- Harju County
Infobox_Maakond
name=Harju
fullname=Harju maakond
capital=Tallinn
governor=Värner Lootsmann
area=4,333
arearank=2nd
population_as_of=2007
population=522,147
populationrank=1st
populationdensity=120.5
densityrank=1st
isocode=EE-37Harju County ( _et. Harju maakond), or "Harjumaa", (
Latin : "Harria"), nowadays one of 15 counties ofEstonia . It is situated in northern Estonia, on the south coast ofGulf of Finland , and bordersLääne-Viru County to the east,Järva County to the south-east,Rapla County to the south, andLääne County to the south-west.38.8% of the total population of Estonia live in Harju County.
Tallinn , thecapital of Estonia, is included in the county. The City Council of Tallinn has applied to the Government to be given a special status with its own law.History
In the first centuries AD political and administrative subdivisions began to emerge in Estonia. Two larger subdivisions appeared: the parish (kihelkond) and the county (maakond). The parish consisted of several villages. Nearly all parishes had at least one fortress. The defense of the local area was directed by the highest official, the parish elder. The county was composed of several parishes, also headed by an elder. By the 13th century the following major districts had developed in Estonia:
Saaremaa (Osilia),Läänemaa (Rotalia or Maritima),Harjumaa (Harria),Rävala (Revalia ),Virumaa (Vironia ),Järvamaa (Jervia),Sakala (Saccala), and Ugandi (Ugaunia ). [ Estonia and the Estonians (Studies of Nationalities) Toivo U. Raun p.11ISBN 0817928529 ]County Government
The County Government (Estonian: "Maavalitsus") is led by Governor (Estonian: "maavanem"), who is appointed by the
Government of Estonia for a term of five years. Since 2006 the Governor position is taken byVärner Lootsmann .The history of Harju County Government goes back to the year 1917. Harju County Municipality has been founded by the regulation from
30 March 1917. The members of the Harju County Council were elected by the delegates of county municipalities. The first meeting was held on1 July 1917 in Tallinn,Toompea Castle .Johannes Reinthal won the elections for the Chair of the Council. The language of procedure was decided to be Estonian. The structure of Harju County Government has consisted of following departments from its beginning:
* general department (organised the work of different committees),
* food department (stored and registed the food products, provided the people and military etc),
* roads department,
* health care department,
* the government of rural schools (education department was formed later) and
* administrative department. Executive Committee of Harju County Deputies Council was formed on January 1941. Its existence was stopped during the German occupation from the autumn of 1941 till autumn 1944. After the new rural regions were formed in Soviet Union, the Executive Committee of Harju County Deputies Council was abolished on 1950. The Executive Committee of Harju Region Labour Deputies Council was formed. Harju County Government was formed on 1990. The Chairs of Harju County Councils, the Heads of County Governments and the County Governors:
* 1917 - 1920 Johannes Reinthal
* 1920 - 1922Oskar Suursööt
* 1922 - 1927Martin Kruusimaa (Krusemann)
* 1927 - 1936Rudolf Kuris
* 1936 - 1940Karl Robert Ruus
* 1940 - 1941Gustav Abel
* 1940; 1941 - 1944Paul Männik
* 1990 - 1991Anti Oidsalu
* 1991 - 1994Mati Zernand
* 1994 - 1999Mait Kornet
* 1999 - 2004Orm Valtson
* 2005 - 2006Jaan Mark
* 2006 -Värner Lootsmann Municipalities
The county is subdivided into municipalities. There are 6 urban municipalities (Estonian: "linnad" - towns) and 18 rural municipalities (Estonian: "vallad" - parishes) in Harju County.
Urban municipalities:
*Keila
*Loksa
*Maardu
*Paldiski
*Saue
*Tallinn Rural municipalities:
*Aegviidu
*Anija Parish
*Harku Parish
*Jõelähtme Parish
*Keila Parish
*Kernu Parish
*Kiili Parish
*Kose Parish
*Kuusalu Parish
*Kõue Parish
*Nissi Parish
*Padise Parish
*Raasiku Parish
*Rae Parish
*Saku Parish
*Saue Parish
*Vasalemma Parish
*Viimsi Parish Geography
Miscellaneous topics
External links
* [http://www.harju.ee/ Harju County Government] - Official website (in Estonian)
References
Template group
title = Geographic locale
list =
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