Šiauliai County

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Šiauliai County
native_name=Šiaulių apskritis
settlement_type= county

leader_title = County governor
leader_name= Alvydas Šedžius


image_caption =

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map_caption = Location of Šiauliai County
image_shield = Siauliai County COA.png

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latd= |latm= |lats= |latNS= |longd= |longm= |longs= |long

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = LTU
subdivision_type1= ISO_3166-2
subdivision_name1 = LT-SA

parts_type = Municipalities
parts =
p1= Akmenė district municipality
p2= Joniškis district municipality
p3= Kelmė district municipality
p4= Pakruojis district municipality
p5= Radviliškis district municipality
p6= Šiauliai city municipality
p7= Šiauliai district municipality

seat_type = Capital
seat = Šiauliai

area_total_km2 = 8540
population_total = 349,876
population_density_km2=41.0
population_as_of = 2008
population_blank1 = 4th
population_blank1_title=Rank

timezone=EET
utc_offset=+2
timezone_DST=EEST
utc_offset_DST=+3
website=http://www.siauliai.aps.lt/

Šiauliai County (Lithuanian: Šiaulių apskritis) is one of ten counties in Lithuania. It is in the north of the country, and its capital is Šiauliai.

History

Formation of administrative regions in Lithuania started in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 18th century.

In October, 1795 Catherine II of Russia granted Šiauliai the city rights and the privilege to become the capital town of the region. Administrative division of Russian Empire remained unchanged up to the end of the World War I. When the war came to its end, in 1918 Lithuania was restored as an independent state.

On December 17 of 1918 a circular No.1 was issued "On Municipalities in Lithuania" that declared that the entire area of Lithuania would be divided into the regions - apskritys (county sometimes translated into English as a provinces or counties). There were 20 apskritys in Lithuania.

In 1937 Siauliai county's overall territory was 6042 km² and 210 thousands people lived there. It was the largest apskritis in Lithuania.

In 1940 the Soviet Union occupied Lithuania and reformed the administrative system. The county system remained until 1950 when the counties were abolished and entire area was divided into smaller units - districts, or rajonas in Lithuanian.

Only in 1994 - four years after the restoration of Lithuania's independence in 1990 - the apskritys were created again. However, the interwar apskritys should not be mixed with current apskritys, as their purpose, sizes, and number are all different, see administrative division of Lithuania. The entire area of Lithuania is currently divided into 10 larger units - apskritys and smaller districts, consisting of urban and rural elderships.

Districts

The County encompasses municipalities of:
* Akmenė district municipality
* Joniškis district municipality
* Kelmė district municipality
* Pakruojis district municipality
* Radviliškis district municipality
* Šiauliai city municipality
* Šiauliai district municipality

External links

* [http://www.siauliai.aps.lt/ava/selectLanguage.do?language=en Siauliai county official page]
* [http://www.siauliai.aps.lt/ava/selectPage.do?docLocator=26EE39C9451011D995B5746164617373&inlanguage=en&pathId=38 Map of the county]
* [http://www.post.lt/en/?id=217 Siauliai Region Main Post Office]