Kosjerić

Infobox Serbia municipality
native_name = Косјерић|official_name=Kosjerić
image_shield =
district = Zlatibor
mayor = Željko Prodanović (DSS)
area_km2 = 358
population_total = 4116 | mpop=14001
latd = 43| latm = 87|longd = 19| longm = 84
code = 31
settlements = 27
plates = UE
postal_code = 31260
website = [http://www.kosjeric-online.com www.kosjeric-online.com]

Kosjerić (Косјерић) is a town and municipality in Western Serbia. Municipality has 15,000 inhabitants, but the town itself has 5,000. Municipality has 359 square kilometers with 26 villages mostly placed in the river valleys, but there are also some settlements on the mountain highs on more than 1000 meters.

Geography

The town itself has very good geographic location; it is situated on the way between Vojvodina and Belgrade on one side and Adriatic Sea on the other. The town is near famous mountain tourist centers: Divčibare and Zlatibor. More information about Kosjeric u can find on website [http://www.kosjeric-online.com Kosjeric-Online]

History

It hard to estimate exact time of the foundation of the town. Near the town archeologists found Roman and Serbian medieval relicts, but it is believed that mass immigration became before the Serbian Revolution at the beginning of nineteen century with people from Montenegro, East Bosnia and Western Serbian mountains Zlatibor and Tara.

This part of Serbia was under the rule of the Nemanjić dynasty until the Ottoman Empire ceased control of the country in 1463. In the next two centuries roads were and major development began linking the Adriatic Sea to western Serbia and to the east. Wars between the Austria-Hungary and the Turks took a tool on the population numbers in Kosjerić.

It is thought that the oldest inhabitants of the town were from the family Kosijer. From legend stories it is said that Antonije Kosjer came from Kosijer in Montenegro and brought his three sons along with him. After that Jovan Baronim came from the village Bare and his sister accompanied him with seven sons. It is recorded that there was migration from the village of Divci and from Montenegrin Kolašin.

Fastest development began at 1882, but it was suppressed by the faster growing communities of nearby bigger towns, Valjevo and Požega. Kosjerić reached the status of the town in 1966 and economic development after finishing of the Belgrade-Bar railway in 1972.

Economy

Today Kosjerić is the town with the highest economic standard in Western Serbia. It has a cement factory that is one of the most successful companies in Serbia. After the fall of socialism Kosjerić soon became the town with the highest part of private capital in whole country.

Cement factory

One of the most famed cement factories is located in Kosjerić and has helped boost the economic prosperity not only for the town but for the whole region.

On January 30, 2002, TITAN Group and the Serbian Privatisation Agency signed an agreement for the transfer of 70% of the share capital of the Kosjerić Cement Company. The acquisition cost amounts to $35.5 million. The production capacity of the Kosjerić cement plant is 600.000 tons. The Agreement with the Serbian Government includes a mandatory investment program of $ 28.5 million, which will increase the factory's production capacity to more than 800.000 tons. Many of the town citizens are employed at the factory.

Production

Due to its location and climate Kosjerić has a strong production of fruit and vegetables. Serbia is known for its production of plums and raspberries around the world and in Kosjerić they are widely grown. Area is well known for its plum brandy, 40-45% ABV ("ljuta rakija"). Kosjerić also has a factory for concrete pipelines production "Pim-Grad", factory for the manufacture of electric equipment "Elkok", factory for the manufacture of concrete elements called "Kofeniks" and "Povlen".

Tourism

Kosjerić is trying to create a strong tourism industry, which is supported by the "Serbian village tourist board". Kosjerić has attracted many people from central Serbia for its famed "Shepard festival" which is held every July.

Also, every year in Kosjeric an NGO called K-Town Group ornaganize an International art camp Kosjeric which includes different art workshops with 50 participants from around the world.

The development and reconstruction of the Hotel Skprež has also further helped increase tourist numbers.

Features

Kosjerić is known together with other places in its surroundings for fresh air and beautiful nature. High mountains, fields, wood and water wells surround the town and it is famous for country tourism and production of healthy food. Fresh air and nice climate are very appropriate for different sports; hence Kosjerić became the famous sport centre equipped with different types of sport fields on 40,000 square metres, sports hall with 700 places, Olympic pool and several football, basketball and handball playgrounds.

Twin cities

*flagicon|Slovenia Slovenske Konjice, Slovenia

External links

* [http://www.kosjeric-online.com/ Official municipality presentation]
* [http://www.ktowngroup.org.yu/ Kosjerić Citizens Community]