Bjelovar
| Bjelovar | |||
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 Bjelovar
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| Coordinates: 45°54′N 16°50′E / 45.900°N 16.833°ECoordinates: 45°54′N 16°50′E / 45.900°N 16.833°E | |||
| Country |  Croatia |
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| County | Bjelovar-Bilogora county | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Antun Korušec (CSLP) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 191.9 km2 (74.1 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 135 m (443 ft) | ||
| Population (2011) | |||
| • Total | 40,443 | ||
| • Density | 210/km2 (550/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Postal code | 43000 | ||
| Area code(s) | 043 | ||
| Vehicle registration | BJ | ||
| Website | bjelovar.hr | ||
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Bjelovar is a city in central Croatia. It is the administrative centre of Bjelovar-Bilogora County. At the 2011 census, there were 40,443 inhabitants, of which 90.51% were Croats. Bjelovar was first mentioned in 1413 and only gained importance when a new fort was built there in 1756, at the command of the Habsburg Empress Maria Theresa. The initial role of the city was to defend central Croatia against the Ottoman invasions.
The town had to wait until the end of these wars to be pronounced a free royal town by ban Ivan Mažuranić in 1874.
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Name [edit]
In Hungarian, the town is known as Belovár, in German it is known as Belowar, in Kajkavian it is known as Belovar and in Serbian Cyrillic, it is known as Бјеловар.
History [edit]
The oldest Neolithic location in this area is in Ždralovi, a suburb of Bjelovar, where, while building a basement for the house of Josip Horvatić, a dugout was found and identified as belonging to the Starčevo culture (5000 – 4300 BC).[1][2][3] Finds from Ždralovi belong to a regional subtype of a late variant of the Neolithic culture. It is designated the Ždralovi facies of the Starčevo culture, or the final-stage Starčevo. There are also relics of the Korenovo culture, Sopot culture, Lasinja culture, and the Vučedol culture.[4]
Demographics [edit]
Population by settlement:[5]
- Bjelovar, population 27,099
- Breza, population 103
- Brezovac, population 1,085
- Ciglena, population 341
- Galovac, population 449
- Gornje Plavnice, population 683
- Gornji Tomaš, population 94
- Gudovac, population 1,095
- Klokočevac, population 830
- Kokinac, population 193
- Kupinovac, population 139
- Letičani, population 349
- Mala Ciglena, population 17
- Malo Korenovo, population 196
- Novi Pavljani, population 151
- Novoseljani, population 697
- Obrovnica, population 183
- Patkovac, population 262
- Prespa, population 509
- Prgomelje, population 699
- Prokljuvani, population 261
- Puričani, population 132
- Rajić, population 206
- Stančići, population 90
- Stare Plavnice, population 670
- Stari Pavljani, population 242
- Tomaš, population 237
- Trojstveni Markovac, population 1,300
- Veliko Korenovo, population 534
- Zvijerci, population 53
- Ždralovi, population 1,426
| year | total | Croats | Serbs | Yugoslavs | others |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 66,039 | 53,113 (80.42%) | 5,898 (8.93%) | 2,631 (3.98%) | 4,397 (6.65%) |
| 1981 | 66,553 | 48,819 (73.35%) | 5,897 (8.86%) | 9,249 (13.89%) | 2,588 (3.88%) |
| 1971 | 65,824 | 52,580 (79.87%) | 8,689 (13.20%) | 1,726 (2.62%) | 2,829 (4.29%) |
Geography [edit]
The city of Bjelovar stands on a plateau in the southern part of Bilogora (north-west Croatia), 135 metres above sea level. It is the capital of the Bjelovar-Bilogora county, and the natural, cultural and political centre of the area.
Bjelovar is at an intersection of roads in this area: the D28 intersects with the D43, and it lies on the road between Zagreb and west Slavonia, Podravina and Osijek. Bjelovar is currently being connected by dual carriageway with Zagreb.
The city of Bjelovar has an area of 191.9 km², and administratively it includes 31 other areas. North-east of Bjelovar there is a long, low elevation called Bilogora, with an average height of 150–200 m (highest point: Rajčevica, 309 m). The geology of the area consists of Pliocene sandy marl and sandstones with lesser layers of lignite. Older rocks do not appear on the surface in this area. In deep boreholes there are crystalline rocks.
Bjelovar has a temperate continental climate. Winters are moderately cold and summers are warm. Precipitation of about 900 mm per year is normal. The prevailing wind during winter is northerly, with easterlies becoming stronger in spring, when it may be quite cold, often blowing for a several days consecutively. In summer the wind is southerly; it is warm and more humid. The mean yearly temperature in Bjelovar is about 12 °C (54 °F).
Culture [edit]
Bjelovar contains three war memorials. The Barutana memorial area is dedicated to those who died defending the city on September 29, 1991, during the Croatian War of Independence. The Lug memorial area is dedicated to Ustashi soldiers killed by Partisans in 1945, and the Borik memorial area is dedicated to Partisans killed during the Second World War.
Bjelovar hosts the yearly "BOK" (Bjelovarski odjeci kazališta or Bjelovar Echoes of Theatre) theatre festival. It was founded and is run by Bjelovar actor Goran Navojec, and it hosts a selection of the best plays performed in Croatia during previous year.
Sport [edit]
In the 1970s, Bjelovar was known as the handball capital of Europe, when its local squad RK Bjelovar (under the name Partizan) dominated Croatian, Yugoslav, and European handball. The team came solely from Bjelovar and its environs.
International relations [edit]
Twin towns and sister cities [edit]
Bjelovar is twinned with:
– Imotski, Croatia- – Novalja, Croatia
- – Pakrac, Croatia
– Rubiera, Italy
– Visoko, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Notable natives and residents [edit]
- Đurđa Adlešič, Croatian politician
- Momčilo Bajagić, Serbian rock musician
- Bogdan Diklić, Serbian actor
- Lavoslav Singer, Croatian industrialist
- Ognjen Vukojević, Croatian footballer
- Dragutin Wolf, Croatian industrialist
See also [edit]
References [edit]
Notes [edit]
- ^ Jakovljević, G. Arheološka topografija Bilogore, Bjelovarski zbornik ‘89, Bjelovar, 1989, pp 108–119
- ^ Dimitrijević, S. Das Neolithikum in Syrmien, Slawonien und Nordwestkroatien — Einführung in den Stander Forschung, Archeologica Iugoslavica X, Belgrade, 1969, p 39-76 (45, 47)
- ^ Dimitrijević, S. Sjeverna zona — Neolitik u centralnom i zapadnom dijelu sjeverne Jugoslavije, Praistorija jugoslavenskih zemalja II, Sarajevo, 1979, pp 229–360 (252–253)
- ^ Jakovljević, G. Povijest naseljenosti bjelovarskog kraja do osnutka grada ; in: Slukan Altić, M. Povijesni atlasi gradova : I. vol. Bjelovar, Croatian State Archives and the State Archives in Bjelovar, 2003, pp 11–19
- ^ "Census of Population, Households and Dwellings 2011, First Results by Settlements" (HTML). Statistical Reports (in Croatian and English) (Zagreb: Croatian Bureau of Statistics) (1441). June 2011. ISSN 1332-0297. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
Bibliography [edit]
- Cresswell, Peterjon; Atkins, Ismay; Dunn, Lily (10 July 2006). Time Out Croatia (First ed.). London, Berkeley & Toronto: Time Out Group Ltd & Ebury Publishing, Random House Ltd. 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SV1V 2SA. ISBN 978-1-904978-70-1. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
External links [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Bjelovar |
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