Poduyane

Poduyane or Poduene ( _bg. Подуяне, Подуене) is a residential complex in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria with 85,996 inhabitants. It is located in the eastern outskirts of the city and is divided into microregions. Poduyane consists of the neighbourhoods Suha Reka, Hadzhi Dimitar, Poduyane, Stefan Karadzha, Levski, Levski-G, Levski-V. A former village, it was incoroparted in 1895. The municipality's holiday is celebrated on 1 June.

History

Poduyane was first mentioned in 1453 as "Poduyani". The name is derived from the word "poduy", an adjective from "pod" ("soil") with the now-unproductive suffix "–uy". In that case "poduy" was a geographical term referring to a high flat country or a plain country at the foot of a hill. [cite book|last=Чолева-Димитрова|first=Анна М.|title=Селищни имена от Югозападна България: Изследване. Речник|publisher=Пенсофт|location=София|date=2002|isbn=9546421685|oclc=57603720|language=Bulgarian|pages=p. 157]

Poduyane was the first village to be included within the city of Sofia in 1895 and was mentioned in the Elin Pelin works. In 1920s the neighbourhoods of Suha Reka and Hadzhi Dimitar were established and experienced a quick population growth mainly from north-western Bulgaria. Many streets are still named after villages from the region such as Gintsi, Todorini Kukli, Petrohan and others.

During the socialism (1944-1989) Poduyane along with two other municipalities (Oborishte and Slatina) formed 5th Rayon "Vasil Levski" of the capital. In the 1960s, 1970s and especially 1980s many panel blocks were constructed in the neighbourhoods of Suha Reka, Hadzhi Dimitar, Poduyane and Stefan Karadzha. In the end of the 1980s a new neighbourhood Metalurg was built and in 1999 it was renamed to Levski V and G after its incorporation into Poduyane from Kremikovtsi.

Population

As of 2007 Poduyane has 85,996 inhabitants which makes it the third most populous municipality in Sofia after Lyulin and Mladost. According to the 2001 census the population was 75,004 - 25,000 lived in Hadzhi Dimitar and Stefan Karadzha; 25,000 in Suha Reka and Poduyane (neighbourhood); 15,000 in Levski V and G and 10,000 in Levski.

There is an art college, 11 schools and 9 kindergartens as well as two polyclinics: 23th and 18th. There is only one hotel in the municipality. The hypermarkets in the area include Billa, Fantastico (2 outlets), Europa and Domko,Praktis,t-market.

References