NEO CHORIO

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Neo Chorio is a village located eight kilometers west of Polis and near Chrysochou bay. Neo Chorio means “new village” in Greek. Goodwin claims that Neo Chorio was built for the workers of nearby Potami Chiftlik (River Farm, the word çiftlik means a large farm in Turkish). The village was a mixed village until 1958. 
 
Historical Population:

Neo Chorio was a mixed village until 1958. As may be seen from the chart above, in the British census of 1891, Christians (Greek Cypriots) constituted almost 92% of the population. In the 1901 census the Neokhorion Chiftlik was listed separately from the village, and as a result that census shows only one Turkish Cypriot living in the village. Most of the Turkish Cypriots were residing in four big chiftliks (farms) which were owned by prominent Turkish Cypriot families. According to the 1901 census, there were 42 Turkish Cypriots and 14 Greek Cypriots residing in the chiftlik area. During the British period, the total population of the village increased steadily from 302 in 1891 to 663 in 1960.

Displacement:

In 1958, due to rising intercommunal tension in the village, all the Turkish Cypriot families (approximately 50 persons) left their homes and sought refuge in Androlikou/Gündoğdu(292) village. They did not go back to the village or the farms. Although eventually some moved to Paphos(329) or abroad, the majority stayed in Androlikou/Gündoğdu(292) until 22 August 1975, when they were all escorted by UNFICYP to the northern part of the divide. It should be noted that before that final exodus, some of the males of fighting age had already been sent to the north (almost a year earlier) after being taken as prisoners of war, kept in the Geroskipou POW camp, and later exchanged with Greek Cypriot POWs. The Neo Chorio Turkish Cypriots were mainly resettled in Myrtou/Çamlıbel(241), a village in the Kyrenia district. The number of Neo Chorio Turkish Cypriots who were displaced after 1974 was around 40-50 (44 in 1946 census).

Current Inhabitants:

The village is currently mainly inhabited by its original Greek Cypriot inhabitants. The 2001 census put the total population of the village at 368.  


 
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