Valga, Estonia

Valga (German: Walk) is a town in southern Estonia and the capital of Valga County. Until their separation in 1920, Valga and the town of Valka in northern Latvia were one town. They are now twin-towns. The area of Valga is 16.5 square kilometres (6.4 square miles) and that of Valka is 14.2 km2 (5.5 sq mi). Their populations are respectively 12,261 and 6,164. On 21 December 2007 all border-crossing points were removed and roads and fences opened between the two countries with both countries joining the Schengen Agreement.

Valga
Town
Valga Town Hall, Jaani (St. John´s) Church and Railway Station
Flag
Coat of arms
Motto(s): 
1 linn, 2 riiki (1 city, 2 countries)
Valga
Location in Estonia
Coordinates: 57°47′N 26°02′E
Country Estonia
County Valga
First mention1286
Government
 • MayorKalev Härk (Social Democratic Party)
Area
 • Town16.54 km2 (6.39 sq mi)
Elevation
65 m (213 ft)
Population
 (2017)
 • Town12,992
 • Rank11th
 • Density790/km2 (2,000/sq mi)
 • Metro
in Valga-Valka 19,500
Ethnicity
 • Estonians64.3%
 • Russians26.3%
 • other9.1%
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
68230
Area code(s)(+372) 76
Vehicle registrationG
Websitewww. valgalv.ee

Location and transport

The distance to Tartu is 89 km (55 mi), Pärnu 144 km (89 mi), Tallinn 245 km (152 mi), Riga 175 km (109 mi) and Pskov 170 km (106 mi).

Valga is situated at the junction of roads and railways.

The Hummuli–Tartu–Riga railway is connected via Tapa with the Tallinn–Narva–St Petersburg main line. After closing April 2008 for extensive repair work Edelaraudtee railway services from other parts of Estonia to Valga re-opened in January 2010.[1][2] From 1 January 2014 all domestic train services in Estonia are operated by Elron who runs three services a day from Valga to Tartu. The journeys either operate as through services to Tallinn or have a connection available at Tartu. The journey to Tartu takes around one hour and 15 minutes.[3]

Valga is also an international railway junction; since April 2008 three daily trains operated by Pasažieru Vilciens from Riga which previously terminated at Lugaži have been extended across the border to Valga. The journey time to Riga is between 3h12m and 3h30m.[4]

With the expansion of the Schengen Agreement and the abolition of systematic border controls between Estonia and Latvia, it was announced that common public bus transport would be launched between Valga and Valka.[5]

During the Cold War, Valga was home to Valga air base.

Districts of Valga

There are six districts of Valga:

  • Kesklinn
  • Laatsi
  • Pilpaküla
  • Puraküla
  • Kapsamõisa (Raudteetaguse)
  • Tambre linnaosa.[6]

Activity

Since 1944, a local newspaper, Valgamaalane, has been published (3 times a week). Since 2003, there has also been a local newspaper "Walk" (in the Russian language). There also is a local correspondence office of Estonian Television (Eesti Televisioon) and a local radio – "Raadio Ruut".

Valga has concluded several cooperation agreements. The nearest is an agreement (from the year 1995) with the neighbouring town of Valka. There are also cooperation agreements with Oakland, Maryland[7] (US) and Östhammar Municipality (Sweden). There are long-term friendly relations with Hallsberg Municipality in Sweden and the towns of Lübz in Germany and Tornio in Finland.

Valga is developing quickly. Since 1996, the populace's quality of life has improved due to the renovation of several buildings, including the Central Library, Valga Stadium, the Museum, Valga Hospital, and the Culture and Hobby Centre. Step by step, the schools and kindergartens are also being modernized. Since 2003, a new water treatment plant has improved the quality of water in the town.

In the private sector, there have been extensive investments in trade, light industry, and forestry.

Population

Population change
Year18811897192219341959197019791989200020112017
Population 4,20010,9009,50010,80013,30017,00018,50017,70014,32312,26112,452

Ethnic groups
Population of Valga by nationality
Nationality 2000 census 2011 census[8]
Number % Number %
Estonians 8,970 62.63 7,886 64.32
Russians 3,913 27.32 3,224 26.30
Ukrainians 421 2.94 386 3.15
Latvians 334 2.33 262 2.14
Belarusians 211 1.47 156 1.27
Total 14,323 12,261

Languages
Population of Valga by first language
Language 2000 census[9] 2011 census[8]
Number % Number %
Estonian 8,772 61.24 7,573 61.77
Russian 4,744 33.12 4,113 33.55
Latvian 259 1.81 191 1.56
Ukrainian 192 1.34 159 1.30
Belarusian 75 0.52 23 0.19
Total 14,323 12,261

Sports

Valga is home to several notable Estonian sports teams.

Warrior Valga, is a football club that currently plays in the III liiga. Warrior Valga played in the Meistriliiga from 2003–2006.

