Žilina Region
Encyclopedia
The Žilina Region is one of the eight Slovak administrative regions
and consists of 11 districts (okres
y).
and has an area of 6,804 km² and a population of 694,763 (2005). The whole area is mountainous, belonging to the Western Carpathians. Some of the mountain ranges in the region include Javorníky
, the Lesser Fatra
and the Greater Fatra
in the west, Oravská Magura, Chočské vrchy, Low Tatras and Western Tatras
in the east. Whole area belongs to the Váh
river basin. Some of its left tributaries are Turiec
and Rajčanka
rivers and it's right tributaries Belá
, Orava
and Kysuca. National parks on the region's territory are the Lesser, Greater Fatra
, Low Tatras
and Tatra
; landscape protected areas are Strážovské vrchy, Kysuce
and Horná Orava
. The region borders Prešov Region
in the east, Banská Bystrica Region
in the south, Trenčín Region
in the south-west and west, Czech
Zlín Region
and Moravian-Silesian Region
in the north-west and Polish
Silesian
and Lesser Poland
voivodeships in the north and north-east.
in the early 9th century, the area became part of the Kingdom of Hungary
in the 12th century practically to 1918. Before break it was part of the Hungarian counties of Trencsén, Turóc, Árva and Liptó. After incorporation into Czechoslovakia, the counties continued to exist under their Slovak names of Trenčín
, Turiec
, Orava
and Liptov
, but only to 1923, when they were replaced by (grand) counties ((veľ)župy) Since 1928 it was part of the administrative unit "Slovak Land". During the WWII Slovak Republic, the area was split between Trenčín and Tatra counties. Since 1928 it was part of the administrative After reincorporation into Czechoslovakia in 1945, the pre-war state was restored. In 1949-1960 there was a unit with the name Žilina Region but was abolished in 1960 and the area became part of new Central Slovak Region, of which was part until 1990 (except 1969-70) when it was abolished. After independence of Slovakia in 1993, the current region was established in 1996. After the administrative regions became autonomous in 2002, it is governed by the Žilina Self-Governing Region.
, Martin
, Liptovský Mikuláš
, Ružomberok
and Čadca
. The level of urbanization is relatively low, with about 50% of population living in the towns, with the Námestovo District
having the lowest urbanization in the whole Slovakia, only 15%. According to the 2001 census, there were 692,332 inhabitants in the region, almost wholly Slovaks
(97.5%), with small minorities of Czechs (<1%) and Roma (<0.5%).
Regions of Slovakia
Since 1949 , Slovakia has been divided into a number of kraje . Their number, borders and functions have been changed several times. There are currently eight regions of Slovakia and they correspond to the EU's NUTS 3 level of local administrative units. Each kraj consists of okresy...
and consists of 11 districts (okres
Okres
Okres refers to administrative entities in the Czech Republic and Slovakia...
y).
Geography
It is located in northern SlovakiaSlovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
and has an area of 6,804 km² and a population of 694,763 (2005). The whole area is mountainous, belonging to the Western Carpathians. Some of the mountain ranges in the region include Javorníky
Javorníky
Maple Mountains is a mountain range of the Slovak-Moravian Carpathians that forms part of the border between the Czech Republic and Slovakia....
, the Lesser Fatra
Lesser Fatra
Lesser Fatra is a mountain range in the Western Carpathians in the north-west of Central Slovakia. In the geomorphological system, it is a part of the Fatra-Tatra Area....
and the Greater Fatra
Greater Fatra
Greater Fatra or Veľká Fatra is a mountain range in the Western Carpathians in Slovakia. In the geomorphological system, it is a part of the Fatra-Tatra Area. It is situated approximately among the towns of Ružomberok, Harmanec, Turčianske Teplice and Martin...
in the west, Oravská Magura, Chočské vrchy, Low Tatras and Western Tatras
Western Tatras
The Western Tatras are mountains in the Tatras, part of the Carpathian Mountains, located on the Polish-Slovak borders. The mountains border the High Tatras in the east, Podtatranská kotlina in the south, Choč Mountains in the west and Rów Podtatrzański in the north...
