Josvainiai

Josvainiai (formerly Polish: Jaswojnie, Russian: Ясвойни, Ясвойне) is a small town in Kėdainiai district, central Lithuania. It is located on the Šušvė River 10 km southwest from Kėdainiai. In the town there is a Catholic All Saints Church, gymnasium, post office and public library, stud farm, culture house.[1]

Josvainiai
Town
Coat of arms
Josvainiai
Josvainiai
Coordinates: 55°14′50″N 23°50′00″E
Country Lithuania
Ethnographic regionAukštaitija
County Kaunas County
MunicipalityKėdainiai district municipality
EldershipJosvainiai Eldership
Capital ofJosvainiai eldership
First mentioned1486
Granted city rightsMarch 29, 1792
Population
 (2011)
 • Total1,545
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)

History

The toponym Josvainiai probably derives from the unattested Lithuanian personal name *Josvainis.

Historians believe that there was a medieval castle in Josvainiai, and it was attacked by the Teutonic Knights many times. In 1486 Josvainiai was mentioned as a town. During the 16th century the royal manor of Josvainiai and the first wooden church were mentioned. During the wars of the 16th–17th centuries Josvainiai castle was devastated by Swedes.[1][2]

The town was granted city rights and coat of arms on March 29, 1792.[1] On July 19, 2006 the town was granted renewed coat of arms by a presidential decree.

During the Soviet era Josvainiai was a center of a selsovet and kolkhoz.[2]

Jewish community

Jews first settled in Josvainiai in the 17th century. By 1897, 534 Jews lived in the town, constituting 40% of the total population.[3] There was a synagogue and a Jewish school. Most Jews were expelled during World War I. During their absence, a large portion of the town burned down. After the War, some returned. Before The Holocaust, the Jewish population was 270 and included about 70 families.[4] They lived around the marketplace and the nearby streets. During World War II, 282 Jews were murdered in a mass execution: 86 men, 110 women, and 86 children.[5][6]

Demography
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1833278—    
1841545+8.78%
1885605+0.24%
18971,329+6.78%
YearPop.±% p.a.
19041,500+1.74%
19231,194−1.19%
1959698−1.48%
1970728+0.38%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1977935+3.64%
19791,102+8.56%
19851,392+3.97%
19891,392+0.00%
YearPop.±% p.a.
20011,545+0.87%
20111,057−3.72%
Source: 1902, 1923, 1959 & 1970, 1979, 1989, 2001, 2011

Images
  • A mausoleum in the Josvainiai Cemetery
  • Šušvė in Josvainiai
  • Josvainiai town center
  • Bus stop of Josvainiai (now destroyed)

References
  1. "Josvainiai". Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). 8. Vilnius: Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas. 2005. p. 732. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  2. "Josvainiai". Tarybų Lietuvos enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). 2. Vilnius: Vyriausioji enciklopedijų redakcija. 1986. p. 135.
  3. Shmuel Spector,ed, The Encyclopedia of Jewish Life Before and During the Holocaust, New York University Press, 2001, p578
  4. Schoenburg, N&S: Lithuanian Jewish Communities, Northvale, New Jersey, 1996
  5. http://collections.ushmm.org/search/?q=Josvainiai%20(Lithuania)&search_field=subject
  6. http://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/pinkas_lita/lit_00323.html
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