Valga, is a basketball club that currently plays in the Estonian top-tier Korvpalli Meistriliiga and the Baltic Basketball League.

Climate

Valga lies within the temperate humid continental climate zone.

Climate data for Valga (normals and extremes 1991–2020)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 10.1
(50.2)		 10.1
(50.2)		 18.4
(65.1)		 27.4
(81.3)		 30.7
(87.3)		 31.8
(89.2)		 34.4
(93.9)		 34.3
(93.7)		 29.5
(85.1)		 20.4
(68.7)		 13.3
(55.9)		 11.9
(53.4)		 34.4
(93.9)
Average high °C (°F) −1.6
(29.1)		 −1.1
(30.0)		 3.8
(38.8)		 11.6
(52.9)		 17.7
(63.9)		 21.2
(70.2)		 23.6
(74.5)		 22.2
(72.0)		 16.6
(61.9)		 9.5
(49.1)		 3.5
(38.3)		 0.1
(32.2)		 10.6
(51.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) −4.0
(24.8)		 −4.3
(24.3)		 −0.4
(31.3)		 6.0
(42.8)		 11.6
(52.9)		 15.6
(60.1)		 18.0
(64.4)		 16.5
(61.7)		 11.6
(52.9)		 5.9
(42.6)		 1.3
(34.3)		 −2.0
(28.4)		 6.3
(43.3)
Average low °C (°F) −6.6
(20.1)		 −7.4
(18.7)		 −4.2
(24.4)		 0.9
(33.6)		 5.5
(41.9)		 10.0
(50.0)		 12.6
(54.7)		 11.5
(52.7)		 7.3
(45.1)		 2.8
(37.0)		 −0.9
(30.4)		 −4.2
(24.4)		 2.3
(36.1)
Record low °C (°F) −33.5
(−28.3)		 −32.8
(−27.0)		 −26
(−15)		 −11.6
(11.1)		 −5.6
(21.9)		 0.5
(32.9)		 3.2
(37.8)		 2.5
(36.5)		 −4
(25)		 −14.4
(6.1)		 −21
(−6)		 −30.1
(−22.2)		 −33.5
(−28.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 52
(2.0)		 42
(1.7)		 38
(1.5)		 37
(1.5)		 52
(2.0)		 82
(3.2)		 67
(2.6)		 78
(3.1)		 53
(2.1)		 71
(2.8)		 56
(2.2)		 50
(2.0)		 675
(26.6)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 12 9 9 8 9 11 10 11 11 12 13 14 128
Average relative humidity (%) 89 86 78 70 68 73 76 79 84 87 90 90 81
Source: Estonian Weather Service (precipitation days 1971–2000)[10][11][12][13]