in the east. Whole area belongs to the Váh
Váh
The Váh is the longest river in entire Slovakia. A left tributary of the Danube river, the Váh is 406 km long, including its Čierny Váh branch...
river basin. Some of its left tributaries are Turiec
Turiec River (Váh)
The Turiec is a river in north-western Slovakia. It is a tributary to the Váh, into which it flows near the city of Martin. Its source is in the Veľká Fatra Mountains. The Turiec county is named after this river....
and Rajčanka
Rajcanka
Rajčanka or Rajčianka is a 47,5 km long river in northern Slovakia springing in Strážovské vrchy near Čičmany and pouring into Váh in Žilina....
rivers and it's right tributaries Belá
Belá River
The Belá is a river in northern Slovakia. It is a right tributary to the Váh, into which it flows in the town of Liptovský Hrádok. Its two sources, Tichý potok and Kôprovský potok are in the High Tatra mountains, which have confluence near Podbanské, part of the Vysoké Tatry town....
, Orava
Orava River
The Orava is a 60.9 km long river in north-western Slovakia passing through a picturesque country, in the Orava county. Its source is nowadays the Orava water reservoir whose waters flooded the confluence of Biela Orava and Čierna Orava in 1953. It flows into the river Váh near the village...
and Kysuca. National parks on the region's territory are the Lesser, Greater Fatra
Velká Fatra National Park
Veľká Fatra National Park is a National Park in Slovakia. Most of it lies in the southern part of the Žilina Region and a small part in the northern part of Banská Bystrica Region...
, Low Tatras
Low Tatras National Park
Low Tatras National Park is a national park in Central Slovakia, between the Váh River and the Hron River valleys. The park and its buffer zone cover the whole Low Tatras mountain range...
and Tatra
Tatra National Park, Slovakia
Tatra National Park is one of the nine national parks in Slovakia. It is situated in North Central Slovakia in the Tatra Mountains. The Tatra National Park protects the area of the Western Tatras and the Eastern Tatras .The National Park covers an area of 738 km² , and the buffer zone around the...
; landscape protected areas are Strážovské vrchy, Kysuce
Kysuce Protected Landscape Area
Kysuce Protected Landscape Area is one of the 14 protected landscape areas in Slovakia. It is made of two separate parts, the Javorníky mountains in the west, and Kysucké Beskydy mountains in the east, in north-western Slovakia. It is situated in the Čadca and Kysucké Nové Mesto districts, within...
and Horná Orava
Horná Orava Protected Landscape Area
Horná Orava Protected Landscape Area is one of the 14 protected landscape areas in Slovakia. It is situated in the Námestovo and Tvrdošín districts, within the Orava region.-History:...
. The region borders Prešov Region
Prešov Region
The Prešov Region is one of the eight Slovak administrative regions. It consists of 13 districts.-Geography:It is located in north-eastern Slovakia and has an area of 8,975 km². The region has diverse types of landscapes occurring in Slovakia, but mostly highlands and hilly lands dominate the...
in the east, Banská Bystrica Region
Banská Bystrica Region
The Banská Bystrica Region is one of the Slovak regions in the country of Slovakia in Europe.-Geography:It is located in the central part of Slovakia and has an area of 9,455 km². The region is prevailingly mountains, with several ranges within the area. The highest of them are the Low Tatras...
in the south, Trenčín Region
Trencín Region
The Trenčín Region is one of the eight Slovak administrative regions. It consists of 9 districts .-Geography:It is located in the north-western Slovakia, has an area of 4,502 km² and a population of 600,386 . The Danubian Lowland reaches the region to Nové Mesto nad Váhom and Partizánske areas...
in the south-west and west, Czech
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
Zlín Region
Zlín Region
Zlín Region is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located in the central-eastern part of the historical region of Moravia. It is named after its capital Zlín....
and Moravian-Silesian Region
Moravian-Silesian Region
Moravian-Silesian Region , or Moravo-Silesian Region, is one of 14 administrative Regions of the Czech Republic, until May 2001 it was formerly called the Ostrava Region . The region is located in the north-eastern part of its historical region of Moravia and in most of the Czech part of the...
in the north-west and Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
Silesian
Silesian Voivodeship
Silesian Voivodeship, or Silesia Province , is a voivodeship, or province, in southern Poland, centering on the historic region known as Upper Silesia...
and Lesser Poland
Lesser Poland Voivodeship
Małopolska Voivodeship , or Lesser Poland Voivodeship, is a voivodeship, in southern Poland...
voivodeships in the north and north-east.
