Administrative divisions of Czechoslovakia
Encyclopedia
This article deals with historic administrative divisions of Czechoslovakia
up to 1992, when the country was split into the Czech Republic
and Slovakia
and the divisions were changed.
For the current divisions of those two countries, see their main articles and the articles Regions of Slovakia
and Regions of the Czech Republic
.
Regions ('kraj
e'), Prague
, and (since 1970) Bratislava
; further divided in 109–114 districts ('okresy').
The kraje were abolished temporarily in Slovakia in 1969–1970 and since late 1990 in whole Czechoslovakia. In addition, the two republics Czech Socialist Republic
and Slovak Socialist Republic
were established in 1969 (without the word Socialist since 1990).
Since many regions changed significantly after the split
in 1993, here is list of their original names and current regions they approximately correspond to:
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
up to 1992, when the country was split into the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
and Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
and the divisions were changed.
For the current divisions of those two countries, see their main articles and the articles Regions of Slovakia
Regions of Slovakia
Since 1949 , Slovakia has been divided into a number of kraje . Their number, borders and functions have been changed several times. There are currently eight regions of Slovakia and they correspond to the EU's NUTS 3 level of local administrative units. Each kraj consists of okresy...
and Regions of the Czech Republic
Regions of the Czech Republic
According to Czech Law no. 129/2000 , which replaced paragraph 1/1993 of the Czech Constitution on Vyšší územně správních celcích , the Czech Republic has consisted of thirteen regions and one capital city with regional status since 1 January 2000...
.
Latest division (1960-1992)
The country consisted of 1010
Year 10 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, throughout Roman Empire, it was known as the year of the consulship of Dolabella and Silanus...
Regions ('kraj
Kraj
A kraj is the highest-level administrative unit in the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic. For lack of other English expressions, the Slavic term is often translated as "province", "region", or "territory", although it actually approximately means " country", or " countryside"...
e'), Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, and (since 1970) Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
; further divided in 109–114 districts ('okresy').
The kraje were abolished temporarily in Slovakia in 1969–1970 and since late 1990 in whole Czechoslovakia. In addition, the two republics Czech Socialist Republic
Czech Socialist Republic
From 1969 to 1990, the Czech Socialist Republic was the official name of that part of Czechoslovakia that is the Czech Republic today. The name was used from 1 January 1969 to March 1990....
and Slovak Socialist Republic
Slovak Socialist Republic
From 1969 to 1990, the Slovak Socialist Republic was the official name of that part of Czechoslovakia that is Slovakia today. The name was used from 1 January 1969 until March 1990....
were established in 1969 (without the word Socialist since 1990).
Since many regions changed significantly after the split
Dissolution of Czechoslovakia
The dissolution of Czechoslovakia, which took effect on 1 January 1993, was an event that saw the self-determined separation of the federal state of Czechoslovakia. The Czech Republic and Slovakia, entities which had arisen in 1969 within the framework of Czechoslovak federalisation, became...
in 1993, here is list of their original names and current regions they approximately correspond to:
Czech (Socialist) Republic
(the names are in Czech)- PrahaPraguePrague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
- Středočeský kraj: today Central Bohemian RegionCentral Bohemian RegionCentral Bohemian Region is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located in the central part of its historical region of Bohemia. Its administrative center is placed in the Czech capital Prague , which lies in the center of the region...
- Jihočeský kraj: today South Bohemian RegionSouth Bohemian RegionSouth Bohemian Region is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located mostly in the southern part of its historical land of Bohemia, with a small part in southwestern Moravia...
- Západočeský kraj (West Bohemian Region): today Plzeň RegionPlzen RegionPlzeň Region is an administrative unit in the western part of Bohemia in the Czech Republic. It is named after its capital Plzeň .- Communes :...
and Carlsbad RegionCarlsbad RegionKarlovy Vary Region is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located in the westernmost part of its historical region of Bohemia. It is named after its capital Karlovy Vary... - Severočeský kraj (North Bohemian Region): today Ústí nad Labem RegionÚstí nad Labem RegionÚstí nad Labem Region is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located in the north-western part of its historical region of Bohemia...
, and most of Liberec RegionLiberec RegionLiberec Region is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located in the northernmost part of its historical region of Bohemia. Region borders with Saxony, and Poland... - Východočeský kraj (East Bohemian Region): today Hradec Králové RegionHradec Králové RegionHradec Králové Region is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located in the north-eastern part of its historical region of Bohemia. It is named after its capital Hradec Králové....
, Pardubice RegionPardubice RegionPardubice Region is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located mainly in the eastern part of its historical region of Bohemia, with a small part in northwestern Moravia. It is named after its capital Pardubice. "There are a total of 452 municipalities in the region...
, and small parts of Liberec Region and Vysočina RegionVysocina RegionVysočina Region , is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located partly in the south-eastern part of the historical region of Bohemia and partly in the south-west of the historical region of Moravia... - Jihomoravský kraj (South Moravian Region): today South Moravian RegionSouth Moravian RegionSouth Moravian Region is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located in the south-western part of its historical region of Moravia, with exception of Jobova Lhota, that belongs to Bohemia. Its capital is Brno the 2nd largest city of the Czech Republic. The region is famous for its wine...