History
  • 1286: Valga (under German name Walk) appears for the first time in the credit register of the city of Riga.
  • 1298, 1329, 1345: Walk suffers from looting raids made by Lithuanians who are led by Grand Duke Gediminas and Algirdas on the second and third occasions.
  • 1419: Walk becomes the seat of the Landtag of the Livonian Confederation.
  • 1481: A raid by Russians; the settlement burns down for the fourth time.
  • 1500: Walk, a settlement in the heart of Old Livonia that is not fortified, is chosen as the location for town assembly days 36 times up to 1500.
  • 1501: During another raid by Russians the settlement gets burnt down for the fifth time.
  • 1558: During the Livonian War the medieval settlement of Walk is completely destroyed.
  • 1584 11 June: Valga is granted the same charter and byelaws as Riga by Stefan Batory, the King of Poland.
  • 1590 17 April: The King of Poland, Sigismund III Vasa, ratifies the charter for the second time. Valga is granted its city arms.
  • 1600: The first town map, showing 42 house properties. The town is 7 km (4 mi) long and between 0.25 to 0.5 km (0.2 to 0.3 mi) wide.
  • 1626: After the Polish-Swedish War Valga becomes the subject of Sweden. On 6 March, King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden confirms the existing privileges.
  • 1657: On 9 July, a Swedish army under Friedrich von Löwen defeats a Russian army under Scheremetchev in the Battle of Walk.
  • 1721: As the result of the Great Northern War, Valga is subjected to Russian rule together with the rest of Estonia.
  • 1764 5 October: Empress Catherine II confirms the town's privileges.
  • 1783: During the Regency of Catherine II the Valga County (Kreis Walk) is formed.
  • 1780: The first stone buildings are erected: a church, a school and county offices.
  • 1789: Land surveyor O.S. Engell drafts the map of Valga showing 76 plots with houses.
  • 1816: The building of St. John's Church is finished.
  • 1876: Walkscher Anzeiger, the first newspaper in Valga, in German, is issued.
  • 1889: Valga Railway Station is opened. On 22 July the Tartu-Valga railway line is officially opened.
  • 1890 16 December: The Valga Temperance Society is founded.
  • 1896: The Pärnu-Valga narrow-gauge railway is opened.
  • 1901 7 December: Together with Latvians, Estonians succeed in winning the elections over Baltic Germans in Valga – the first occasion on Estonian territory. The chemist Johannes Märtson is elected mayor.
  • 1902: In the building of the Temperance Society the social society Säde is founded; Andres Alver, the county medical officer, is elected chairman. The Valga-Marienburg narrow-gauge railway is opened.
  • 1904 22 May: Estonian poet and writer Paul Viiding is born in Valga.
  • 1908 24 June: Estonian military commander Alfons Rebane is born in Valga.
  • 1908: The Girls' Progymnasium is changed into the Gymnasium with Marta Pärna as principal.
  • 1909: The construction of the Säde building is begun (architect Georg Hellat).
  • 1917: A German zeppelin flies over the town and drops forty high-explosive bombs without hitting the main target, the railway station.
  • 1918 11 January: The Council of Delegates of Valga County Workers, Soldiers and Landless Men gains power in the town. On 12 February the German Army occupies Valga.
  • 1919 11 January: The Valga Estonian Gymnasium is opened at 22 Kesk Street. For the first time in the history of secondary education in Valga the teaching language is Estonian instead of German. At the end of January, 107 victims of Bolshevik acts of terror are found in five mass graves around Valga; 67 people are taken away as hostages. On 31 January the Battle of Paju takes place and consequently Valga is freed from the Bolsheviks.
  • 1920 1 July: The British envoy Colonel S. G. Tallents conclusively establishes the border between Estonia and Latvia. Valga proper, as far as Konnaoja and Luke graveyard, remains intact under Estonian rule.
  • 1921 11 February: The decree of the Estonian government establishes the territory of Valga county. Valga becomes a county centre.
  • 1940 17 August: The Soviet occupation begins and with it the mass deportations of Estonians and Latvians from Valga/Valka
  • 1941 9 July: Valga is occupied by German troops.
  • 1944 19 September: In the course of heavy fighting Valga is liberated from the German occupation of Estonia. It is immediately replaced by the Soviet occupation of Estonia.
  • 1988. The Valga Society for the Protection of Antiquities is founded. On 27 November, on the initiative of the Society, the beginning of the War of Liberation is commemorated at the memorial for those killed in the war.
  • 1989 24 February: The first Estonian flag of the re-established independence period is hoisted on the flagpole of 12 Aia Street.
  • 1992 24 May: The Russian army base in Valga is taken over, and later on becomes the border guard's post.
  • 1993 17 October: The first free elections of the municipal council after the restoration of independence take place.
  • 1994 31 January: On the 75th anniversary of the battle of Paju a memorial to it is opened. On 21–25 June, worldwide days of Valga county people take place.

International relations
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Estonia

Twin towns – Sister cities

Valga, Estonia is twinned with:[16]

City Twins Association

Valga is a founding member of City Twins Association that was founded in Imatra, Finland on 13 December 2006. In addition to sister towns, Valga has a cooperation through the association with following cities:[17]

Cooperation without any formal agreement
  • Valga main library
  • Church of the Holy Spirit
  • Valga railway station
  • Valga Linnapark
  • Vabaduse street
  • Sepa Street / Semināra Street. The border and checkpoint between Valga, Estonia and Valka in Latvia from the Estonian side

References
Notes
  1. "Taasavatud Tartu-Valga rongiliini esimene sõit osutus ülipopulaarseks" (in Estonian). tartupostimees.ee. 30 December 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  2. Juhan Tere (15 December 2009). "Tartu-Valga train connection to get relaunched from January". The Baltic Course. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  3. "Sõiduplaan – Elron". pilet.elron.ee. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 28 June 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Establishment of common public bus transport (Presentation)" (PDF). euregio-heltal.org. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  6. "LINNAOSADE JA -JAGUDE LÜHENDID". www.eki.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  7. "Partner Cities Program". Estonia.usembassy.gov. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 6 May 2009.
  8. "Ethnic nationality. Mother tongue and command of foreign languages. Dialects". pub.stat.ee. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  9. "Ethnic nationality. Mother tongue. Command of foreign languages". pub.stat.ee. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  10. "Climate normals-Temperature". Estonian Weather Service. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  11. "Climate normals-Precipitation". Estonian Weather Service. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  12. "Climate normals-Humidity". Estonian Weather Service. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  13. "Kliimanormid-Sademed, õhuniiskus" (in Estonian). Estonian Weather Service. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  14. "Climate normals-Temperature". Estonian Weather Service. Archived from the original on 3 November 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  15. "Kliimanormid-Õhutemperatuur" (in Estonian). Estonian Weather Service. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  16. "Valga". Valga. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  17. "Valga". Valga. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
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