Istria County
Istria County
| |
---|---|
Anthem: Krasna zemljo (Croatian) "Beautiful land" | |
Country | Croatia |
County seat Largest City | Pazin Pula |
Government | |
• Župan | Boris Miletić (Ind.) |
• Assembly | 41 members |
Area | |
• Total | 2,813 km2 (1,086 sq mi) |
Population (2021)[2] | |
• Total | 195,794 |
• Density | 70/km2 (180/sq mi) |
Languages | |
• Official languages | Croatian and Italian |
Area code | 052 |
ISO 3166 code | HR-18 |
HDI (2021) | 0.875[3] very high · 3rd |
Website | www |
Istria County (/ˈɪstriə/; Croatian: Istarska županija; Italian: Regione istriana, lit. "Istrian Region") is the westernmost county of Croatia which includes the majority of the Istrian peninsula.
Administrative centers in the county are Pazin, Pula and Poreč.[4] Istria County has the largest Italian-speaking population in Croatia.
History
The caves near Pula (in latinium Pietas Julia), Lim bay, Šandalja, and Roumald's cave, house
The Istrian peninsula was known to
With the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476, Istria was conquered by the Goths and then by the Byzantines. During Byzantine rule, it was shortly ruled by Avars. Istria was annexed by the Lombards in 751, by the Avars in 774, by the Franks during the reign of Charlemagne in 789, and successively controlled by various dukes, (Carinthia, Merano, Bavaria). Later it was run by the patriarchs of Aquileia.
In 1267 the Republic of Venice annexed the western and southern coast of the Istrian peninsula because of the strong presence of the autochthonous Italian community; during this period the region prospered. The major Istrian cities were reborn under Italian government; it was in this half millennium that they developed architecturally and culturally.[citation needed] The eastern half of Istria was administered by the Habsburgs, and was referred to as "Imperial Istria" with its capital at Pisino (German: Mitterburg).
In 1797, with the
After World War I, according to the peace treaty of Rapallo Istria became part of Italy in 1920. Fascism and later Nazi occupation spoiled otherwise tolerant ethnic relations in the area. After World War II Istria was assigned to Yugoslavia and many ethnic Italians (Istrian Italians) left in the Istrian–Dalmatian exodus. With the collapse of Communist Yugoslavia Istria became part of an independent Croatia and the region saw no fighting in the ensuing war. Today it is one of the most economically developed parts of Croatia. Currently, some people ask for a higher degree of autonomy for the county. This is known as Istrianism.
Personalities like Robert Koch and writer James Joyce lived and worked in Istria. Writer Jules Verne was inspired to write his novel Mathias Sandorf after hearing of the quarry and cave in Pazin and the poet Dante Alighieri visited and wrote a few lines about Istria. Racing drivers Mario Andretti and Aldo Andretti were born in Montona in Istria.
Geography
Its coastline is 445 km (277 mi) long with islands making up 539.9 km (335 mi). A smaller part of Istria also belongs to the
The terrain consists of a
There are so called "bijela", "siva", and "crvena" Istra (white, grey and red Istria). White Istria is around the mountain peaks, Grey Istria is the fertile inner lands while Red Istria is the blood-red painted lands of
Sites such as the Grotto of Baredine near Poreč, the underground river Pazinčica, and the karst Pazin pit (Pazinska jama) near Pazin are geologic attractions. The Limski Kanal is the only structure resembling a fjord in continental Europe outside of Scandinavia (though actually it is not a fjord, but a ria). The quarry near Rovinj has been designed for studying geology. The longest river, the Mirna is only 32 km (20 mi) long and its mouth is near Novigrad. Other rivers that pass through Istria include the Dragonja River and the Raša River.
