Magnesia Prefecture

Magnesia Prefecture
Νομός Μαγνησίας
Former prefecture
Location of Magnesia Prefecture in Greece
Location of Magnesia Prefecture in Greece
CountryGreece
PeripheryThessaly
Established1899
Disestablished2011
CapitalVolos
Area
 • Total
2,367 km2 (914 sq mi)
 • RankList of the prefectures of Greece by area
Population
 (2001)
 • Total
193,439
 • RankList of the prefectures of Greece by population
 • Density82/km2 (210/sq mi)

Magnesia Prefecture (Greek: Νομός Μαγνησίας) was one of the prefectures of Greece. Its capital was Volos. It was established in 1899 from the Larissa Prefecture. The prefecture was disbanded on 1 January 2011 by the Kallikratis programme, and split into the regional units of Magnesia and the Sporades.

The toponym is ancient to the region. Ore that attracts iron is common in Magnesia, which is the origin of words such as magnet and magnetism[1] as well as the chemical element magnesium.

  1. ^ Online Etymology Dictionary, http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=magnet