The Kyrenia District, or simply Kyrenia, is one of the six districts of Cyprus. Its capital city is Kyrenia. It is the smallest of Cyprus's districts, and is the only one controlled in its entirety by the unrecognised de facto state of Northern Cyprus, where the same territory is administered as the de facto Girne District, a distinct entity.
It is bordered on the south by Nicosia District and on the east and south-east by Famagusta District. It includes much of the north coast, with the towns of Kyrenia, Lapethos and Karavas. Also the Kyrenia Mountains, which overlook the coast, with the prominent castles of St. Hilarion and Buffavento.
Unlike the portions of Nicosia, Famagusta and Larnaca under Occupied Cyprus' control, which are variously partitioned into five of its six districts, the boundaries of Cyprus's de jure Kyrenia District are coterminous with Northern Cyprus' de facto Girne District. A district administration-in-exile exists in the Republic of Cyprus-controlled part of the island, near Ledra Palace, while the TRNC district has a kaymakam.
History Under Lusignan and Venetian rule, Kyrenia District was known as the contrée (French) or contrade (Italian ) of Cérines, which was one of the eleven provinces of the Kingdom of Cyprus. At that time, the province of Nicosia, known as the Vicomté, extended closer to the sea, encroaching upon the Pentadaktylos foothills in the present Kyrenia District.L’Ile de Chypre. Sa Situation Presente et ses Souvenirs du Moyen Age, by Louis de Mas Latrie, pub. Firmin-Didot et Cie, Paris. 1879; map and pp. 148-151
Under Ottoman Turkish rule, Kyrenia was one of the six cazas into which the island was divided. The Caza of Kyrenia, was divided into three nahiehs – Kyrenia, Lefka and Morphou.History of Cyprus, by George Hill, Cambridge University Press, 1952, vol IV, p.7 The caza was headed by a Kaimakan. When the British took control of Cyprus in 1878, these administrative units were retained. But by 1881, Kyrenia Caza was reduced to one nahieh, namely Kyrenia, which covered roughly the same as its present area.Census of Cyprus 1881, pr. Eyre and Spottiswoode, London, 1884
A British officer styled a Commissioner (later District Officer) was appointed for the Caza, while the Turkish Kaimakan was initially retained with certain of his functions.Our Home in Cyprus, by Mrs. Scott-Stevenson, publ. Chapman and Hall Ltd, London, 1880; p. 73Report by Her Majesty's High Commissioner for the Year 1879, Accounts and papers. Great Britain. Parliament. Session 1880. publ. by House of Commons, London, 2006
In 1881 the Caza and Nahieh of Kyrenia had a population of 13,266, (Greek 75%, Turkish 20%), representing 7% of the population of Cyprus.Cyprus Gazette 3 March 1882, publ.Government of Cyprus, Nicosia, 1882; p. 151 By 1960 the population had grown to 31,015 (Greek 79%, Turkish 14%, Maronite 6%).Census of Population and Agriculture 1960, pub.Printing Office of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicosia, 1960; Vol.1, Table IV The Maronite population was almost entirely located in the villages of Kormakiti, Asomatos and Karpaseia.
Settlements According to Statistical Codes of Municipalities, Communities and Quarters of Cyprus per the Statistical Service of Cyprus (2015), Kyrenia District has 3 municipalities and 44 communities. Municipalities are written with bold.
Agia Eirini Agios Amvrosios Agios Epiktitos Agios Ermolaos Agios Georgios Agirda Agridaki Asomatos Bellapais Charkeia Diorios Elia Fotta Ftericha Kalograia Kampyli Karakoumi Karavas Karmi Karpaseia Kato Dikomo Kazafani Kiomourtzou Klepini Kontemenos Kormakitis Koutsovendis Krini Kyrenia Lapithos Larnakas tis Lapithou Livera Motides Myrtou Orga Palaiosofos Panagra Pano Dikomo Pileri Sychari Sysklipos Templos Thermeia Trapeza Trimithi Vasileia Vouno
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