MELOUNTA

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Melounta is a Turkish Cypriot village situated on the southern slopes of the Five Finger mountain range. It is located eight kilometers southwest of Akanthou/Tatlısu village. The meaning of the name is obscure. In 1958, the Turkish Cypriots changed the name to Mallıdağ, which means “mountain with property.” 
 
 
Historical Population:

As can be seen from the chart above, in the Ottoman census of 1831, Muslims (Turkish Cypriots) constituted the sole inhabitants of the village. Throughout the British period the village was solely inhabited by Turkish Cypriots, apart from one or two Greek Cypriots who appear in the records for short periods of time. During the first half of the 20th century, the village’s population steadily increased from 95 in 1901 to 274 in 1960.

Displacement:

From its original population no one was displaced; however, the village served as a temporary reception centre for displaced Turkish Cypriots in 1964. The political geographer Richard Patrick claimed that in 1971 there were no displaced persons living in the village. From 1964 to 1974, it was administratively part of the Turkish Cypriot enclave of Chatos/Serdarlı(135) and served as an outpost for this enclave. Patrick estimated the village’s population at 300 in 1971.

Current Inhabitants:

Currently the village is mainly inhabited by its original villagers. Due to the migration of its youth to find jobs in the cities and abroad, the village’s population declined considerably, from 300 in 1971 to 189 in 2006.  


 
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