Septemvri (Bulgarian: Септември, pronounced [sɛpˈtɛmvri], lit.'September') is a town in Pazardzhik Province, Southern Bulgaria, located at the western end of the Upper Thracian Lowland, 19 km (12 mi) away to the west from the city of Pazardzhik. It is the administrative centre of homonymous Septemvri Municipality. As of December 2009, the town had a population of 8,422.[1]

Septemvri
Септември
Municipality
Septemvri Municipality
Septemvri Municipality
Coat of arms of Septemvri
Septemvri is located in Bulgaria
Septemvri
Septemvri
Location in Bulgaria
Coordinates: 42°13′N 24°06′E / 42.217°N 24.100°E / 42.217; 24.100
Country Bulgaria
ProvincePazardzhik Province
Population
 (December 2009)[1]
 • Total
8,422
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
Postal code
4490

History

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Four Thracian mounds[citation needed] and traces of two ancient cities - Greek[2] Pistiros and a Roman town that lies on Trayan's Drum were discovered near the town. It has succeeded as an old Bulgarian settlement, which was destroyed in the late 14th century during the Ottoman onslaught. The town was rebuilt at the end of the 15th century under the Turkish name of Sara Khan bey, after the liberation from Ottoman occupation in the beginning of the 20th century the name was changed to "Saranyovo",which later became Septemvri following the communist party's accend to power

Septemvri developed into a typical railway town following the construction of the HaskovoBelovo railway line in 1873. The scenic Septemvri-Dobrinishte narrow gauge line to the Rhodopi mountain town of Dobrinishte over Bansko was constructed in 1945. In 1949 the Bulgarian Communist Party renamed the town Septemvri, the new name literally meaning "September", in honour of the September Uprising of 1923.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b (in English) Bulgarian National Statistical Institute - towns in 2009
  2. ^ Readings in Greek History: Sources and Interpretations by D. Brendan Nagle and Stanley M. Burstein, 2006, page 232: A GREEK TRADING POST IN THRACE"... Maronea, Apollonia, and Thasos living in the trading post of Pistiros. ...
  3. ^ Указ 949 на Президиум на Народното събрание от 03.12.1949 г. (Обн., ДВ, бр. 285 от 08.12.1949 г.) Национален регистър на населените места при Националния статистически институт

42°13′N 24°06′E / 42.217°N 24.100°E / 42.217; 24.100