Harju County
Encyclopedia
Harju County or Harjumaa , nowadays one of 15 counties of Estonia
. It is situated in northern Estonia
, on the south coast of the Gulf of Finland
, and borders Lääne-Viru County to the east, Järva County
to the south-east, Rapla County
to the south, and Lääne County
to the south-west.
528,468 people live in Harju County – constituting 39.4% of the total population in Estonia (as of January 2011).
Tallinn
, the capital of Estonia, is included in the county. The City Council of Tallinn has applied to the Government to be given a special status with its own law.
The official newspaper of Harju County is Harju Elu
.
(Osilia), Läänemaa (Rotalia or Maritima), Harjumaa
(Harria), Rävala (Revalia), Virumaa
(Vironia), Järvamaa (Jervia), Sakala
(Saccala), and Ugandi (Ugaunia
).
, who is appointed by the Government of Estonia for a term of five years. Since 2009 the Governor position is taken by Ülle Rajasalu
.
The history of Harju County Government goes back to the year 1917.
Harju County Municipality has been founded by the regulation from 30 March 1917. The members of the Harju County Council were elected by the delegates of county municipalities. The first meeting was held on 1 July 1917 in Tallinn, Toompea Castle. Johannes Reinthal won the elections for the Chair of the Council. The language of procedure was decided to be Estonian.
The structure of Harju County Government has consisted of following departments from its beginning:
Executive Committee of Harju County Deputies Council was formed on January 1941. Its existence was stopped during the German occupation
from the autumn of 1941 till autumn 1944. After the new rural regions were formed in Soviet Union, the Executive Committee of Harju County Deputies Council was abolished on 1950. The Executive Committee of Harju Region Labour Deputies Council was formed.
Harju County Government was formed on 1990.
The Chairs of Harju County Councils, the Heads of County Governments and the County Governors:
. There are 6 urban municipalities ( – towns) and 18 rural municipalities ( – parishes
) in Harju County.
Urban municipalities:
Rural municipalities:
Counties of Estonia
A county is an administrative subdivision of Estonia.Estonia is divided into 15 counties. The government of each county is led by a county governor , who represents the national government at the regional level...
. It is situated in northern Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
, on the south coast of the Gulf of Finland
Gulf of Finland
The Gulf of Finland is the easternmost arm of the Baltic Sea. It extends between Finland and Estonia all the way to Saint Petersburg in Russia, where the river Neva drains into it. Other major cities around the gulf include Helsinki and Tallinn...
, and borders Lääne-Viru County to the east, Järva County
Järva County
Järva County , or Järvamaa , is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It is situated in central part of the country and borders Lääne-Viru County to the east, Jõgeva County to the south-east, Viljandi County to the south, Pärnu County to the south-west, Rapla County to the west, and Harju County to the...
to the south-east, Rapla County
Rapla County
Rapla County , or Raplamaa, is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It is situated in western part of the country and borders Järva County to the east, Pärnu County to the south, Lääne County to the west, and Harju County to the north...
to the south, and Lääne County
Lääne County
Lääne County , or Läänemaa , is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It is located in western Estonia and borders Baltic Sea to the north, Harju County to the north-east, Rapla County to the east, Pärnu County to the south, and the island counties of Saare and Hiiu to the west...
to the south-west.
528,468 people live in Harju County – constituting 39.4% of the total population in Estonia (as of January 2011).
Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
, the capital of Estonia, is included in the county. The City Council of Tallinn has applied to the Government to be given a special status with its own law.
The official newspaper of Harju County is Harju Elu
Harju Elu
Harju Elu is the official weekly newspaper of Harju County, Estonia.It was founded in 1944. 1993–2007 it carried the name of Harjumaa....
.
History
In the first centuries AD political and administrative subdivisions began to emerge in Estonia. Two larger subdivisions appeared: the parish and the county . The parish consisted of several villages. Nearly all parishes had at least one fortress. The defense of the local area was directed by the highest official, the parish elder. The county was composed of several parishes, also headed by an elder. By the 13th century the following major districts had developed in Estonia: SaaremaaSaaremaa
Saaremaa is the largest island in Estonia, measuring 2,673 km². The main island of Saare County, it is located in the Baltic Sea, south of Hiiumaa island, and belongs to the West Estonian Archipelago...
(Osilia), Läänemaa (Rotalia or Maritima), Harjumaa
Harjumaa
Harjumaa, , was an ancient Estonian county. It corresponded roughly to the present territory of Rapla County.- See also :*Danish Estonia*Harju County*Rapla County*History of Estonia*Livonian Crusade*Rulers of Estonia...
(Harria), Rävala (Revalia), Virumaa
Virumaa
Virumaa is a former independent county in Ancient Estonia. Now it is divided into Ida-Viru County or Eastern Vironia and Lääne-Viru County or Western Vironia...
(Vironia), Järvamaa (Jervia), Sakala
Sakala
Sakala may refer to:* Sagala, a city of ancient India* Sakala County, an ancient county in Estonia * Sakala , an Estonian academic corporation* Sakala , an Estonian newspaper...
(Saccala), and Ugandi (Ugaunia
Ugaunia
Ugandi was an independent country between the east coast of Lake Võrtsjärv and west coast of Lake Pskov, bordered by Vaiga, Mõhu, Nurmekund, Sakala, Tālava, and The Principality of Pskov. Ugandi had an area of approximately 3000 hides...