The continental plains and valleys are primarily utilized for agriculture, such as growing cereals and vegetables. Closer to the sea, red lands are used for cultivation of
The
Climate
Protected from the north by the mountain chain of
Demographics
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1857 | 117,719 | — |
1869 | 133,518 | +13.4% |
1880 | 160,000 | +19.8% |
1890 | 176,196 | +10.1% |
1900 | 194,455 | +10.4% |
1910 | 236,981 | +21.9% |
1921 | 215,167 | −9.2% |
1931 | 223,949 | +4.1% |
1948 | 183,344 | −18.1% |
1953 | 175,094 | −4.5% |
1961 | 176,838 | +1.0% |
1971 | 175,199 | −0.9% |
1981 | 188,332 | +7.5% |
1991 | 204,346 | +8.5% |
2001 | 206,344 | +1.0% |
2011 | 208,055 | +0.8% |
2021 | 195,794 | −5.9% |
Source: Naselja i stanovništvo Republike Hrvatske 1857–2001, Croatian Bureau of Statistics, Zagreb, 2005 |
According to the 2021 census the total population of Istria County is 195,794 which amounts to approxmiately 4.8% of Croatia's entire population. The county's population density is approximately 70 inhabitants per km2 with an average age of 45 years.
population | 117719 | 133518 | 160000 | 176196 | 194455 | 236981 | 215167 | 223949 | 183344 | 175094 | 176838 | 175199 | 188332 | 204346 | 206344 | 208055 | 195794 |
1857 | 1869 | 1880 | 1890 | 1900 | 1910 | 1921 | 1931 | 1948 | 1953 | 1961 | 1971 | 1981 | 1991 | 2001 | 2011 | 2021 |
Istria county is administratively subdivided into 41 local units of government - 10 of these are officially designated as cities/towns and 31 are largely rural municipalities. More than 70 percent of the county's population lives in these ten urban areas:
There are also 31 municipalities:
- Bale/ Valle (1,127)
- Barban/ Barbana (2,721)
- Brtonigla / Verteneglio (1,626)
- Cerovlje / Cerreto (1,677)
- Fažana / Fasana (3,635)
- Gračišće / Gallignana (1,419)
- Grožnjan / Grisignana (736)
- Kanfanar / Canfanaro (1,543)
- Karojba / Caroiba (1,438)
- Kaštelir-Labinci / Castellier-Santa Domenica (1,463)
- Kršan / Chersano (2,951)
- Lanišće / Lanischie (329)
- Ližnjan / Lisignano (3,965)
- Lupoglav / Lupogliano (924)
- Marčana / Marzana (4,253)
- Medulin / Medolino (6,481)
- Motovun / Montona (1,004)
- Oprtalj / Portole (850)
- Pićan / Pedena (1,827)
- Raša / Arsia (3,183)
- Sveta Nedelja / Santa Domenica d'Albona (2,987)
- Sveti Lovreč / San Lorenzo di Pesenatico (1,015)
- Sveti Petar u Šumi / San Pietro di Selve (1,065)
- Svetvinčenat / Sanvincenti (2,202)
- Tar-Vabriga / Torre-Abrega (1,990)
- Tinjan / Antignana (1,684)
- Višnjan / Visignano (2,274)
- Vižinada / Visinada (1,158)
- Vrsar / Orsera (2,162)
- Žminj / Gimino (3,483)
- Funtana / Fontane (907)
Besides official Croatian, the
is also recognized in the county as an official language.In 2021 the population was 195,237 and the main ethnic groups were as follows:[5]
- Croats – 149,152 (76,l.40%)
- Regional affiliation – 10,025 (5.13%)
- Italians – 9,784 (5.01%)
- Serbs – 5,778 (2.98%)
- Bosniaks – 4,838 (2.48%)
- Albanians – 2,055 (1.05%)
Before World War I and until World War II, Istria contained a large autochthonous Romance language speaking community consisting of Venetian dialects, Istriot and Istro-Romanian along with Italian, plus various local Slavic dialects, some of which were likewise unique to Istria. Today, apart from the local dialects and official Croatian, one still finds in this region a small community of people, the Istro-Romanians, who speak Istro-Romanian, closely related to Romanian, other districts where Venetian dialects and Istriot are still spoken.
