Koprivnica-Križevci County
# Koprivnica-Križevci County

Koprivnica-Križevci County (Croatian: Koprivničko-križevačka županija [kǒpriːʋnit͡ʃko-krǐːʒeʋat͡ʃkaː ʒupǎnija]; Hungarian: Kapronca-Kőrös megye) is a county in Northern Croatia. Its hyphenated name comes from two entities: the two of its largest cities, Koprivnica and Križevci; Koprivnica is the official capital of the county.

The county also includes a third town, Đurđevac, but its population is much smaller than the main two (8,862 in 2001).

The Koprivnica-Križevci County borders on the Međimurje County in the north, Varaždin County in the northwest, Zagreb County in the southwest, Bjelovar-Bilogora County in the south, Virovitica-Podravina County in the southeast and Hungary in the east.

## History

Koprivnica was first mentioned in 1272 in a document by prince Ladislaus IV of Hungary and was declared a free royal town by king Ludovic I in 1356. It has flourished as a trading place and a military fortress since that time.

The military aspect set it back when it was included in the Croatian Military Frontier in the 16th century during the wars with the Ottoman Turks. After Maria Theresa's decree of 1765, however, it resumed life as a peaceful little merchant town.

Koprivnica developed significantly in the 20th century with the advent of the Podravka food industry, and is known worldwide for its Vegeta spice.

Križevci, on the other hand, as a smaller city and second mentioned in the county name, may seem like an underdog to its neighbour Koprivnica. Its first mention was from 1193 by Béla III but it was divided into two parts which developed at different rates.

After centuries of division, empress Maria Theresa united the Lower and Upper Križevac into Križevci in 1752. The town was also hit by the wars with the Turks, but it regained importance in 1871 when the railway was built through it on the way from Budapest to Rijeka.

Modern Križevci is oriented towards entrepreneurship, while preserving its eight beautiful churches (one of which is a cathedral), built mostly in the Middle Ages.

## Administrative division

Koprivnica-Križevci county is divided into:

* City of Koprivnica (county seat)
* Town of Križevci
* Town of Đurđevac
* Municipality of Drnje
* Municipality of Đelekovec
* Municipality of Ferdinandovac
* Municipality of Gola
* Municipality of Gornja Rijeka
* Municipality of Hlebine
* Municipality of Kalinovac
* Municipality of Kalnik
* Municipality of Kloštar Podravski
* Municipality of Koprivnički Bregi
* Municipality of Koprivnički Ivanec
* Municipality of Legrad
* Municipality of Molve
* Municipality of Novigrad Podravski
* Municipality of Novo Virje
* Municipality of Peteranec
* Municipality of Podravske Sesvete
* Municipality of Rasinja
* Municipality of Sokolovac
* Municipality of Sveti Ivan Žabno
* Municipality of Sveti Petar Orehovec
* Municipality of Virje

## Demographics

| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| - | - | - |
| 1857 | 87,464 | — |
| 1869 | 97,581 | +11.6% |
| 1880 | 105,529 | +8.1% |
| 1890 | 121,772 | +15.4% |
| 1900 | 132,581 | +8.9% |
| 1910 | 142,546 | +7.5% |
| 1921 | 139,054 | −2.4% |
| 1931 | 143,268 | +3.0% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1948 | 140,565 | −1.9% |
| 1953 | 142,362 | +1.3% |
| 1961 | 143,019 | +0.5% |
| 1971 | 138,994 | −2.8% |
| 1981 | 133,790 | −3.7% |
| 1991 | 129,397 | −3.3% |
| 2001 | 124,467 | −3.8% |
| 2011 | 115,584 | −7.1% |

Source: Naselja i stanovništvo Republike Hrvatske 1857–2001, Croatian Bureau of Statistics, Zagreb, 2005 :

As of the 2011 census, the county had 115,584 residents. The population density is 71 people per km².

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