Lefkoniko

Lefkoniko (Greek: Λευκόνοικο; Turkish: Lefkonuk or Geçitkale) is a town in the Mesaoria Plain of Cyprus. It is under the de facto control of Northern Cyprus. Lefkoniko is the birthplace of Cypriot national poet Vasilis Michaelides and is known for its lace.

Geçitkale Air Base of the Turkish Air Force is near Lefkoniko.

History

In 1909, the first co-op in Cyprus was founded in Lefkoniko and, in 1939, the municipality of Lefkoniko was established.

In a 1955 anti-British demonstration, schoolboys burned the town post office. A collective fine of $2,000 was placed on the inhabitants of Lefkoniko and the Governor of Cyprus ordered a 24-hour curfew on Lefkoniko until it was paid.

Demographics

Before 1960, Lefkoniko was inhabited both by Greek and Turkish Cypriots. The latter were the minority. With the exception of a family of three, all Turkish Cypriots fled the town in the Emergency years. Greek Cypriots were displaced to the south of the island during the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, and Lefkoniko was repopulated by Turkish Cypriots from Kofinou and nearby Artemi, which was abandoned. In 1960, Lefkoniko had a population of 2,358. It was the 8th most populous settlement in Famagusta District and 32nd in the whole of Cyprus. As of 2011, its population was 1,253.

Sports

Turkish Cypriot Geçitkale Sports Club was founded in 1955, and is now in Cyprus Turkish Football Association (CTFA) K-PET 1st League.

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Northern Cyprus

Lefkoniko is twinned with:

• Yalova, Turkey

External links

• Municipality (Northern Cyprus)
• Municipality (Republic of Cyprus)