Virovitica (pronounced [ʋirɔʋǐtit͡sa]) is a Croatian city near the Hungarian border. It is situated near the Drava river and belongs to the historic region of Slavonia. Virovitica has a population of 14,688, with 21,291 people in the municipality (census 2011).[3] It is also the capital of Virovitica-Podravina County.

Virovitica
Grad Virovitica
City of Virovitica
Pejačević Castle in Virovitica
Pejačević Castle in Virovitica
Flag of Virovitica
Map
Virovitica is located in Croatia
Virovitica
Virovitica
Location of Virovitica in Croatia
Coordinates: 45°50′N 17°23′E / 45.833°N 17.383°E / 45.833; 17.383
Country Croatia
County Virovitica-Podravina County
Government
 • MayorIvica Kirin (HDZ)
Area
 • City170.7 km2 (65.9 sq mi)
 • Urban
38.1 km2 (14.7 sq mi)
Elevation
122 m (400 ft)
Population
 (2021)[2]
 • City19,302
 • Density110/km2 (290/sq mi)
 • Urban
13,486
 • Urban density350/km2 (920/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
33 000
Area code+385 (0) 33
Vehicle registrationVT
Websitevirovitica.hr

Name

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Virovitica has also historically been known by the names Wirowititz/Virovititz and Wirowitiza (German), Viroviticza, Verewitiza, Verowitiza, Verowtiza, Verőce (Hungarian) and Varaviza (Italian), Viroviticza or Verucia (Latin).

History

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The town is first mentioned in 1234. It was part of Ottoman Empire between 1552 and 1684 and was kaza centre initially in Sanjak of Pojega (1552–1601), later in Sanjak of Rahoviçe in Kanije Eyalet (1601–1684) until the Habsburg conquest in 1684.

In the late 19th century and early 20th century, Virovitica was a district capital in the Virovitica County of the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia.

Demographics

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The following settlements comprise the administrative area of the city of Virovitica:[3]

City of Virovitica: Population trends 1857–2021
population
4869
6356
6540
7762
8980
9682
11243
13088
13222
15136
17578
19367
20905
22931
22618
21291
19302
18571869188018901900191019211931194819531961197119811991200120112021

Politics

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Minority councils

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Directly elected minority councils and representatives are tasked with consulting tasks for the local or regional authorities in which they are advocating for minority rights and interests, integration into public life and participation in the management of local affairs.[4] At the 2023 Croatian national minorities councils and representatives elections Serbs of Croatia fulfilled legal requirements to elect 15 members minority councils of the Town of Virovitica but with only 12 representatives being elected in the body in the end.[5]

Culture

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The patron saint of Virovitica is St. Rocco (Sv. Rok), celebrated every August 16.

Đorđe Balašević wrote a song titled Virovitica, praising his time spent in the city.

Transportation

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The town lies on the intersection of the state roads D2 and D5 and also has a bus station.

The towns has one train station and one halt - it lies on R202 railway corridor.

Notable people

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Twin towns – sister cities

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Virovitica is twinned with:[6]

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References

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  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" (xlsx). 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: Virovitica". Census of Population, Households and Dwellings 2011. Zagreb: Croatian Bureau of Statistics. December 2012.
  4. ^ "Manjinski izbori prve nedjelje u svibnju, kreću i edukacije". T-portal. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Informacija o konačnim rezultatima izbora članova vijeća i izbora predstavnika nacionalnih manjina 2023. X. VIROVITIČKO-PODRAVSKA ŽUPANIJA" (PDF) (in Croatian). Državno izborno povjerenstvo Republike Hrvatske. 2023. p. 7. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Gradovi prijatelji". virovitica.hr (in Croatian). Virovitica. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
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