).
County Government
The County Government is led by GovernorCounty Governors of Estonia
The Governor is the leader of a county in Estonia.-List of governers of Estonian counties:Harju County:*Johannes Reinthal *Oskar Suursööt *Martin Kruusimaa *Rudolf Kuris...
, who is appointed by the Government of Estonia for a term of five years. Since 2009 the Governor position is taken by Ülle Rajasalu
Ülle Rajasalu
Ülle Rajasalu is an Estonian Politician. She became the governor of Harju County in 2009.-Sources:*...
.
The history of Harju County Government goes back to the year 1917.
Harju County Municipality has been founded by the regulation from 30 March 1917. The members of the Harju County Council were elected by the delegates of county municipalities. The first meeting was held on 1 July 1917 in Tallinn, Toompea Castle. Johannes Reinthal won the elections for the Chair of the Council. The language of procedure was decided to be Estonian.
The structure of Harju County Government has consisted of following departments from its beginning:
- general department (organised the work of different committees),
- food department (stored and registered the food products, provided the people and military etc.),
- roads department,
- health care department,
- the government of rural schools (education department was formed later) and
- administrative department.
Executive Committee of Harju County Deputies Council was formed on January 1941. Its existence was stopped during the German occupation
Occupation of Estonia by Nazi Germany
After Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941, Army Group North reached Estonia in July.Initially the Germans were perceived by most Estonians as liberators from the USSR and its repressions, having arrived only a week after the first mass deportations from the Baltics...
from the autumn of 1941 till autumn 1944. After the new rural regions were formed in Soviet Union, the Executive Committee of Harju County Deputies Council was abolished on 1950. The Executive Committee of Harju Region Labour Deputies Council was formed.
Harju County Government was formed on 1990.
The Chairs of Harju County Councils, the Heads of County Governments and the County Governors:
- 1917–1920 Johannes Reinthal
- 1920–1922 Oskar Suursööt
- 1922–1927 Martin Kruusimaa (Krusemann)
- 1927–1936 Rudolf Kuris
- 1936–1940 Karl Robert Ruus
- 1940–1941 Gustav Abel
- 1940; 1941–1944 Paul Männik
- 1990–1991 Anti Oidsalu
- 1991–1994 Mati Zernand
- 1994–1999 Mait Kornet
- 1999–2004 Orm Valtson
- 2005–2006 Jaan MarkJaan MarkJaan Mark is an Estonian politician. 2005–2006 he served as the governor of Harju County.-References:...
- 2006–2009 Värner Lootsmann
- 2009 – Ülle RajasaluÜlle RajasaluÜlle Rajasalu is an Estonian Politician. She became the governor of Harju County in 2009.-Sources:*...
Municipalities
The county is subdivided into municipalitiesMunicipalities of Estonia
A Municipality is the smallest administrative subdivision of Estonia. Each municipality is a unit of self-government with its representative and executive bodies. The municipalities in Estonia cover the entire territory of the country....
. There are 6 urban municipalities ( – towns) and 18 rural municipalities ( – parishes
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
) in Harju County.
- KeilaKeilaKeila is a town and an urban municipality in Harju County in north-western Estonia. It is also the administrative centre of the surrounding rural municipality – Keila Parish.-History:...
- LoksaLoksaLoksa is a town and municipality in Harju County, northern Estonia. It has a population of 3,403 and covers an area of 3.81 km².The Valgejõgi river runs through Loksa and drains there into Hara Bay.-History:...
- MaarduMaarduMaardu is a town and a municipality in Harju County, Estonia. It is part of Tallinn metropolitan area. The town covers an area of 22.76 km² and has a population of 16,529 ....
- PaldiskiPaldiskiPaldiski is a town and Baltic Sea port situated on the Pakri peninsula of north-western Estonia. Originally a Swedish settlement known as Rågervik, it became a Russian naval base in the 18th century. The Russians renamed it Балтийский Порт Paldiski is a town and Baltic Sea port situated on the...
- SaueSaueSaue is a town in north-western Estonia. Administratively it constitutes a separate urban municipality in Harju County.The territory of Saue is and population about 5,600. Closest centres are Tallinn , Keila , Saku and Laagri ....
- TallinnTallinnTallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
Rural municipalities:
- AegviiduAegviiduAegviidu is a borough in northern Estonia. Administratively it constitutes Aegviidu Parish — a rural municipality within Harju County. The municipality has a population of 873 and covers an area of...
(borough) - Anija Parish (includes the town of KehraKehraKehra is a town in Harju County, northern Estonia. It's the administrative cntre of Anija Parish. Kehra has a population of 3,060 .Kehra has a station on the Elektriraudtee rail line....
) - Harku Parish
- Jõelähtme Parish
- Keila Parish
- Kernu Parish
- Kiili Parish (includes the borough of KiiliKiiliKiili is a borough in Harju County, northern Estonia. It is the administrative center of Kiili Parish. Kiili has a population of 1,337 .-External links:*...
) - Kose Parish
- Kuusalu Parish
- Kõue Parish
- Nissi Parish
- Padise Parish
- Raasiku Parish
- Rae Parish
- Saku Parish
- Saue Parish
- Vasalemma Parish
- Viimsi Parish
External links
- Harju County Government – Official website (in Estonian)