Editing Morphou (section)

==History==
Morphou was founded by [[Sparta]]ns who brought with them the worship of [[Aphrodite]]. In the Middle Ages, the city was referred to as Morphou but also Theomorphou.<ref>{{cite web|title=''Morphou''|url=http://kypros.org/Occupied_Cyprus/morphou/morphou.html|publisher=kypros.org|access-date=2010-12-29}}</ref> In the 14th and 15th centuries, Morphou hosted royal ''[[casalia]]'', where the profitable cultivation of sugar took place with the encouragement of the [[Kingdom of Cyprus|kings of Cyprus]].<ref name="coureas">{{cite book |last1=Coureas |first1=Nicholas |editor1-last=Nicolaou-Konnari |editor1-first=Angel |editor2-last=Schabel |editor2-first=Chris |title=Cyprus: Society and Culture 1191-1374 |date=2005 |publisher=BRILL |page=111 |chapter=Economy}}</ref> The Morphou area grew more than half of Cyprus citrus fruits. In 16th and 17th centuries, during Ottoman period, Morphou was famous for its export of linen.<ref>{{cite web|title=''Morphou''|url=http://www.cypnet.co.uk/ncyprus/history/ottoman/index.html|publisher=cypnet.co.uk|access-date=2012-09-01}}</ref>

[[File:Inonu Square Morphou.jpg|thumb|left|İnönü Square]]

Between 1907 and 1948, Morphou was one of the prominent stations of the [[Cyprus Government Railway]].{{cn|date=September 2021}}

In the wake of the [[Cypriot intercommunal violence|intercommunal violence]] called [[Bloody Christmas (1963)|"Bloody Christmas"]], the majority of the Turkish Cypriot population fled the town in January 1964, though one-third remained. As a result of the [[Turkish invasion of Cyprus]] in 1974, all of the Greek Cypriots of Morphou fled to the south of the island, and Morphou was inhabited by displaced Turkish Cypriots from the south. These people hailed from various villages in the [[Paphos district]] and the town of [[Paphos]], though there were some who came from [[Limassol]] and the villages around it. This turned Morphou into a refugee town.<ref>{{cite web|title=Morphou|url=http://www.prio-cyprus-displacement.net/default.asp?id=334|publisher=PRIO Cyprus Displacement Center|access-date=18 June 2015}}</ref>

The agriculture in Morphou is expected to be boosted via the increase in irrigated farming by the help of the water pipe-line from Turkey.<ref>[http://www.todayszaman.com/news-311025-finalization-of-water-pipeline-to-northern-cyprus-to-boost-agriculture-economy.html Today's Zaman] Finalization of water pipeline to Northern Cyprus to boost agriculture, economy</ref>

===Population===

Before 1974, Morphou was an almost entirely Greek Cypriot community. According to the 1960 population census it was inhabited by 6480 Greek Cypriots, 123 Turkish Cypriots and 32 Maronites.<ref>{{cite web|title=''1960 Census''|url=http://www.peace-cyprus.org/VillagersMeeting/mixedvillagepop.pdf|publisher=peace.org|access-date=2011-10-05}}</ref>

The population of Morphou increased slightly from 2006 to 2011.<ref>[http://nufussayimi.devplan.org/Nufus-nitelikleri-index.html TRNC's 2006 Official Census] TRNC's 2006 Official Census - Table1</ref> In 2019, State Planning Organization of [[Northern Cyprus]] recorded a population of 24,070 for Morphou.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.devplan.org/belediyeler/Yerel-Yonetimler-2017-2019.pdf |title=KKTC Yerel Yönetimler Raporu 2019 |trans-title=TRNC Regional Administrations Report 2019 |publisher=Northern Cyprus State Planning Organization |date= December 2020 |page=4}}</ref>