Dubica (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Infobox Settlement
settlement_type =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name =Bosnia and Herzegovina
subdivision_type1 =
subdivision_name1 =
subdivision_type2 =
subdivision_name2 =
timezone=CET
utc_offset=+1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2
unit_pref=
map_caption =Location of Dubica (Bosnia and Herzegovina) within Bosnia and Herzegovina
latNS=N
longEW=E
population_as_of= 1991
native_name = Босанска Дубица
Козарска Дубица
official_name = Bosanska Dubica
Kozarska Dubica
other_name =
image_shield = DubicaWappen.png

---

area_total_km2 = 499|population_blank1 = 31000|population_blank1_title=Municipality
population_total = 31,577
|parts_type=Settlements
parts =
latd =45|latm=11
longd=16|longm=48
area_code = 52
elevation_m = 104
website = [http://kozarskadubica.org/ www.kozarskadubica.org]
footnotes =
|leader_title=Mayor
leader_name = Jauz Nino (SNDS) [http://www.izbori.ba/MEC06101200/ShowMunicipality.asp?MunicipalityCode=008]
leader_party =
|

Bosanska Dubica (Cyrillic: Босанска Дубица) or Kozarska Dubica (Cyrillic: Козарска Дубица) is a town and municipality located in Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The municipality of Hrvatska Dubica lies to the north, in Croatia. Dubica is situated convert|26|km|mi|0|abbr=on from the Zagreb-Belgrade Highway. The town and its suburbs border the Republic of Croatia to the north, the town of Bosanska Gradiška to the east, the town of Bosanska Kostajnica to the west, and the town of Prijedor to the south. The land area of Dubica is convert|499|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on and the population is estimated at about 31,000, even though no census has been held since 1991.

Name

During the Bosnian war the town name was changed to Kozarska Dubica (Serbian: Козарска Дубица, "Kozarska Dubica"; Bosnian and Croatian: "Kozarska Dubica"), formerly known as Bosanska Dubica (Босанска Дубица), or simply Dubica (Дубица). Officially, the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina uses both names for municipality, "Bosanska Dubica" and "Kozarska Dubica", while the government of Republika Srpska uses the name "Kozarska Dubica". [http://www.vladars.net/en/srpska/opstine.html]

History

Bosanska Dubica was built in 930. However, the first mentioning of Bosanska Dubica dates from 1197. Babonići-Vodički were in charge of the town until the 12th century. Bosanska Dubica became an important fort during the Ottoman Empire due to its geographic positioning. It became a vital and important border crossing for many years. The last Austrian-Turkish war was the so called Dubica War (1788–1791) and was fought in this area. The town fell under Ottoman occupation in 1538. Bosanska Dubica encountered many different rulers during the Ottoman Empire and the later Austro-Hungarian Empire.

During World War II Bosanska Dubica was a town that encountered many casualties from both sides. During the 1970s Bosanska Dubica experienced a great improvement in its economy. During the 1980s there was a boom in construction and renovation which was halted by the outbreak of war. During the Bosnian war (1992-1995)in Bosanska Dubica around 6,000 Bosniaks were expelled from their homes, while many Serbs from Croatia settled in Bosanska Dubica often in those Bosniak homes. The bridge between Bosanska Dubica/Kozarska Dubica and Hrvatska Dubica was destroyed on the Bosnian side. Many moderate Bosnian Serbs fled as well since they were harassed by local authorities if they did not support ethnic cleansing. During the war the city was attacked by an elite commando group of the Croatian army called Black Mamba (trained by the United States of America) on 15 September 1995, there were 45 casualties on the Bosnian side including civilians. The attack began in the early hours 15 September and concluded by night fall with some of the Croatians soldiers being killed and the rest managing to cross the river back to Croatia when night fell.

The Serbian Orthodox Moštanica Monastery (Manastir Moštanica) appears on the Coat of arms of Bosanska Dubica/Kozarska Dubica.

Population

1910

According to the 1910 census, the absolute majority in the Bosanska Dubica municipality were Orthodox Christians (82.94%).

1971

30,384 total
* Serbs - 23.989 (78,95%)
* Muslims - 5.114 (16,83%)
* Croats - 717 (2,35%)
* Yugoslavs - 403 (1,32%)
* Others - 161 (0,55%)

1991

According to the 1991 census, the population of the Bosanska Dubica municipality was 31,577, including:
*21,811 Serbs (See: Serbs of Bosnia and Herzegovina)
*6,470 Muslims by nationality (today mostly Bosniaks)
*1,820 Yugoslavs
*488 Croats (See: Croats of Bosnia and Herzegovina)
*988 others

In the town itself, Muslims by nationality (Bosniaks) had a slight majority. During the Bosnian war, around 6,000 people, mostly Bosniaks, were forced to leave the town and municipality, while a similar number of Serb refugees from Croatia and/or other Bosnian towns, found shelter and settled in Bosanska Dubica. Also many local Bosnian Serbs were forced to leave because they were against ethnic cleansing.

