Ottoman period

Under Ottoman rule, Grevena (Ottoman name Gerebena) was the seat of the kaza of Grevena, Sanjak of Serfice, Manastir Vilayet.^[3] According to the statistics of Vasil Kanchov ("Macedonia, Ethnography and Statistics"), 600 Greek Christians, 500 Turks, 200 Vallahades (Greek-speaking Muslims), 150 Aromanians and 100 Romani lived in the town in 1900.^[4]

1995 earthquake

The earthquake that occurred in the region on 13 May 1995 was 6.6 on the Richter magnitude scale, but it caused only material damage. The worst hit area was the county of Ventzia. There were two foreshocks of lesser intensity that preceded the main earthquake by a few minutes and warned people. These warnings sent the population out of their houses. When the main earthquake came, it destroyed nearly all the houses in several villages of the Ventzia County – the houses collapsed to the ground – but all the inhabitants were outside.

Another earthquake on 5 January 2005 measured 4.9 near Grevena. It took place at 20:00 local time (EET), and no damage was reported. Another earthquake with a measured intensity of 5.4 occurred on 17 July 2007 at 21:23 local time (EET) and was followed by weak aftershocks. Some older buildings were lightly damaged in villages northeast of Grevena.

Municipality

The municipality Grevena was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 13 former municipalities, that became municipal units:^[5]

• Agios Kosmas
• Dotsiko
• Filippaioi
• Gorgiani
• Grevena
• Irakleotes
• Mesolouri
• Samarina
• Smixi
• Theodoros Ziakas
• Ventzio

Municipal unit

The municipal unit of Grevena is divided into the following communities:^[5]

• Agioi Theodoroi
• Amygdalies
• Elatos
• Elefthero
• Felli
• Kalochi
• Kyrakali
• Megalo Seirini
• Myrsina
• Rodia
• Megaro
• Vatolakkos

Community

The community of Grevena consists of three separate settlements:^[2]

• Doxaras (population 190 in 2021)
• Grevena (population 12,293)
• Kalamitsi (population 30)