Naujoji Vilnia

Naujoji Vilnia
—  Eldership  —
Naujoji Vilnia as seen from surrounding hills
Naujoji Vilnia Location of Naujoji Vilnia
Coordinates: 54°42′N 25°25′E / 54.7°N 25.417°E / 54.7; 25.417Coordinates: 54°42′N 25°25′E / 54.7°N 25.417°E / 54.7; 25.417
Country	Lithuania
County	Vilnius County
Municipality	Vilnius city municipality
Area
- Total	38.6 km2 (14.9 sq mi)
Population (2001)
- Total	32,775
- Density	849.1/km2 (2,199.1/sq mi)
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
- Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)

Naujoji Vilnia is a neighborhood in eastern Vilnius, Lithuania situated along the banks of the Vilnia River. It has eldership status. The district has a population of about 32,800. 34% of the population are Poles, 29,5% Lithuanians, 19,8%- Russians, 9,0 Belarusians.^[1]

History

It started as a separate town in the second half of the 19th century when the Warsaw – Saint Petersburg Railway was built. It grew as a narrow strip along the rails. Then another major line connecting Vilnius with Minsk was built. In 1911, Church of St. Casimir was built. Before Vilnius passed to Poland in 1920, it had a number of small manufacturing shops including wood products, yeast, scythes (known as Russian: litovka), knives, paper and knitting mills.

During mass deportations to Siberia in June 1941, some 30,000 deportees passed through the railroad station. After the World War II, former shops were nationalized by the Soviet authorities and converted into large factories for machine tools, agricultural equipment and other factories. In 1957 it was incorporated into Vilnius city.

In May 1991, local community leaders in the Polish-dominated Wilenszczyzna district outside Vilnius unilaterally proclaimed the establishment of Polish National-Territorial Region, complete with its own flag, national anthem, and national bank and placed the capital at Naujoji Vilnia. In August the same year Lithuanian authorities cracked down on this initiative on the grounds that Polish leaders in the area had supported the failed August Putsch in Moscow.

People

• Tadeusz Konwicki, Polish writer

Twin towns

• Konstancin-Jeziorna

Footnotes

1. ^ [1] at the official website of Vilnius Regional Statistical Office

References

• Simas Sužiedėlis, ed (1970-1978). "Naujoji Vilnia". Encyclopedia Lituanica. IV. Boston, Massachusetts: Juozas Kapočius. pp. 52. LCC 74-114275.