Image:Coat of Arms (Vilnius city municipality on the map) (Coat of Arms of Vilnius city municipality)
Map
Capital	Vilnius
Cities	Vilnius (542287 people) Grigiškės (11448 people)
Mayor	Artūras Zuokas (Liberal and Center Union)
Size	51st place 400,6 km²
Population	1st place 553904 people;
Population density	7th place 1382,7/km²
Telephone code	5
Official website	http://www.vilnius.lt

Vilnius city municipality (Lithuanian: Vilniaus miesto savivaldybė) is one of 60 municipalities in Lithuania. It is in the southeastern part of country, in Vilniaus Apskritis and consists of the city of Vilnius, town of Grigiškės and some rural places. Vilniaus apskritis is the biggest of the 10 apskritys of Lithuania, located in the east of the country around the city Vilnius. ... In politics a capital (also called capital city or political capital — although the latter phrase has an alternative meaning based on an alternative meaning of capital) is the principal city or town associated with its government. ... Vilnius Old Town Vilnius (sometimes also Vilna in English, Belarusian Вільня, Polish Wilno, Russian Вильнюс, German Wilna, see also Cities alternative names) is the capital and largest city of Lithuania with population in excess of 540 thousand (in 2003). ... Vilnius Old Town Vilnius (sometimes also Vilna in English, Belarusian Вільня, Polish Wilno, Russian Вильнюс, German Wilna, see also Cities alternative names) is the capital and largest city of Lithuania with population in excess of 540 thousand (in 2003). ... A mayor (from the Latin maÄ«or, meaning larger,greater) is the politician who serves as chief executive official of some types of municipalities. ... Vilniaus apskritis is the biggest of the 10 apskritys of Lithuania, located in the east of the country around the city Vilnius. ... Vilnius Old Town Vilnius (sometimes also Vilna in English, Belarusian Вільня, Polish Wilno, Russian Вильнюс, German Wilna, see also Cities alternative names) is the capital and largest city of Lithuania with population in excess of 540 thousand (in 2003). ...

History

This is the history of the municipality. For the history of Vilnius city itself, please see History of Vilnius. Vilnius Old Town Vilnius (sometimes also Vilna in English, Belarusian Вільня, Polish Wilno, Russian Вильнюс, German Wilna, see also Cities alternative names) is the capital and largest city of Lithuania with population in excess of 540 thousand (in 2003). ... Middle ages The earliest settlements in the area of present Vilnius appear to be of mesolithic origin. ...

Vilnius was given status of republican administered city under Soviet rule, which meant that practically it was not part of any of the districts but was responsible directly to the government of Lithuanian SSR instead, although officially it, same as other republican administered cities, remained a part of nearby district (Vilnius district in this case). State motto: Visų šalių proletarai, vienykitės (Workers of all countries, unite) Official language Constitutionally, all languages were equal. ...

After independence the system of districts and republican administered cities was reogranised into that of municipalities. Therefore territory formerly of Vilnius city became the Vilnius city municipality, while the remaining areas of Vilnius district became Vilnius district municipality. Although whole area is considered Vilnius city, it has some areas that are actually suburbs, separated from the city by forests and such.

Under the municipality reform in 2000, town of Grigiškės was seccedded from Trakai district municipality and made part of Vilnius city municipality. It became additional elderate of this municipality. However, Grigiškės is not considered part of Vilnius city, only of the municipality; that is because official joining of it to Vilnius city would require renaming many streets which names doubles in both cities, and it would cost.

The government of Vilnius city municipality also seeks that the town of Lentvaris, currently part of Trakai district municipality would be attached to Vilnius city municipality (which is allegedly supported by people of Lentvaris, according to surveys done by Vilnius city municipality). This is opposed by the government of Trakai district municipality.

Geography

The municipality is in the top ten by the population density (which is almost 1,400 people per square kilometer), however, almost a half of it is covered by greenery. Parks separates different districts and forests separates Vilnius from suburbs. There are recreational places such as lakes in the municipality (waters makes almost 3% of area). Outside Vilnius city limits it is also possible to swim in river Neris. Forests are pervalent in the northern part of the municipality. Vilnius Old Town Vilnius (sometimes also Vilna in English, Belarusian Вільня, Polish Wilno, Russian Вильнюс, German Wilna, see also Cities alternative names) is the capital and largest city of Lithuania with population in excess of 540 thousand (in 2003). ... Neris (The Lithuanian name; within the territory of Belarus it is called Ві́лія (Viliya, Vilia); and the Wilia in Polish language) is a river rising in Belarus, flowing through Vilnius (Lithuania) and becomes a tributary of the Neman (Nemunas) in Kaunas (Lithuania). ...

Demography

Vilnius city municipality is the most populous municipality of Lithuania and one of most diverse municipalities, with Lithuanians making up only above half of population. The minority communities are Poles, Russians, Belorusians, Ukrainians, Jews, Tatars, Gypsies, Karaites and others; most of them, except for ones of Soviet nationalities, are centuries old). There exists many Lithuanian, Polish and Russian schools, some other minorities has their schools too. There are also various religious communities in the municipality (also many atheists, same as in other urban municipalities), including various Christian denominations, the largest number of Jews out of Lithuanian municipalities, relatively large number of muslims, also some karaites (who has their temple in the city also). In addition to traditional religions, there are many new ones practicised. Such diversity comes from the turbulent history of the region. The percentage of Poles is the largest in suburbs of Vilnius such as Naujoji Vilnia; as for Russians, most of them lives in Vilnius itself. Karaite Judaism is a Jewish denomination characterized by reliance on the Tanakh as the sole scripture, and rejection of the Oral Law (the Mishnah and the Talmuds) as halakha (Legally Binding, i. ... Vilnius Old Town Vilnius (sometimes also Vilna in English, Belarusian Вільня, Polish Wilno, Russian Вильнюс, German Wilna, see also Cities alternative names) is the capital and largest city of Lithuania with population in excess of 540 thousand (in 2003). ... Vilnius Old Town Vilnius (sometimes also Vilna in English, Belarusian Вільня, Polish Wilno, Russian Вильнюс, German Wilna, see also Cities alternative names) is the capital and largest city of Lithuania with population in excess of 540 thousand (in 2003). ...