, and most of Vysočina Region and Zlín RegionZlín RegionZlín Region is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located in the central-eastern part of the historical region of Moravia. It is named after its capital Zlín.... - Severomoravský kraj (North Moravian Region): today Moravian-Silesian RegionMoravian-Silesian RegionMoravian-Silesian Region , or Moravo-Silesian Region, is one of 14 administrative Regions of the Czech Republic, until May 2001 it was formerly called the Ostrava Region . The region is located in the north-eastern part of its historical region of Moravia and in most of the Czech part of the...
, Olomouc RegionOlomouc RegionOlomouc Region is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located in the north-western and central part of its historical region of Moravia and in a small part of the historical region of Silesia . It is named for its capital Olomouc.-External links:* *...
, and part of Zlín Region
Slovak (Socialist) Republic
(the names are in Slovak)- BratislavaBratislavaBratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
: today a part of the Bratislava RegionBratislava RegionThe Bratislava Region is one of the administrative regions of Slovakia. Its capital is Bratislava. It is the smallest of the eight regions of Slovakia.-Geography:... - Západoslovenský kraj: Trnava RegionTrnava RegionThe Trnava Region is one of the eight Slovak administrative regions.-Geography:It is located in the middlewest part of Slovakia and forms a territorial band between the Bratislava Region and the rest of Slovakia, between Austrian and Czech borders in the north and Hungarian border in the south...
, Nitra RegionNitra RegionThe Nitra Region is one of the administrative regions of Slovakia.-Geography:This region with a long history is situated in the southwest of Slovakia, mostly in the eastern part of the Danubian Lowland. It is divided into two sub-units: the Danubian Flat in the south-west, with eastern part of the...
, most of Bratislava RegionBratislava RegionThe Bratislava Region is one of the administrative regions of Slovakia. Its capital is Bratislava. It is the smallest of the eight regions of Slovakia.-Geography:...
, and a small part of Trenčín RegionTrencín RegionThe Trenčín Region is one of the eight Slovak administrative regions. It consists of 9 districts .-Geography:It is located in the north-western Slovakia, has an area of 4,502 km² and a population of 600,386 . The Danubian Lowland reaches the region to Nové Mesto nad Váhom and Partizánske areas... - Stredoslovenský kraj: today Žilina RegionŽilina RegionThe Žilina Region is one of the eight Slovak administrative regions and consists of 11 districts .-Geography:It is located in northern Slovakia and has an area of 6,804 km² and a population of 694,763 . The whole area is mountainous, belonging to the Western Carpathians...
, Banská Bystrica RegionBanská Bystrica RegionThe Banská Bystrica Region is one of the Slovak regions in the country of Slovakia in Europe.-Geography:It is located in the central part of Slovakia and has an area of 9,455 km². The region is prevailingly mountains, with several ranges within the area. The highest of them are the Low Tatras...
, and a large part of Trenčín Region - Východoslovenský kraj: today Prešov RegionPrešov RegionThe Prešov Region is one of the eight Slovak administrative regions. It consists of 13 districts.-Geography:It is located in north-eastern Slovakia and has an area of 8,975 km². The region has diverse types of landscapes occurring in Slovakia, but mostly highlands and hilly lands dominate the...
and Košice RegionKošice RegionThe Košice Region is one of the eight Slovak administrative regions. It consists of 11 districts .-Geography:It is located in the southern part of eastern Slovakia and covers an area of 6,752 km²...
History
- 1918–1923: different systems on former Austrian territory (BohemiaBohemiaBohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
, MoraviaMoraviaMoravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
, small part of SilesiaSilesiaSilesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
) and on former Hungarian territory (SlovakiaSlovakiaThe Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
and Subcarpathian RutheniaCarpathian RutheniaCarpathian Ruthenia is a region in Eastern Europe, mostly located in western Ukraine's Zakarpattia Oblast , with smaller parts in easternmost Slovakia , Poland's Lemkovyna and Romanian Maramureş.It is...
): 3 lands ('země') (also called district units ('obvody')) Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia + 21 counties ('župy') in today's Slovakia + 2? counties in Subcarpathian Ruthenia (today's Zakarpattia OblastZakarpattia OblastThe Zakarpattia Oblast is an administrative oblast located in southwestern Ukraine. Its administrative center is the city of Uzhhorod...
in UkraineUkraineUkraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
); both lands and counties were divided in districts - 1923–1927: like above, except that the above counties were replaced by 6 (grand) counties ('(veľ)župy') in Slovakia and 1 (grand) county in Subcarpathian Ruthenia, and the number and frontiers of districts were changed on these 2 territories
- 1928–1938: 4 lands (in Czech: 'země' / in Slovak: 'krajiny'): Bohemia, Moravia-Silesia, Slovakia and Subcarpathian Ruthenia; divided in districts
- late 1938–March 1939: like above, but Slovakia and Subcarpathian Ruthenia were promoted to "autonomous lands"
- 1945–1948: like 1928–1938, except that Subcarpathian Ruthenia became part of the Soviet Union in 1945
- 1949–1960: 19 regions divided in 270 districts
- 1960–1992: see above