Zagreb

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City of Zagreb Grad Zagreb
File:Zagreb trg bana Jelačića.jpg Zagreb
File:Zagreb zastava.gif Flag
File:Location of Zagreb in Croatia.PNG Location of Zagreb within Croatia
Coordinates: 45°49′0″N 15°59′0″E / 45.81667, 15.98333
Country	Croatia
County	City of Zagreb
RC diocese	1093
Free royal city	1242
Unified	1850
Subdivisions	17 districts 70 settlements
Government
- Mayor	Milan Bandić (SDP)
Area [1]
- City	641.29 km² (247.6 sq mi)
Elevation [2]	158 m (518 ft)
Highest elevation	1,035 m (3,396 ft)
Lowest elevation	122 m (400 ft)
Population (2008 estimate)[3]
- City	786,200
- Density	1,223.9/km² (3,169.9/sq mi)
- Urban	1,108,000
- 2001 census	779,145
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	10000
Area code	01
License plate	ZG
Website	zagreb.hr

Zagreb (Template:Pron) is the capital and the largest city of Croatia. Zagreb is the cultural, scientific, cinematic, economic and governmental center of the Republic of Croatia. According to the city government, the population of Zagreb in 2008 was 786,200^[3] (approx. 1.2 million in the metropolitan area).^[4] It is situated between the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain and both northern and southern bank of the Sava river at an elevation of approximately 122 m (400 ft) above sea level.

Its favorable geographic position in the southwestern part of the Pannonian Basin, which extends to the Alpine, Dinaric, Adriatic and Pannonic regions, provides an excellent connection for traffic between Central Europe and the Adriatic Sea.

The transport connections, concentration of industry, scientific and research institutions and industrial tradition underlie its leading economic position in Croatia. Zagreb is the seat of the central government, administrative bodies and almost all government ministries.

Contents 1 Origin of the name 2 Climate 3 History 3.1 Early Zagreb 3.2 17th and 18th century 3.3 19th to early 20th century 3.4 Modern Zagreb 4 Demographics 4.1 Area and population development 5 Economy 6 Cityscape 7 Metropolitan administration 7.1 City districts 7.2 City government 8 Transport 8.1 Highways 9 See also 10 Notes and references 11 External links

Origin of the name

The name Zagreb appears to have been recorded in 1094, although its origins are less clear. According to a local legend, while a Croat viceroy was crossing the deserted region, he scratched (zagrebao) the ground with his sabre in frustration. The idea of digging or unearthing is supported by scientists who suggest that the settlement was established beyond a water-filled hole or graba and that the name derives from this.^[5] Some suggest that the name derives from the term 'za breg' (beyond the hill).^[6] The hill may well have been the river bank of the River Sava, which is believed to have previously flowed closer to the city centre. From here, the words may have been fused into one word and, thus, the name Zagreb was born. According to another mainstream legend, the name Zagreb comes from the Croatian word of common Slavic origin zagrabiti (to scoop). According to this legend, a city ruler was thirsty and ordered a girl named Manda to take water from Lake Manduševac (nowadays a fountain), using the sentence: "Zagrabi, Mando!" which means, Scoop it, Manda! ^[7]. A less probable theory is that the name Zagreb is related to the Zagros mountains of Iran.^[8]

Climate

The climate of Zagreb is classified as humid subtropical (Cfa in Köppen climate classification system). Zagreb has four separate seasons. Summers are hot, and winters are cold, without a discernible dry season. The average temperature in winter is 1 °C (34 °F) and the average temperature in summer is 20 °C (68 °F). Particularly, the end of May gets very warm with temperatures rising above 30 °C (86 °F). Snowfall is common in the winter months, from December to March, and rain and fog are common in fall (October to December).^[9] Highest recorded temperature ever was 40.4 °C (104.7 °F) in July 1950,^[10] and lowest was −27.3 °C (Template:Convert/roundT1 °F) in February 1956^[10]

Weather averages for Zagreb
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	19.4 (67)	22 (72)	26 (79)	29.4 (85)	33.4 (92)	37.6 (100)	40.4 (105)	39.8 (104)	32.8 (91)	28.3 (83)	25.4 (78)	22.5 (73)	40.4 (105)
Average high °C (°F)	3 (37)	5 (41)	11 (52)	14 (58)	20 (68)	23 (74)	26 (78)	25 (77)	22 (71)	15 (59)	8 (47)	3 (38)	15 (58.3)
Average low °C (°F)	-4 (25)	-3 (27)	1 (34)	5 (41)	9 (48)	13 (55)	14 (58)	14 (57)	11 (51)	6 (43)	2 (35)	-2 (29)	6 (41.9)
Record low °C (°F)	-24.3 (-12)	-27.3 (-17)	-18.3 (-1)	-4.4 (24)	-1.8 (29)	2.5 (37)	5.4 (42)	3.7 (39)	-0.6 (31)	-5.6 (22)	-13.5 (8)	-19.8 (-4)	-27.3 (-17)
Precipitation mm (inches)	53.3 (2.1)	48.3 (1.9)	55.9 (2.2)	68.6 (2.7)	83.8 (3.3)	94 (3.7)	78.7 (3.1)	78.7 (3.1)	78.7 (3.1)	94 (3.7)	86.4 (3.4)	66 (2.6)	883.9 (34.8)
Source: [9] 2006-07-02
Source #2: [10] 2008-12-27

