Orahovica

Not to be confused with Orehovica.

Orahovica
—  City  —
Flag
Orahovica
Coordinates: 45°31′58″N 17°52′46″E / 45.532853°N 17.879537°E / 45.532853; 17.879537
Government
- Mayor	Josip Nemec (HDZ)
- Governing Party	HDZ and HSLS
Area
- City	123.9 km2 (47.8 sq mi)
Elevation	183 m (600 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
- City	5,289
- Urban	3,904
Postal Code	33515
Area code(s)	+385 33
Vehicle registration	NA, SL
Website	www.orahovica.hr

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.

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

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Orahovica was first officially mentioned in the year 1228, in a historical document issued by king Andrew II.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 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.

Suleiman II, in his 1543 campaign, conquered Orahovica. The Turkish rule lasted till the year 1687 in which period the town became a notable sandjak. 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 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 city (grad) in 1997.

Population

In the 2011 census, the total population of the administrative area of Orahovica was 5,792, distributed in the following settlements:^[1]

• Bijeljevina Orahovička, population 36
• Crkvari, population 127
• Dolci, population 284
• Donja Pištana, population 233
• Duzluk, population 164
• Gornja Pištana, population 4
• Karlovac Feričanački, population 12
• Kokočak, population 9
• Magadinovac, population 11
• Nova Jošava, population 187
• Orahovica, population 3,904
• Stara Jošava, population 239
• Šumeđe, population 33

In 2001, a large majority of population were Croats.

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.

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
• Watermill - in the city park

Education

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

Tourism

View of Orahovica's Lake.

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 nearby Orahovica Lake offers various forms of recreation, especially during the warm season of the year. Fishing opportunities are offered on the nearby fishpond Grudnjak.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Census of Population, Households and Dwellings 2011, First Results by Settlements" (in Croatian and English) (HTML). Statistical Reports (Zagreb: Croatian Bureau of Statistics) (1441). June 2011. ISSN 1332-0297. http://www.dzs.hr/Eng/censuses/census2011/htm/E11_Zup22_3077.html. Retrieved 2011-09-08. 

External links

• Local Radio station: www.radio-orahovica.hr
• KIO Keramika Ltd: www.kio.hr
• Eurovoće: www.eurovoce.hr
• Local basketball club: www.kk-orahovica.hr
• Nature park Papuk: www.pp-papuk.hr