Koprivnica (Croatian pronunciation: [kɔ̝̌priːv̞nit͡sa]) is a city in Northern Croatia, located 70 kilometers northeast of Zagreb. It is the capital and the largest city of the Koprivnica-Križevci county. In 2011, the city's administrative area of 90.94 km2 had a total population of 30,854, with 23,955 in the city proper.[3]

Koprivnica
Grad Koprivnica
City of Koprivnica
Koprivnica
Koprivnica
Flag of Koprivnica
Map
Location of Koprivnica in Croatia
Koprivnica is located in Croatia
Koprivnica
Koprivnica
Coordinates: 46°09′46″N 16°49′42″E / 46.16278°N 16.82833°E / 46.16278; 16.82833
Country Croatia
County Koprivnica-Križevci
Government
 • MayorMišel Jakšić (SDP)
 • City Council
21 members
Area
 • City91.8 km2 (35.4 sq mi)
 • Urban
38.6 km2 (14.9 sq mi)
Elevation
149 m (489 ft)
Population
 (2021)[2]
 • City28,580
 • Density310/km2 (810/sq mi)
 • Urban
22,262
 • Urban density580/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
48000
Area code048
Vehicle registrationKC
Websitekoprivnica.hr
Podravka Headquarters
Pagoda in the city park
Church of Saint Nicholas
Railway station

Population edit

The list of settlements in the Koprivnica municipality is:[3]

City of Koprivnica: Population trends 1857–2021
population
4554
5823
6582
7574
8544
11552
11536
11932
12864
14139
16582
21104
25941
29706
30994
30854
28580
18571869188018901900191019211931194819531961197119811991200120112021

Geography edit

Koprivnica (German: Kopreinitz, Hungarian: Kapronca) is situated at a strategic location – on the slopes of Bilogora and Kalnik to the south and river Drava to the north. Its position enabled it to develop numerous amenities for the wider area such as trade, crafts and administration, and in the 13th century Koprivnica became a town settlement. Koprivnica was named after the stream of the same name, which was first mentioned at the beginning of the 13th century during the Hungarian Kingdom.

Education edit

Universities edit

Koprivnica and Varaždin took part in establishing the University North, a public national university that operates in both cities since 2015.

University North (University centre Koprivnica) edit

  • Department of Media and Communication
  • Department of Environmental protection, recycling and packaging
  • Department of Communication, Media and Journalism
  • Department of Logistics and Sustainable Mobility
  • Department of Business and Management
  • Department of Food Technology
  • Department of Art Studies
  • Department of Computing and Informatics

History edit

Koprivnica has a history similar to that of nearby Varaždin: it was first mentioned in 1272 in a document by prince László IV and declared a free royal town by king Lajos I in 1356, and flourished as a trading place and a military fortress since that time.

In the 14th century, the town settlement further developed due to increased trade under the influence of Varaždin. During the construction of Renaissance fortification in the second half of the 16th century Koprivnica was the centre of the Slavonian military border. Koprivnica counted among its troops musketeers, German soldiers, hussars and infantry. At that time the Renaissance square emerged together with the Town hall which emphasized its Renaissance identity, so Koprivnica can today be legitimately considered a renaissance town.

The military aspect set it back somewhat when it was included in the Military Frontier in the 16th century during the wars with the Ottoman Turks, but after Maria Theresia's decree of 1765 it resumed life as a peaceful little merchant town which it was in reality.

Its position on the border of Habsburg monarchy and Ottoman Empire influenced the environment, economic, social and demographic changes, as well as everyday life. Koprivnica can therefore be considered a border town. In the second half of the 17th century Koprivnica was among the most developed royal towns in the Croatian-Slavonian Kingdom and its economic growth was initially based on strong trade activity. The fact that the three most significant churches (St. Nicholas, St. Anthony of Padua with the Franciscan monastery and church of the Assumption of Virgin Mary in Mocile further illustrates the economic power of the town in the 17th century. Economic activity was moved outside the town fortifications and this resulted in the wide and spacious baroque squares – today's Zrinski square and Jelačić square. At the same time the oldest streets evolved and they established the development base for the town until the present day.