History
After fall of Great MoraviaGreat Moravia
Great Moravia was a Slavic state that existed in Central Europe and lasted for nearly seventy years in the 9th century whose creators were the ancestors of the Czechs and Slovaks. It was a vassal state of the Germanic Frankish kingdom and paid an annual tribute to it. There is some controversy as...
in the early 9th century, the area became part of the Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
in the 12th century practically to 1918. Before break it was part of the Hungarian counties of Trencsén, Turóc, Árva and Liptó. After incorporation into Czechoslovakia, the counties continued to exist under their Slovak names of Trenčín
Trencín Region
The Trenčín Region is one of the eight Slovak administrative regions. It consists of 9 districts .-Geography:It is located in the north-western Slovakia, has an area of 4,502 km² and a population of 600,386 . The Danubian Lowland reaches the region to Nové Mesto nad Váhom and Partizánske areas...
, Turiec
Turiec
Turóc , , /comitatus Thurociensis) is the name of a historic administrative county of the Kingdom of Hungary...
, Orava
Orava (region)
Orava is the traditional name of a region situated in northern Slovakia and partially also in southern Poland . It encompasses the territory of the former Árva county.-History:...
and Liptov
Liptov
Liptó is the name of a historic administrative county of the Kingdom of Hungary. Its territory is presently in northern Slovakia.-Geography:...
, but only to 1923, when they were replaced by (grand) counties ((veľ)župy) Since 1928 it was part of the administrative unit "Slovak Land". During the WWII Slovak Republic, the area was split between Trenčín and Tatra counties. Since 1928 it was part of the administrative After reincorporation into Czechoslovakia in 1945, the pre-war state was restored. In 1949-1960 there was a unit with the name Žilina Region but was abolished in 1960 and the area became part of new Central Slovak Region, of which was part until 1990 (except 1969-70) when it was abolished. After independence of Slovakia in 1993, the current region was established in 1996. After the administrative regions became autonomous in 2002, it is governed by the Žilina Self-Governing Region.
Demographics
The population density in the region is 102 inhabitants per km². The largest towns are ŽilinaŽilina
Žilina is a city in north-western Slovakia, around from the capital Bratislava, close to both the Czech and Polish borders. It is the fourth largest city of Slovakia with a population of approximately 85,000, an important industrial center, the largest city on the Váh river, and the seat of a...
, Martin
Martin, Slovakia
Martin is a city in northern Slovakia, situated on the Turiec river, between the Malá Fatra and Veľká Fatra mountains, near the city of Žilina. The population numbers approximately 58,000, which makes it the eighth largest city in Slovakia...
, Liptovský Mikuláš
Liptovský Mikuláš
Liptovský Mikuláš is a town in northern Slovakia, on the Váh River. It lies in the Liptov region, in Liptov Basin near the Low Tatra and Tatra mountains...
, Ružomberok
Ružomberok
Ružomberok is a town in northern Slovakia, in the historical Liptov region. It has a population of around 30,000-Geography:...
and Čadca
Cadca
Čadca is a district town in northern Slovakia, near the border with Poland and the Czech Republic.-Geography:It is located south of the Jablunkov Pass, surrounded by the Javorníky, Kysucké Beskydy and Turzovská vrchovina mountain ranges. It lies in the valley of the Kysuca river, around 30 km...
