.gif)
Vrbas (town)
Encyclopedia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
at 45.57°N 19.65°E, in the South Bačka District
South Backa District
South Bačka District is a northern district of Serbia. It lies in the southern part of Bačka and northern part of Syrmia, in the autonomous province of Vojvodina. It has a population of 607,835...
in the province of Vojvodina
Vojvodina
Vojvodina, officially called Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is an autonomous province of Serbia. Its capital and largest city is Novi Sad...
. In 2002 the city had a total population of 25,887, while the municipality had 45,839.
Name
Its name stems from the word "Willow" in the Serbian languageSerbian language
Serbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
. During the SFRY period, the town was renamed Titov Vrbas (meaning "the Vrbas of Tito"), after Josip Broz Tito
Josip Broz Tito
Marshal Josip Broz Tito – 4 May 1980) was a Yugoslav revolutionary and statesman. While his presidency has been criticized as authoritarian, Tito was a popular public figure both in Yugoslavia and abroad, viewed as a unifying symbol for the nations of the Yugoslav federation...
. Like all other towns in Socialist Yugoslavia named after Tito, the first part was dropped once the new states were formed during the early 1990s.
In Rusyn
Pannonian Rusyn language
Pannonian Rusyn or simply Rusyn is a Slavic language or dialect spoken by Pannonian Rusyns in north-western Serbia and eastern Croatia...
, the town is known as Вербас, in Hungarian
Hungarian language
Hungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe....
as Verbász, in Croatian
Croatian language
Croatian is the collective name for the standard language and dialects spoken by Croats, principally in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Serbian province of Vojvodina and other neighbouring countries...
as Vrbas, in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
as Werbass, and in Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
as Verbas.
History
Vrbas was mentioned first in 1213 as Orbaszpalota, under the administration of the Kingdom of HungaryKingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
. According to other sources, it was mentioned first in 1387. In the 16th century it became a part of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. During Ottoman administration it was populated by ethnic Serbs
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
. Since the end of the 17th century, Vrbas was under administration of the Habsburg Monarchy
Habsburg Monarchy
The Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...
, and, according to 1720 census, it was populated exclusively by Serbs.
After 1784 many Germans
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
settled in the town. Before settlement of Germans, the population of the town included about 250 Serb families. Germans founded a new settlement named Novi Vrbas (New Vrbas) near old (Serb) settlement which then became known as Stari Vrbas (Old Vrbas). In 1910, population of Novi Vrbas was mostly composed of ethnic Germans, while population of Stari Vrbas was ethnically mixed and was mainly composed of Serbs and Germans.
In 1918, Vrbas became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later renamed to Yugoslavia). The town was under Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
occupation between 1941 and 1944. As a consequence of the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
events in Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, the German population fled from the town after this war. In the same time, many settlers from Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
came to Vrbas and other neighboring places.
Inhabited places
Vrbas municipality includes the city of Vrbas and the following villages:- Bačko Dobro PoljeBacko Dobro PoljeBačko Dobro Polje is a small village in Serbia, in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. It is located in the South Bačka District. Administratively it belongs to the municipality of Vrbas. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population numbering 3,929 people . In basic, the village is...
- ZmajevoZmajevoZmajevo is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Vrbas municipality, in the South Bačka District, Vojvodina province. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population numbering 4,361 people . It has beautiful lakes that are full of carp , a very big hunting ground with a lot of wild...
- KosančićKosancicKosančić is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Vrbas municipality, South Bačka District, Vojvodina province. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population numbering 163 people .-Geography:...
- KucuraKucuraKucura is a village in Serbia, in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. It is located in the municipality of Vrbas, in the South Bačka District...
- Ravno SeloRavno SeloRavno Selo is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the municipality of Vrbas, in the South Bačka District, Vojvodina province. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population numbering 3,478 people .-Name:...
- Savino SeloSavino SeloSavino Selo is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the municipality of Vrbas, in the South Bačka District, Vojvodina province. The village is ethnically mixed with a population of 3,351 according to the 2002 census.-Ethnic groups:...
Ethnic groups in the Vrbas municipality
- SerbsSerbsThe Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
(47.77%) - Montenegrins (24.79%)
- RusynsPannonian RusynsRusyns in Pannonia, or simply Rusyns or Ruthenians , are a Slavic minority in Serbia and Croatia...
(8.21%) - Hungarians (6.29%)
- UkrainiansUkrainiansUkrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens...
(2.12%) - YugoslavsYugoslavsYugoslavs is a national designation used by a minority of South Slavs across the countries of the former Yugoslavia and in the diaspora...
