Country Montenegro Area 924 km2 | Mayor Aleksandar Zuric (DPS) | |
Bijelo Polje (Serbian Cyrillic: ?????? ????, ) is a town in northeastern Montenegro on the Lim River. It has an urban population of 15,400 (2011 census). It is the administrative, economic, cultural and educational centre of northern Montenegro.
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Map of Bijelo Polje
Bijelo Polje is the center of Bijelo Polje Municipality (population of 46,051). It is the unofficial center of the north-eastern region of Montenegro. Bijelo Polje means "White Field" in Serbian and all related South Slavic languages.
Population
Bijelo Polje is the administrative centre of the Bijelo Polje municipality, which in 2003 had a population of 50,284. The town of Bijelo Polje itself has 15,883 citizens. According to the latest results from 2010, Bijelo Polje has a population of 46,676.
Population of Bijelo Polje (town):
- 1981 - 11,927
- 1991 - 16,464
- 2003 - 15,883
- 2010 - 15,400
Population of Bijelo Polje (municipality):
- 1948 - 36,795
- 1953 - 41,432
- 1961 - 46,651
- 1971 - 52,598
- 1981 - 55,634
- 1991 - 55,268
- 2003 - 50,284
- 2011 - 46,051
Religion (2011 census):
- Orthodox (53.55%)
- Islam (45.18%)
- Catholic (0.17%)
- Atheist (0.17%)
- Christians (0.17%)
Ethnic composition in 2003
Transport
Bijelo Polje is connected to the rest of Montenegro by two motorways. It is situated on the main road connecting Montenegros coast and Podgorica with northern Montenegro and Serbia (E65, E80).
Bijelo Polje is also a station on Belgrade - Bar railway, the last station in Montenegro for trains leaving for Belgrade, and it serves as a regional train station.
Podgorica Airport is 130 km (81 mi) away, and has regular flights to major European destinations.
Climate
The Koppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Dfb". (Warm Summer Continental Climate).
History
Bijelo Polje was within the Ottoman Empire until its liberation during the Balkan Wars (1912). Under Ottoman rule the city was known as Akova.
Bijelo Poljes Church of Saint Peter and Paul is the place where the famous UNESCO Miroslavs Gospel of Miroslav, brother of the Serb ruler Stefan Nemanja was written.
Culture and sights
Bijelo Polje was the birthplace of the oral poet Avdo Mededovic and of many prominent writers, such as Camil Sijaric, Miodrag Bulatovic. Bijelo Polje is also the birthplace of NBA Center Nikola Pekovic.
Citys best known brand is Rada mineral water, vastly consumed in Montenegro during summer months.