed over time?**
The population peaked at 69,508 in the 2001 census and has since declined to 64,611 in 2021. Earlier records show significant growth from 33,821 in 1951 to 62,137 in 1991.

**Where is Nea Ionia located geographically?**
It is a suburb of Athens, Greece, situated at coordinates 38.03333333° N, 23.75° E. It borders the municipality of Irakleio and has a postal code starting with 142.

**Is Nea Ionia twinned with any other city?**
Yes, it has been twinned with Lefkoniko, Cyprus, since 24 March 2008. This relationship is documented with official references and links to the municipal websites.

**What administrative body governs Nea Ionia?**
It is part of the Nea Ionia Municipality, which is a local administrative unit within the Attica region of Greece. The area uses the local dialing code 210.

## Why It Matters
Nea Ionia represents a significant suburban municipality within the Athens urban area, contributing to the capital's demographic and residential landscape. Its founding in the early 20th century aligns with a period of major population shifts and urban expansion in Greece. The suburb's name, derived from Ionia, preserves a historical and cultural link to the ancient Greek settlements of Asia Minor. As a distinct municipality with its own administrative identity, it plays a key role in local governance, public services, and community planning for over 64,000 residents. Its international twinning with Lefkoniko fosters cross-cultural municipal cooperation.

## Notable For
- **Founding Era**: Established in 1923, placing its inception in a period of significant demographic change in Greece.
- **Name Origin**: Directly named after the ancient region of Ionia, reflecting a common Greek practice of commemorating lost homelands.
- **Population Scale**: With over 64,000 residents (2021), it is a substantial suburban municipality.
- **Geographical Precision**: Has a precisely defined area of 4.4 km² and an elevation of 130 metres.
- **International Link**: Maintains an active twinning relationship with Lefkoniko, Cyprus, since 2008.
- **Multilingual Recognition**: Has a dedicated Wikipedia article spanning 30 language editions.
- **Administrative Distinction**: Functions as its own municipality (Nea Ionia Municipality) within the Attica region.

## Body

### History and Nomenclature
Nea Ionia was formally established as a settlement in 1923. Its name, "Nea Ionia" (Greek: Νέα Ιωνία), translates to "New Ionia," signifying a direct naming connection to the historical region of Ionia on the western coast of Asia Minor. This naming convention was common for Greek settlements and suburbs formed or renamed in the early 20th century, often referencing ancestral homelands. The French alias "Nouvelle-Ionie" appears in historical records, reflecting multilingual documentation.

### Geography and Location
The municipality occupies a total area of **4.4 square kilometres**. It is geographically positioned at **coordinates 38.03333333° N, 23.75° E** and sits at an **elevation of 130 metres above sea level**. Nea Ionia is a suburb within the greater Athens metropolitan area and is part of the Nea Ionia Municipality. It shares a direct border with the municipality of **Irakleio**. The suburb falls under the **UN/LOCODE GRNOA** for trade and transport. Its postal code is **142 xx**, and it uses the local Athens dialing code **210**.

### Demographics
Population data from successive Greek national censuses shows a trend:
- **2021**: 64,611 residents (resident population).
- **2011**: 67,134 residents (resident population).
- **2001**: 69,508 residents (resident population).
- **1991**: 62,137 residents (resident population).
- **1951**: 33,821 residents (de facto population).
The peak population was recorded in 2001, with a gradual decline observed in the subsequent two censuses.

### Administration and Governance
Nea Ionia operates as a municipal unit within the **Nea Ionia Municipality**. For national statistical purposes, it is identified by the **ELSTAT geographical code 4608000001**. The municipality maintains an official website at **http://www.neaionia.gr/**, which is presented in the Greek language.

### International Relations
Nea Ionia maintains an official twinning relationship with **Lefkoniko, Cyprus**. This partnership was formalized on **24 March 2008**. The twinning is documented with references to Greek-language sources and archived municipal web pages from both entities.

### Digital and Cultural Footprint
The suburb has a notable digital presence. Its Wikipedia article, titled **"Nea Ionia"**, exists across **30 language editions**, ranging from Arabic (ar) and German (de) to Swedish (sv) and Ukrainian (uk). This multilingual coverage is indicated by the `wikipedia_languages` property. The subject is categorized under **Category:Nea Ionia** on Wikimedia Commons, and the Commons category holds the skyline image referenced by the `image` property. The `sitelink_count` of 30 reflects the number of Wikipedia language editions with articles about it.

### Identifiers and Authority Records
Nea Ionia is catalogued in numerous global authority and geographic databases:
- **VIAF ID**: 145494218.
- **Geonames ID**: 256614 (also used as the OpenWeatherMap city ID).
- **Freebase ID**: /m/02fykp.
- **Who's On First ID**: 1126000085.
- **Library of Congress Authority ID**: n85354978.
- **National Library of Israel J9U ID**: 987007564879605171.
- **GNS Unique Feature ID**: -824529.
These identifiers facilitate data linking and disambiguation across library, geographic, and knowledge graph systems.

### Classification and Conceptual Links
The entity is fundamentally classified as an **instance of a city and a human settlement**. In broader ontological terms, it belongs to the class of **large human settlements**, as indicated by the related `city` class with a high `sitelink_count`. This situates it within the standard hierarchy of populated places.

## References

1. Hellenic Statistical Authority databases
2. [Δήμος Νέα Ιωνίας](https://dimoslefkonikou.org/%CE%B4%CE%AE%CE%BC%CE%BF%CF%82-%CE%BD%CE%AD%CE%B1-%CE%B9%CF%89%CE%BD%CE%AF%CE%B1%CF%82/)
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. Greek census 1951
5. GeoNames
6. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File