NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Counties of Estonia

A county (Estonian: maakond) is an administrative subdivision of Estonia. Estonia is divided into 15 counties. The government (Estonian: maavalitsus) of each county is led by a county governor (Estonian: maavanem), who represents the national government at the regional level. Governors are appointed by the government for a term of five years. The President of Estonia is the head of state of the Republic of Estonia. ... Toomas Hendrik Ilves [IPA: toËmÉ‘s hendrik ilves] (born December 26, 1953) is an Estonian politician. ... The Prime Minister of Estonia (Estonian: Eesti Vabariigi Peaminister) is the head of government of the Republic of Estonia. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Government of the Republic of Estonia (Estonian: Vabariigi Valitsus) exercises executive power pursuant to the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of Estonia. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Riigikogu (from riigi-, of the state, and kogu, assembly) is the parliament of Estonia. ... The Supreme Court of Estonia is a court of cassation, also fulfilling the functions of a constitutional court. ... Elections in Estonia gives information on election and election results in Estonia. ... Parliamentary elections took place in Estonia on Sunday, March 4, 2007. ... Estonian parliamentary election of 2003 was held on 2nd March, 2003. ... Political parties in Estonia lists political parties in Estonia. ... This is a list of the rural municipalities (vallad, singular - vald) of Estonia. ... The European Union or EU is a supranational and international organization of 27 member states. ... Following restoration of independence from the Soviet Union, Estonias immediate priority was the withdrawal of Russian (formerly Soviet) forces from Estonian territory. ... Information on politics by country is available for every country, including both de jure and de facto independent states, inhabited dependent territories, as well as areas of special sovereignty. ... A county is generally a sub-unit of regional self-government within a sovereign jurisdiction. ... For other uses, see Governor (disambiguation). ... For the government in parliamentary systems, see Executive (government). ...

Each county is further divided into municipalities which are of two types: urban municipality, or town (linn), and rural municipality, or parish (vald). This is a list of the rural municipalities (vallad, singular - vald) of Estonia. ...

List of counties

Capital Tallinn Area 4,333 kmÂ² (2nd) Population (as of 2004) - Density 521,410 (1st) 120. ... Capital KÃ¤rdla Governor Hannes Maasel Area 1,023 kmÂ² (15th) Population (as of 2004) - Density 10,289 (15th) 10. ... Capital JÃµhvi Governor Ago Silde Area 3,364 kmÂ² (5th) Population (as of 2004) - Density 174,809 (2nd) 52/kmÂ² (2nd) ISO 3166-2 EE-44 Ida-Viru County (est: Ida-Viru maakond), or Ida-Virumaa, is one of 15 counties of Estonia. ... JÃµgeva County or JÃµgevamaa (Estonian: JÃµgeva maakond or JÃµgevamaa) is one of the counties of Estonia. ... JÃ¤rva County or JÃ¤rvamaa (Estonian: JÃ¤rva maakond or JÃ¤rvamaa) is one of the counties of Estonia. ... LÃ¤Ã¤ne County, or LÃ¤Ã¤ne maakond, is a County or maakond of Estonia. ... LÃ¤Ã¤ne-Viru County, Western Virumaa or Western Vironia (Estonian: LÃ¤Ã¤ne-Viru maakond or LÃ¤Ã¤ne-Virumaa) is a County or maakond of Estonia. ... PÃµlvamaa is a county of Estonia. ... PÃ¤rnu County (Estonian: PÃ¤rnumaa) is a County (maakond) in the country of Estonia. ... Capital Rapla Governor TÃµnis Blank Area 2,980 kmÂ² (7th) Population (as of 2004) - Density 37,093 (10th) 12. ... Saare County, or Saare maakond, is a county or maakond of Estonia. ... Capital Tartu Governor Esta Tamm Area 2,993 kmÂ² (6th) Population (as of 2004) - Density 148,872 (3rd) 49. ... Capital Valga Governor Georg TraÅ¡anov Area 2,044 kmÂ² (14th) Population (as of 2004) - Density 35,059 (12th) 17. ... Capital Viljandi Governor Kalle KÃ¼ttis Area 3,422 kmÂ² (4th) Population (as of 2004) - Density 56,854 (6th) 16. ... Capital VÃµru Governor Ãœlo Tulik Area 2,305 kmÂ² (12th) Population (as of 2004) - Density 38,967 (7th) 16. ...

