Orahovica

Orahovica is a town in Slavonia, Croatia. It is situated on the slopes of the mountain Papuk and positioned on the state road D2 Varaždin-Koprivnica-Našice-Osijek.

Not to be confused with Orehovica.
For other places with the same name, see Orahovica (disambiguation).
Orahovica
Town
Grad Orahovica
Town of Orahovica
View of Orahovica
Flag
Orahovica
Location of Orahovica in Croatia
Coordinates: 45.532853°N 17.879537°E / 45.532853; 17.879537
Country Croatia
County Virovitica-Podravina
Government
 • MayorAna-Marija Petin (Croatian Peasant Party)
 • Governing PartySDP, HNS and HSS
Area
 • Town123.9 km2 (47.8 sq mi)
Elevation
183 m (600 ft)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Town5,304
 • Urban
3,954
Postal Code
33515
Area code(s)+385 33
Vehicle registrationNA, SL
Websitewww.orahovica.hr

Economy

Orahovica has a well-developed industry (tile production, panel-parquet, wine production, fruit and vegetables processing, metal processing...). Agriculture plays an important role for the town economy (crop and livestock farming, fresh water fish, fruit and vineyards).

History
Ružica Grad
Orahovica Lake

The name Orahovica is derived from the word orah, meaning a walnut tree.

Orahovica was first officially mentioned in the year 1228, in a historical document issued by king Andrew II. Ružica fortification, not far from Orahovica, was first mentioned in the year 1357 as a royal estate. In the 15th and the first half of the 16th century the town was a thriving community owned by various patricians Nikola Kont, Lovro Iločki, Ladislav More etc.

Suleiman I, in his 1542 campaign, conquered Orahovica. It was renamed as "Rahoviçe" and initially was kaza centre in Sanjak of Pojega, which initially part of Budin Eyalet (1542-1580), later in Bosna Eyalet (1580-1600) and finally in Kanije Eyalet. It became a notable sanjak centre in Kanije Eyalet in 1601. The Turkish rule lasted till the year 1687. After the liberation, and up until the end of the 19th century many prominent noble families, like the Pejačević family, and the Mihalović family, owned the town.

In the late 19th century and early 20th century, Orahovica was part of the Virovitica County of the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia.

In the 20th century the town was a centre of a large municipality with a well-developed industry, and agriculture.

During the Croatian War of Independence Orahovica suffered from a number of shell attacks that caused certain material damage.

It received the status of a town (grad) in 1997.

Population

In the 2011 census, the total population of the administrative area of Orahovica was 5,304, distributed in the following settlements:[1]

In 2011, 87% of the population were Croats.[2]

Orahovica (settlement), ethnic composition
Year of census 2001 1991 1981 1971 1961
Croats 3,519 (82.56%) 2,999 (69.51%) 2,593 (64.74%) 2,587 (76.26%) 2,453 (80.82%)
Serbs 478 (11.21%) 771 (17.87%) 618 (15.43%) 604 (17.80%) 495 (16.30%)
Yugoslavs 0 218 (5.05%) 649 (16.20%) 118 (3.47%) 19 (0.62%)
others and unknown 265 (6.21%) 326 (7.55%) 145 (3.62%) 83 (2.44%) 68 (2.24%)
total 4,262 4,314 4,005 3,392 3,035
  • Source: CD-rom: "Naselja i stanovništvo RH od 1857-2001. godine", Izdanje Državnog zavoda za statistiku Republike Hrvatske, Zagreb, 2005.
Reenactment Order of the Knights of Ružica Castle

Notable sights
  • Orahovica's Lake - the most popular destination every summer.
  • Locomotive "Ćiro" - in the middle of the town
  • Ružica grad - old ruins of the fortress near the lake
  • Orahovica Monastery - Eastern Orthodox monastery
  • Watermill - in the city park

Education
  • Kindergarten "Palčić"
  • Primary school "I.B. - Mažuranić"
  • High School "Stjepan Ivšić"

Tourism

Orahovica became one of the most popular tourist destinations in Virovitica-Podravina County and Slavonia. Its culture, events, beautiful nature, sports and lake attract more and more tourists every year. The Spring of Orahovica, an annual cultural and tourist festival, is held since 1957.

Notable natives and residents

References
  1. "Population by Age and Sex, by Settlements, 2011 Census: Orahovica". Census of Population, Households and Dwellings 2011. Zagreb: Croatian Bureau of Statistics. December 2012.
  2. "Population by Ethnicity, by Towns/Municipalities, 2011 Census: County of Virovitica-Podravina". Census of Population, Households and Dwellings 2011. Zagreb: Croatian Bureau of Statistics. December 2012.
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