Elva, Estonia

Infobox Settlement
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = EST
subdivision_type1 = County
timezone=EET
utc_offset=+2
timezone_DST=EEST
utc_offset_DST=+3
map_caption = Location of Elva, Estonia
|official_name=Elva linn
other_name=Elva


image_shield=Elva_coatofarms.pngsubdivision_name1=Tartu County
leader_name=Urmas Kruuse
area_total_km2=9.92
population_total=6280|population_footnotes=
population_as_of=2005
population_density_km2=592.4
coor=58°14' N 26°25' E
latd=58|latm=14|latNS=N|longd=26|longm=25|longEW=E

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Elva is a town (since May 1, 1938) and a municipality in Tartu County, Estonia.

Elva has two larger lakes. Lake Verevi has a sandy and well-developed beach area that is very popular in the summer and is host to many outdoor events. Lake Arbi has wet reed grown shores. Elva's largest employer (and in all of southern Estonia) is Enics Eesti AS, subsidiary of Enics Group, providing electronics manufacturing services in industrial electronics. Elva has one school, Elva Gümnaasium, offering education from 1st grade to high school graduation.

History of Elva

Elva was founded soon after the completion of Tartu-Valga train route that was built from 1886 to 1889. Elva was first mentioned in an Estonian newspaper in 1889. Elva is named after the Elva river that has been mentioned in books already in XVII century. In 1913 a two grade school was opened. On May 1st, 1938 Elva became a town. The town center was heavily damaged in the Second World War. From 1950 to 1962 Elva was District Central of Elva district. Elva's town rights were restored in 1965.

Notable Residents

* Kerli Kõiv, singer/songwriter

External links

* [http://elva.ee/index.php?page=3& Elva linn] - Official website