. The level of urbanization is relatively low, with about 50% of population living in the towns, with the Námestovo District
Námestovo District
Námestovo District is adistrict inthe Žilina Region of central Slovakia.Until 1918, the district was part of theHungarian countyof Orava.- Municipalities :*Babín*Beňadovo*Bobrov*Breza*Hruštín*Klin*Krušetnica*Lokca*Lomná...
having the lowest urbanization in the whole Slovakia, only 15%. According to the 2001 census, there were 692,332 inhabitants in the region, almost wholly Slovaks
Slovaks
The Slovaks, Slovak people, or Slovakians are a West Slavic people that primarily inhabit Slovakia and speak the Slovak language, which is closely related to the Czech language.Most Slovaks today live within the borders of the independent Slovakia...
(97.5%), with small minorities of Czechs (<1%) and Roma (<0.5%).
List of districts
- Bytča DistrictBytca DistrictBytča District is a district inthe Žilina Region of central Slovakia.Until 1918, the district was part of the Hungarian county of Trenčín.- Municipalities :Populations are given as of 2005.*Bytča *Hlboké nad Váhom...
- Čadca DistrictCadca DistrictČadca District is a district inthe Žilina Region of northern central Slovakia, in the Kysuce region.Until 1918, the district was part of the Hungarian county of Trenčín.- Municipalities :*Čadca*Čierne*Dlhá nad Kysucou*Dunajov...
- Dolný Kubín DistrictDolný Kubín DistrictDolný Kubín District is a district inthe Žilina Region of central Slovakia.Until 1918, the district was almost entirely part of the Hungarian county of Árva, except for a small area around Kraľovany which formed part of the county of Liptó.- Municipalities :*Bziny*Dlhá nad Oravou*Dolný Kubín*Horná...
- Kysucké Nové Mesto DistrictKysucké Nové Mesto DistrictKysucké Nové Mesto District is a district in the Žilina Region of northern central Slovakia, in the Kysuce region. It is entirely surrounded by the Žilina and Čadca districts...
- Liptovský Mikuláš DistrictLiptovský Mikuláš DistrictLiptovský Mikuláš District is a district in the Žilina Region of central Slovakia.Until 1918, the district was part of the Hungarian county of Liptov.- Municipalities :*Beňadiková*Bobrovček*Bobrovec*Bobrovník*Bukovina...
- Martin DistrictMartin DistrictMartin District is a district in the Žilina Region of central Slovakia.Until 1918, the district was part of the Hungarian county of Turiec.- Municipalities :*Belá-Dulice*Benice*Blatnica*Bystrička*Diaková*Dolný Kalník*Dražkovce...
- Námestovo DistrictNámestovo DistrictNámestovo District is adistrict inthe Žilina Region of central Slovakia.Until 1918, the district was part of theHungarian countyof Orava.- Municipalities :*Babín*Beňadovo*Bobrov*Breza*Hruštín*Klin*Krušetnica*Lokca*Lomná...
- Ružomberok DistrictRužomberok DistrictRužomberok District is a district inthe Žilina Region of central Slovakia.Until 1918, the district was part of the Hungarian county of Liptov.- Municipalities :*Bešeňová*Hubová*Ivachnová*Kalameny*Komjatná*Likavka...
- Turčianske Teplice DistrictTurcianske Teplice DistrictTurčianske Teplice District is a district in the Žilina Region of central Slovakia.Until 1918, the district was part of the Hungarian county of Turiec.- Municipalities :*Abramová*Blažovce*Bodorová*Borcová*Brieštie*Budiš...
- Tvrdošín DistrictTvrdošín DistrictTvrdošín District is a district inthe Žilina Region of central Slovakia.Until 1918, the district was part of the Hungarian county of Orava.- Municipalities :*Brezovica*Čimhová*Habovka*Hladovka*Liesek*Nižná*Oravský Biely Potok...
- Žilina DistrictŽilina DistrictThe Žilina District is an okres of the Žilina Region in north-western Slovakia.Until 1918, the district was part of the Hungarian county of Trenčín.The core of the district is situated in the Váh river valley...
List of municipalities and towns
There are 315 municipalities, of which 18 are towns (in bold)External links
- Žilinský samosprávny kraj Official website