Due to the Bosnian War (1992 - 1995) much of the traditional population of Bosanska Dubica has been displaced outside of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Current population

In 2006, the majority of inhabitants of municipality were ethnic Serbs. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
] The population is believed to consist of 28,000 Serbs, 2,700 Bosniaks, 200 Croats, and 100 others. Fact|date=February 2007 However, it has to be mentioned that the demographic picture of Bosanska Dubica today differs from the period before 1991 due to ethnic cleansing.

Economy

Situated in the valley of the rivers, the Municipality of Dubica has more than 316.09 square kilometres of arable land, thanks to which agriculture is an important development factor. Agricultural production is focused on land cultivation, cattle breeding industry, raising of industrial crops, and lately there has been the start of the development of fruit and wine growing.

Most of the economy comes from the livestock. The largest milk production company is the Mlijekoprodukt located near the town of Bosanska Dubica. It continues its tradition of growing fruits in the area. The climate of Bosanska Dubica is great for the cultivation of different kinds of vegetables.

Dubica also has an important construction company. It is called IGP "UNA". The company was established in 1962. All of the workers are completely qualified to work with different modern machines. Some important complexes that the company has built are: Zepter, the local hospital, the local high school, and the restoration of the severely damaged bridge.

Tourism

Hunting is a traditional sport of the Municipality of Dubica. One hunting organization is called Jelen (Deer) The area used for hunting is around 499 km². Hunting is extravagant in Dubica since it has two big mountains Kozara and Prosara. The hunting area is filled with rich forests. Hunting ranges from deer to smaller animals such as wild ducks. Every April the international competition with dog hunting occurs in Dubica.

Spa Mlječanica is the center for physiatrics, rehabilitation, and health located in Dubica. It is in the northwest slopes of the mountain Kozara. The modern, specialized institution for physiatrics and rehabilitation, provides all the conditions for a successful recovery and rest for the clients.

Fishing is highly important in Dubica. Since, Dubica is located right on the Una River, fishing has developed into a long time tradition. People from different areas come to fish. Also the Sava River is located not far from Dubica at Jasenovac, where the Una River enters the Sava.

Sports

Dubica has an old tradition in sports that dates back to the early 20th century. In the 1930s Bosanska Dubica establishes the Soccer Club Una. After World War II, Dubica has an upsurge of different sport organizations. In 1962 the handball club Borac was established. Then on February 11, 1973, the Basketball Team Una was created. In 1982 the Karate Club Knešpolje was founded. Even today the different sports remain an important part of Dubica. There are both male and female teams for handball. Also there are a couple of karate clubs and chess clubs.

Culture

Every year outside Bosnia and Herzegovina, the annual Bosansko Dubičko Veče is held. It is a celebration that brings together displaced Bosnians from Bosanska Dubica. The cities that hold the celebration in the United States are: Chicago and St. Louis. In Chicago it is always held on the Saturday before Memorial Day, hosted at the "White Eagle Banquet Hall" in Niles, Illinois. Sydney, Australia, also holds the same celebration in order to gather Bosnians of Bosanska Dubica from different Australian and New Zealand areas. These are year-to-year celebrations that bring together Bosnians from Bosanska Dubica. There is work on creating a congress that would meet once every two years, in order to help young children, born outside Bosanska Dubica, retain the traditions and culture. The celebrations are primarily filled with Bosniaks, however, many Croats and Serbs come to show their respect towards their town, "Bosanska Dubica" and reunite with former neighbors. There are plans to hold the 2010 reunion in Bosanska Dubica.

Gallery

External links

* [http://kozarskadubica.org/ Official web site] sr icon
* [http://www.kozarskadubica.rs.sr/ www.kozarskadubica.rs.sr] sr icon
* [http://www.spamljecanica.co.yu/ Banja Mlječanica Kozarska Dubica] sr icon
* [http://www.bosanskadubica.com/ Dubička Čaršija - Udruženje izbjeglih] bs icon
* [http://www.bosdubica.tk/ BZK Preporod] bs icon
* [http://www.dubickaraja.com/ Dubička Raja] bs icon
* [http://www.bosdubica.com/ Dubica On-line] bs icon
* [http://www.dubica.net/ Dubica.net] bs icon