Neha Patil (Editor)

Pčinja District

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Country
  
Serbia

ISO 3166 code
  
RS-24

Settlements
  
363

Administrative center
  
Vranje

Municipalities
  
6 and 1 city

Area
  
3,520 km²

Pčinja District

Region
  
Southern and Eastern Serbia

Clubs and Teams
  
FK Radnik Surdulica, Vranje

Points of interest
  
Vlasina Lake, Prohor Pčinjski, Besna Kobila, Muzej Pašin Konak, Čemernik

Destinations
  
Vranje, Surdulica, Vlasina Lake, Bosilegrad, Preševo

The Pčinja District (Serbian: Пчињски округ / Pčinjski okrug, [ptʃǐɲskiː ôkruːɡ]) is one of nine administrative districts of Southern and Eastern Serbia. It covers the southern part of Serbia, bordering the disputed territory of Kosovo, Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia. Its administrative center is the city of Vranje.

Contents

Map of P%C4%8Dinja District, Serbia

It has a population of 159,081, according to the 2011 census. It is possible that the actual population is greater than is stated in the official statistics, because most Albanians boycotted the census; an estimate is that between 20,000–50,000 more people than recorded live in the district.

The Vranjska Banja spa plays a particular part in this region, with its multi-medicinal thermal mineral waters.

Municipalities

It encompasses the municipalities of:

  • Vladičin Han
  • Surdulica
  • Bosilegrad
  • Trgovište
  • Vranje
  • Bujanovac
  • Preševo
  • Culture and history

    The ancient Paeonian tribe of Agrianians (Agrianes) ruled the region of present Pčinja District.

    The cultural-historic monuments date back over five centuries ago. The earliest military fortification: Marko's Fortress, originates from the thirteenth century. Also famous are the ancient Turkish Public Bath from the sixteenth century, and the Pasha's House from 1765, in which a Grammar School was opened in 1882.

    In 2001, uprisings by Albanians occurred in the Albanian-majority municipalities of Presevo and Bujanovac. In addition, reports emerged in 2006 that the Trgoviste had threatened to secede to Macedonia, which were treated as noteworthy because the area has a majority Serb population. Representatives cited economic hardship and a declining population as grievances against Serbia's government.

    Economy

    The economy of Vranje is based on industry, mining, building industry, trade, agriculture, and forestry. The best known factories are: DIV Tobacco Factory and holding companies: SIMPO and Jumko.

    Ethnic composition

    1992
  • Serbs = 60.4%
  • Albanians = 26.5%
  • Roma = 5.7%
  • Bulgarians = 4.4%
  • Others = 3%
  • 2002
  • Serbs = 147,046 (64.58%)
  • Albanians = 54,795 (24.07%)
  • Roma = 12,073 (5.3%)
  • Bulgarians = 8,491 (3.73%)
  • Others = 5,285 (2.32%)
  • 2011
  • Serbs = 132,601 (83,35%)
  • Roma = 13,826 (8.69%)
  • Bulgarians = 7,287 (4.58%)
  • Albanians = 680 (0.43%)
  • Others
  • References

    Pčinja District Wikipedia