History

In the first centuries AD political and administrative subdivisions began to emerge in Estonia. Two larger subdivisions appeared: the parish (kihelkond) and the county (maakond). The parish consisted of several villages. Nearly all parishes had at least one fortress. The defense of the local area was directed by the highest official, the parish elder. The county was composed of several parishes, also headed by an elder. By the 13th century the following major counties had developed in Estonia: Saaremaa (Osilia), Läänemaa (Rotalia or Maritima), Harjumaa (Harria), Rävala (Revalia), Virumaa (Vironia), Järvamaa (Jervia), Sackalia (Saccala), and Ugandi (Ugaunia).^[1] Additionally there were several smaller elderships in central Estonia where danger of war was smaller - Vaiga, Mõhu, Nurmekund and Alempois. The exact number and borders of some elderships are disputed. The land area that now makes up Estonia was settled immediately after the Ice Age, beginning from around 8500 BC. After being conquered by Danish and German crusaders in 1227, Estonia was ruled initially in the north by Danes, then by German Bishops. ... Image File history File links Eesti_maakonnad_2006. ... Image File history File links Eesti_maakonnad_2006. ... Saare County, or Saare maakond, is a county or maakond of Estonia. ... Capital Haapsalu Governor Sulev Vare Area 2,383. ... Harju County or Harjumaa (Estonian Harju maakond or Harjumaa) is a County or maakond of Estonia on the south coast of the Gulf of Finland. ... Dannebrog falling from the sky during the Battle of Lyndanisse in Revelia. ... National motto: None Vironia corresponded to the present territory of LÃ¤Ã¤ne-Viru maakond & Ida-Viru maakond. ... JÃ¤rva County or JÃ¤rvamaa (Estonian: JÃ¤rva maakond or JÃ¤rvamaa) is one of the counties of Estonia. ... National motto: None Sackalia corresponded roughly to the present territory of Viljandi, a half of PÃ¤rnu, and a half of Valga maakond. ... National motto: None Ugaunia corresponded roughly to the present territory of Tartu, PÃµlva, VÃµru and a half of Valga maakond. ...

The first documented mentioning of Estonian political and administrative subdivisions comes from the Chronicle of Henry of Livonia, written in the 13th Century during the Northern Crusades. The Chronicle of Henry of Livonia (Latvian: Indrika hronikas, Latin: Heinrici Cronicon Lyvoniae) is a historic document describing the history of Latvia and Estonia from 1180 to 1227. ... (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... The Teutonic knights in Pskov in 1240. ...

The Autonomy of the Estonia counties and parishes ended after conquered and divided between Denmark, Livonian Order, Bishopric of Dorpat and Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek. The name of Rävala became Reval, replacing the name of an Estonian town Lindanisse, later Tallinn. Ugandi, Sakala and the smaller elderships disappeared from common usage. The Livonian Brothers of the Sword (Latin Fratres militiae Christi, literally the brothers of the army of Christ), also known as the Christ Knights, Sword Brethren or The Militia of Christ of Livonia, was a military order started in 1202 by Albert von Buxhövden, bishop of Riga (or Prince... The Bishopric of Dorpat was a medieval principality 1234-1558 in what are now Tartu, PÃµlva, VÃµru and JÃµgeva counties in Estonia. ... The Bishopric of Ã–sel-Wiek (German: Bistum Ã–sel-Wiek, Estonian: Saare-LÃ¤Ã¤ne piiskopkond) was a semi-independent principality in what is now Saare and LÃ¤Ã¤ne counties of Estonia. ... County Area 159. ...