Due to its traditional bond with Europe and its level of international integration, in 1994 Istria County was the first Croatian region to become a member of the Assembly of European Regions.[6]
Communication
Istria is well connected with the rest of Croatia and Europe. Due to its connection with a wider European area, road development suitably covers all needs and contributes to a balanced development of the coastal area and the Istrian interior.
Initially, the need for
Croatian Istria County's highway system is callen the "
The only significant airport with scheduled commercial service is Pula Airport. Large majority of flights are only seasonal.
Economy
Well-developed are
Great attention is being given to agriculture and the production of ecologic food, the wine and olive growing. Historically cultivated local wine varieties include Malvasia (white) and Teran (red).
Istrian olive growers are being included in the first international
Tourism
Organized tourism in Istria goes back to the Romans, when emperor Vespasian, for the entertainment of that time, built the Pula Arena. During the reign of Austro-Hungarian Empire in (1866), Austrian and Hungarian royalty and aristocracy started visiting local resorts and discovered Poreč.
Significant efforts were made after World War II to develop the tourist infrastructure and to accentuate its importance. In combination with the natural environment, history and cultural heritage, investments resulted in developed and competitive service all along the western coast in Poreč, Pula, Rovinj, Umag, Novigrad, and Vrsar.
One growing trend among the centrally located cities, especially Kanfanar, is agritourism. Beginning with La Casa di Matiki in 1994 after the war, a number of eccentric agritouristic Bed and Breakfasts have sprung up in central Istria, providing opportunities for individuals, couples, and families to experience a very authentic Istrian experience while learning about the Istrian agricultural lifestyle.
In the eastern part, as part of another county, there are resorts like Rabac, Opatija. Istria was and still is the most important tourist destination in Croatia, hosting the western and central European visitors, mostly from Germany, Slovenia, Austria and Italy.[10] Area is the most visited tourist region with 27% of all visitors and 35% of time spent in all of Croatia.
County government
The current
The county assembly is composed of 41 representatives from the following political parties:
Political party | Seats won | Government |
---|---|---|
IDS - ISU - ZS | 23 / 41
|
Government |
SDP | 7 / 41
|
Opposition |
HDZ | 6 / 41
|
Opposition |
ORaH
|
5 / 41
|
Opposition |
Minority councils and representatives
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.
See also
- Castellieri culture
- Counties of Croatia
- History of Istria
- Istria
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Poreč and Pula
References
This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2010) |
- ISSN 1333-3305. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ "Population by Age and Sex, by Settlements, 2021 Census". Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in 2021. Zagreb: Croatian Bureau of Statistics. 2022.
- ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
- ^ "Regione Istriana: Struttura organizzativa" (in Italian). Archived from the original on 11 November 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
- ^ "Popis 2021" [Census 2021]. Državni zavod za statistiku (in Croatian). 22 September 2022. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
- ^ "Skupština europskih regija (SER)" (in Croatian). Istria County. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
- ^ "Raška pruga". istra.lzmk.hr. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
- ^ "Istria declared world's best olive oil region for 8th year". croatiaweek.com. Croatia Week. 6 September 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ^ Pavlović, Milan (4 October 2023). "Istra osmu godinu zaredom najjača maslinarska regija u svijetu". glasistre.hr (in Croatian). Glas Istre. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
- ^ "DOLASCI I NOĆENJA TURISTA U ISTRI PO ZEMLJAMA PORIJEKLA" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
- ^ "Župan i zamjenici župana".
- ^ "Manjinski izbori prve nedjelje u svibnju, kreću i edukacije". T-portal. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
- ^ a b "Informacija o konačnim rezultatima izbora članova vijeća i izbora predstavnika nacionalnih manjina 2023. XVIII. ISTARSKA ŽUPANIJA" (PDF) (in Croatian). Državno izborno povjerenstvo Republike Hrvatske. 2023. p. 3-8. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
External links
- Official website (in Croatian, Italian, and English)