(1.47%) - CroatsCroatsCroats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
(1.43%)
Settlements by ethnic majority
Settlements with Serb ethnic majority are: Bačko Dobro Polje, Zmajevo, Kosančić, and Ravno Selo. Ethnically mixed settlements are: Vrbas (with relative Serb majority), Kucura (with relative Rusyn majority), and Savino Selo (with relative Montenegrin majority).Ethnic groups in the Vrbas town
- SerbsSerbsThe Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
(41.19%) - Montenegrins (30.05%)
- Hungarians (7.73%)
- RusynsPannonian RusynsRusyns in Pannonia, or simply Rusyns or Ruthenians , are a Slavic minority in Serbia and Croatia...
(5.71%) - UkrainiansUkrainiansUkrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens...
(2.88%) - YugoslavsYugoslavsYugoslavs is a national designation used by a minority of South Slavs across the countries of the former Yugoslavia and in the diaspora...
(2.04%) - CroatsCroatsCroats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
(1.65%)
Languages in the Vrbas municipality
According to the 2002 census, 85% of inhabitants of the Vrbas municipality speak SerbianSerbian language
Serbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
as mother tongue. Other spoken languages include Rusyn
Pannonian Rusyn language
Pannonian Rusyn or simply Rusyn is a Slavic language or dialect spoken by Pannonian Rusyns in north-western Serbia and eastern Croatia...
(8%), Hungarian
Hungarian language
Hungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe....
(4%) and Ukrainian
Ukrainian language
Ukrainian is a language of the East Slavic subgroup of the Slavic languages. It is the official state language of Ukraine. Written Ukrainian uses a variant of the Cyrillic alphabet....
(1%).
Politics
Seats in the municipal parliament won in the 2004 local elections: http://www.cesid.org/lokalni2004/rezultati.jsp?opstina=80462- Serbian Radical Party (14)
- Democratic Party (9)
- Socialist Party of Serbia (4)
- People's Democratic Party (2)
- Democratic Party of Serbia (2)
- New Social Democracy of Vojvodina (2)
- Serbian Strength Movement (2)
- G17 Plus (1)
Notable citizens
- Dušan Bajatović, vice president of SPS - Serbian Socialist Party.
- Radoman BožovićRadoman BožovicRadoman Božović is a former Prime Minister of Serbia.Božović was born in a village on the banks of Piva River. He completed grades 1-3 of elementary school in Nikšić. After elementary school he moved to Serbia, and completed secondary education in Vrbas. In 1975, he graduated from the University...
, Serbian politician. He served as the Prime Minister of Serbia from 1991 to 1993. - The Hungarian writer, Molter Károly.
- Vladimir Kolarić of the band Veliki PrezirVeliki PrezirVeliki Prezir is a Serbian britpop/alternative rock band from Vrbas.- 1990s :...
was born in Vrbas. - Milan Komnenić, poet.
- Vida OgnjenovićVida OgnjenovicVida Ognjenović is a famous Serbian theater director, playwright, writer, drama professor and diplomat....
, writer and director. - Painter Jozef Pehan (1875–1922) lived and died in Vrbas.
- Mitar Pešikan, linguist.
- Lazar RistovskiLazar RistovskiLazar "Laza" Ristovski is a Serbian actor, director, producer and writer. He has appeared on stage about 4000 times, and starred in over 40 films, TV series and TV dramas, mostly in lead roles.-Biography:...
, actor. - The Hungarian singer Magdolna RúzsaMagdolna RúzsaMagdolna Rúzsa or simply Magdi Rúzsa is a Hungarian singer who won the 2006 title of Megasztár , Hungary's nationwide talent search, closely linked to Pop Idol...
was born in Vrbas. She won MegasztárMegasztárMegasztár - Voice of the Year is a Hungarian voice talent television series that started in 2003 and is currently in its fifth season, on TV2...
, Hungary's version of Pop IdolPop IdolPop Idol is a British television series which debuted on ITV on 6 October 2001. The show was a talent contest to decide the best new young pop singer in the United Kingdom, based on viewer voting and participation. Two series were broadcast - one in 2001-02 and a second in 2003...
in 2006. Rúzsa represented Hungary at the Eurovision Song ContestEurovision Song ContestThe Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
2007 in HelsinkiHelsinkiHelsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, FinlandFinlandFinland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. - Sava Vukoslavović, ethnomusicologist and composer.
- German writer Johannes Weidenheim was born in Vrbas.
See also
- South Bačka DistrictSouth Backa DistrictSouth Bačka District is a northern district of Serbia. It lies in the southern part of Bačka and northern part of Syrmia, in the autonomous province of Vojvodina. It has a population of 607,835...
- BačkaBackaBačka is a geographical area within the Pannonian plain bordered by the river Danube to the west and south, and by the river Tisza to the east of which confluence is located near Titel...
- List of places in Serbia
- List of cities, towns and villages in Vojvodina