In the 1580s, after the Livonian war as Sweden had conquered Northern Estonia, Harju, Järva, Lääne and Viru counties were officially formed there. Southern Estonia, which belonged to Poland 1582-1625, was divided into voivodships of Pärnu and Tartu; the island of Saaremaa belonged to Denmark until 1645. They all became counties as they went under Swedish rule. Events and Trends The beginnings of the Golden Age of Literature in England Sir Humphrey Gilbert claims Newfoundland as Englands first overseas colony in 1583 Francis Drake had come back from going around the world, bringing back with him many treasures. ... The Reformation reached Livonia in the 1520s. ... A Voivodship (Romanian: Voievodat, Polish: Województwo, Serbian: Vojvodstvo or Vojvodina) was a feudal state in medieval Romania, Hungary, Poland, Russia and Serbia (see Vojvodina), ruled by a Voivod. ...

This administrative system mostly remained as Estonia went under Russian rule as a result of the Northern War. In 1793 were formed Võru County in the south of Tartumaa, Viljandi County between Tartu and Pärnu counties, and Paldiski County in the west of Harjumaa. In 1796 Paldiski County was joined with Harjumaa again. Until 1888 Võrumaa and Viljandimaa were not completely independent from Tartumaa and Pärnumaa respecively. The Northern War can mean: Northern Wars (1655-1660) Great Northern War (1700-1721) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... 1793 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Capital VÃµru Governor Ãœlo Tulik Area 2,305 kmÂ² (12th) Population (as of 2004) - Density 38,967 (7th) 16. ... Capital Viljandi Governor Kalle KÃ¼ttis Area 3,422 kmÂ² (4th) Population (as of 2004) - Density 56,854 (6th) 16. ... County Harjumaa Mayor Kaupo Kallas Area 60. ... Year 1796 (MDCCXCVI) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Monday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1888 (MDCCCLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

Several changes were made to the borders of countis after Estonia became independent, most notably the formation of Valga County (from parts of Võru, Tartu and Viljandi counties) and Petseri County (area acquired from Russia with the 1920 Tartu peace treaty). Capital Valga Governor Georg TraÅ¡anov Area 2,044 kmÂ² (14th) Population (as of 2004) - Density 35,059 (12th) 17. ...

During the Soviet rule, Petseri County once again became a part of Russia in 1945. Hiiumaa seceded from Läänemaa in 1946, Jõgevamaa from Tartumaa in 1949 and Jõhvimaa (modern Ida-Virumaa) from Virumaa in 1949. Counties were completely dissolved in 1950 as Estonian SSR was divided into regions (rajoonid) and (until 1953) oblasts. Until the 1960s the borders of regions changed often until 15 of them were left. Out of them, Põlva and Rapla regions became separate, while the others were roughly corresponding to the pre-1950 counties. Ida-Viru County or Eastern Virumaa (Estonian: Ida-Viru maakond or Ida-Virumaa) is one of the counties of Estonia. ... State motto: KÃµigi maade proletaarlased, Ã¼hinege (Translated: Workers of the world, unite!) Official language Estonian, Russian (de facto) Capital Tallinn Chairman of the Supreme Council Arnold RÃ¼Ã¼tel (at the time of regaining independence) Established In the USSR: - Since - Until July 21, 1940 August 6, 1940 August 20, 1991... Year 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Oblast (Czech: oblast, Slovak: oblasÅ¥, Russian and Ukrainian: , Belarusian: , Bulgarian: Ð¾ÌÐ±Ð»Ð°ÑÑ‚) refers to a subnational entity in some countries. ... PÃµlvamaa is a county of Estonia. ... Capital Rapla Governor TÃµnis Blank Area 2,980 kmÂ² (7th) Population (as of 2004) - Density 37,093 (10th) 12. ...

Counties were re-established in 1 January 1990 in the borders of the Soviet-era regions. Due to the numerous differences between the current and historical (pre-1940) layouts, the historical borders are still used in ethnology, representing cultural and lingustical differences better. is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ...

Contents

List of counties

History

See also

External links

Contents

List of counties GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

History

See also

External links

List of counties