Urbanization:

• Urban - 553,735 (99,97%)
• Rural - 169 (0,03%)

Sexual makeup:

• Men - 252,464 (45,58%)
• Women - 301,440 (54,42%)

Religious makeup:

• Catholics - 366,052 (72,32%)
• Atheists - 71,463 (14,12%)
• Eastern Orthodox - 54,530 (10,77%)
• Old Believers - 6,507 (1,29%)
• Others less than 0,5% each

National makeup: For information about the band, see Atheist (band). ... Eastern Orthodoxy (also called Greek Orthodoxy and Russian Orthodoxy) is a Christian tradition which represents the majority of Eastern Christianity. ... Fragment of painting Boyarynja Morozova by Vasily Surikov depicting defiant Old Believer arrested by Czarist authorities in 1671. ...

• Lithuanians - 318,510 (59,16%)
• Poles - 104,446 (19,40%)
• Russians - 77,698 (14,43%)
• Belarusians - 22,555 (4,19%)
• Ukrainians - 7,159 (1,33%)
• Jews - 2,785 (0,52%)
• Others less than 0,5% each

Politics

As the municipality is the most populous, and as it includes the capital city of Lithuania, it is very important. It's council is also the largest one. Traditionally, people from the municipality supports rightist parties; especially people from Vilnius. Inhabittants of suburbs more frequently votes for leftist parties. Lithuanian Liberal Party (now merged into Liberal and Center Union) traditionally is popular and is also ruling currently, led by charismatic young mayor (youngest mayor of European capital city) Artūras Zuokas. However, he was involved in a corruption scandal recently. The court found him not guilty, but president required his resignation. He refused to resign however and the municipality council refused to vote on his removal. Vilnius Old Town Vilnius (sometimes also Vilna in English, Belarusian Вільня, Polish Wilno, Russian Вильнюс, German Wilna, see also Cities alternative names) is the capital and largest city of Lithuania with population in excess of 540 thousand (in 2003). ...

Because of rightist politics, the municipality thrives (see economics section), but some people opposes the means this thriving is reached by, therefore there is more polarization with time and more people chooses to vote for leftists.

Some of the actions of the municipality government were pioneering the ideas in Lithuania or even the world. The innovative actions were such as letting people always see the mayor's office online over a webcam, giving people free bikes to ride with and otherwise promoting bike travel (which was not popular before), banning of any public alcohol consumption (previously not done in Lithuania), installing TV sets in public transportation, allowing tall skyscreapers near city centre (previously undone in Lithuania) and others. As mayor Artūras Zuokas said, it is a problem of Lithuania and other Eastern European societies that one has to prove that the idea has been done in different western European or American cities before anyone takes you seriously that it would work in Lithuania; he thinks that instead Lithuanians should not be afraid to be the first in the world to do various things and let others to follow.

Vilnius city municipality council overally has 51 seats. Last elections were done in December of 2002, terms are 4 years. The results are here:

• A. Zuokas's Coalition "For Vilnius in which everyone feels well" Liberals and Modern Christian Democrats - 18
• Liberal Democrat Party - 6
• Lithuania's Poles Electoral Action - 6
• Lithuania's Russians Union - 6
• Lithuanian Socialdemocrat party - 6
• Homeland Union - 6
• New Union (Socialliberals) - 3

Economics

Due to the rightist policies the municipality thrives economically, unemployment is among the lowest and average wage is among the highest in Lithuania. Economic policies however criticised by some people because such things as green areas and old buildings are being sacrificed for scyscreapers and other commercial objects. The government of municipality however envisions Vilnius as a modern European city and during past few years it rapidly changed. Other parts of the municipality are developing too. Due to good economic policis, municipality is attractive to investors; it already houses tallest skyscreaper, largest shopping center in the Baltic States and other such objects. Baltic states and the Baltic Sea The Baltic states or the Baltic countries is a term which nowadays refers to three countries in Northern Europe: Estonia Latvia Lithuania Prior to World War II, Finland was sometimes considered, particularly by the Soviet Union, a fourth Baltic state. ...

Transportation

Municipality has largest international airport in Lithuania (Vilnius International Airport), is connected by major roads and railways. There are plans to build Light rail system in the municipality. Vilnius International Airport (IATA Airport Code: VNO) in Lithuania, is that countrys largest aviation facility. ... This article is about light rail systems in general. ...

Elderates

Subdivision of the municipality:

• Antakalnis elderate
• Fabijoniškės elderate
• Grigiškės elderate
• Justiniškės elderate
• Karoliniškės elderate
• Lazdynai elderate
• Naujamiestis elderate
• Naujininkai elderate
• Naujoji Vilnia elderate
• Paneriai elderate
• Pašilaičiai elderate
• Pilaitė elderate
• Rasos elderate
• Senamiestis elderate
• Šeškinė elderate
• Šnipiškės elderate
• Verkiai elderate
• Vilkpėdė elderate
• Viršuliškės elderate
• Žirmūnai elderate
• Žvėrynas elderate

Culture

Links