Official Name: | Stamboliyski |
Native Name: | Стамболийски |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | Bulgaria |
Subdivision Type1: | Province (Oblast) |
Timezone: | EET |
Utc Offset: | +2 |
Timezone Dst: | EEST |
Utc Offset Dst: | +3 |
Pushpin Map: | Bulgaria |
Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of Stamboliyski |
Leader Title: | Mayor |
Postal Code Type: | Postal Code |
Subdivision Name1: | Plovdiv |
Population Total: | 11601[1] |
Population As Of: | 2011 |
Postal Code: | 4210 |
Area Code: | 0339 |
Coordinates: | 42.1333°N 56°W |
Leader Name: | Ivan Yakov |
Stamboliyski (bg|Стамболийски pronounced as /bg/) is a town in Plovdiv Province, southern Bulgaria. It is located on the Maritsa river.[2] Stamboliyski was founded in 1873–75, when the Istanbul-Belovo railway was built. It was initially called Gara Krichim ('Krichim Station') after the largest village in the vicinity then, Krichim.
The first settlers came from Brestovitsa and Perushtitsa, which together with railway workers from Peshtera established a village north of the railway line, which in 1926 had 224 residents. Refugees from the parts of Thrace and Macedonia under foreign rule arrived in 1926–1928 and the population grew to 554 in 1934. Industrialists from the larger cities founded factories in Gara Krichim and the village developed into a regional centre of industry and transport. It was proclaimed a town in 1964, and after the village of Krichim also acquired town status in 1969, it was renamed Novi Krichim ('New Krichim'). In 1979, the name was changed to Stamboliyski in honour of Aleksandar Stamboliyski, a former Prime Minister of Bulgaria and agrarian leader.
Once a year there is a celebration of the city, which lasts for three days. The date changes each year according to the Holy Spirit religious holiday. Every Saturday there is a market near the center.