In the 19th century, the old Renaissance and Baroque housing and buildings associated with trade were replaced by the now historical architecture and the new town centre acquired its present appearance. In 1863, the main part of the future town park was planted, and the removal of the old fortification together with the construction of the railway determined the regional development of the town. Railway connections enabled the development of industry and further established Koprivnica as a leading centre of the Podravina region. The Koprivnica Synagogue was built in 1875 in the centre of Koprivnica. Today it is listed as a cultural monument.

In the late 19th century and early 20th century, Koprivnica was a district capital in the Bjelovar-Križevci County of the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia. The first concentration and extermination camp established in the Independent State of Croatia during World War II was the Danica concentration camp established in Koprivnica.[4][5][6]

Koprivnica developed significantly in the 20th century with the advent of the Podravka food industry, known worldwide for its Vegeta spice. They even have a museum devoted to the firm of Podravka.

The annual "motifs of Podravina" event is when the whole town becomes a gallery of naïve art. Many of the greatest Croatian naïve artists come from the villages along the Drava in this county, notably Ivan Generalić.

Notable people edit

Sources edit

  • Cresswell, Peterjon; Atkins, Ismay; Dunn, Lily (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.
  • Bulatović, Radomir (1990). Koncentracioni logor Jasenovac s posebnim osvrtom na Donju Gradinu: istorijsko-sociološka i antropološka studija. Svjetlost.
  • Council, United States Holocaust Memorial (1991). Days of remembrance, April 7–14, 1991: fifty years ago : from terror to systematic murder : planning guide. U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council.
  • Rudolf Horvat, "Povijest slob. i kr. grada Koprivnice", Zagreb, 1943.
  • Leander Brozović, "Građa za povijest Koprivnice", crteži i skice Stjepan Kukec, Koprivnica 1978.
  • Milan Prelog, Ivanka Reberski, ur., Koprivnica – grad i spomenici, Zagreb 1986. ISBN 86-80195-01-4
  • Nada Klaić, "Koprivnica u srednjem vijeku", Koprivnica 1987.
  • Dragutin Feletar, "Podravina : općine Đurđevac, Koprivnica i Ludbreg u prošlosti i sadašnjosti", Koprivnica : Centar za kulturu, 1988.
  • Petrić, Hrvoje (2000). Koprivnica na razmeđi epoha (1765–1870). Zavod za hrvatsku povijest Filozofskog fakulteta u Zagrebu i Nakladna kuća dr. Feletar. ISBN 953-6235-54-4.
  • Mirela Slukan Altić, ur., Povijesni atlas gradova - Koprivnica, Zagreb-Koprivnica 2005. ISBN 953-6666-42-1

Gallery edit

References edit

  1. ^ Register of spatial units of the State Geodetic Administration of the Republic of Croatia. Wikidata Q119585703.
  2. ^ "Population by Age and Sex, by Settlements, 2021 Census". Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in 2021. Zagreb: Croatian Bureau of Statistics. 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Population by Age and Sex, by Settlements, 2011 Census: Koprivnica". Census of Population, Households and Dwellings 2011. Zagreb: Croatian Bureau of Statistics. December 2012.
  4. ^ (Bulatović 1990, p. 78)
  5. ^ www.utilis.biz, Utilis d.o.o., Zagreb. "JUSP Jasenovac – CAMPS IN THE INDEPENDENT STATE OF CROATIA". www.jusp-jasenovac.hr. Retrieved 4 February 2017. The first Ustasha concentration camp in the Independent State of Croatia, Danica, was founded on 15 April 1941 near Koprivnica.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ (Council 1991, p. 12): "April 20: The first concentration camp in Yugoslavia, Danica. near Virovitica, opens; "

External links edit

46°09′N 16°49′E / 46.150°N 16.817°E / 46.150; 16.817