History

Main article: History of Zagreb

See also: History of Croatia

Zagreb is a city with a rich history, with Roman settlements such as Andautonia existing as early as 1st century AD.^[11] The first recorded appearance of the name Zagreb is dated in 1094, at which time the city existed as two different city cores: smaller, eastern Kaptol, inhabited mainly by clergy and housing the Zagreb Cathedral, and larger, western Gradec, inhabited by other people, mainly farmers and merchants. Gradec and Zagreb were united in 1851 by ban Josip Jelačić, who was credited by naming the main city square, Ban Jelačić Square in his honour. During the former Yugoslavia, Zagreb was the main economical center of the country, and also its second-largest city. After the dissolution of Yugoslavia, Zagreb became the capital of Croatia.

Early Zagreb

The history of Zagreb dates as far back as 1094 when the Hungarian King Ladislaus founded a diocese. Alongside the bishop's see the canonical settlement Kaptol developed north of the Cathedral, as did the fortified settlement Gradec on the neighboring hill. Today the latter is Zagreb's Upper Town (Gornji Grad) and is one of the best preserved urban nuclei in Croatia. Both settlements came under Tatar attack in 1242. As a sign of gratitude for offering him a safe haven from the Tatar the Croatian and Hungarian King Bela IV bestowed Gradec with a Golden Bull, which offered its citizens exemption from county rule and autonomy, as well as its own judicial system. According to legend, Bela left Gradec a cannon, under the condition that it be fired every day so that it did not rust. Since 1 January 1877 the cannon is fired from the Lotrščak Tower on Grič to mark midday.

Fighting ensued between the Zagreb diocese and the free sovereign town of Gradec for land and mills, sometimes also for political reasons. The term Zagreb was used for these two separate boroughs in the 16th century. Zagreb was then seen as the political center and the capital of Croatia and Slavonia. In 1850 the town was united under its first mayor - Janko Kamauf.^[12]

17th and 18th century

It was not until the 17th century and Nikola Frankopan that Zagreb was chosen as the seat of the Croatian viceroys in 1621. At the invitation of the Croatian Parliament the Jesuits came to Zagreb and built the first grammar school, the St. Catherine's Church and monastery. In 1669 they founded a university where philosophy, theology and law were taught.

During the 17th and 18th centuries Zagreb was badly devastated by fire and the plague. In 1776 the royal council (government) moved from Varaždin to Zagreb and during the reign of Joseph II Zagreb became the headquarters of the Varaždin and Karlovac general command.^[13]

19th to early 20th century

In the 19th century Zagreb was the center of the Croatian National Revival and saw the erection of important cultural and historic institutions.

The first railway line to connect Zagreb with Zidani Most and Sisak was opened in 1862 and in 1863 Zagreb received a gasworks. The Zagreb waterworks was opened in 1878 and the first horse-drawn tramcar was used in 1891. The construction of the railway lines enabled the old suburbs to merge gradually into Donji Grad, characterized by a regular block pattern that prevails in Central European cities. This bustling core hosts many imposing buildings, monuments, and parks as well as a multitude of museums, theaters and cinemas. An electric power plant was erected in 1907 and development flourished 1880–1914 after the earthquake in Zagreb when the town received the characteristic layout it has today.

The first half of the 20th century saw a large expansion of Zagreb. Before the World War I, the city expanded and neighborhoods like Stara Peščenica in the east and Črnomerec in the west were created. After the war, working-class quarters emerged between the railway and the Sava, whereas the construction of residential quarters on the hills of the southern slopes of Medvednica was completed between the two World Wars.

In the 1920s the population of Zagreb went up by 70 percent — the largest demographic boom in the history of Zagreb. In 1926 the first radio station in the region began broadcasting out of Zagreb, and in 1947 the Zagreb Fair was opened.^[14]

Modern Zagreb

The area between the railway and the Sava river witnessed a new construction boom after World War II. After the mid-1950s, construction of new residential areas south of the Sava river began, resulting in Novi Zagreb (Croatian for New Zagreb), originally called "Južni Zagreb" (Southern Zagreb).^[15] The city also expanded westward and eastward, incorporating Dubrava, Podsused, Jarun, Blato, and other settlements.

The cargo railway hub and the international airport Pleso were built south of the Sava river. The largest industrial zone (Žitnjak) in the southeastern part of the city represents an extension of the industrial zones on the eastern outskirts of the city, between Sava and the Prigorje region.

In 1987 Zagreb hosted the Summer Universiade.^[16]

In 1991, it became the capital of the country following secession from Second Yugoslavia. During the 1991–1995 Croatian War of Independence, it was a scene of some sporadic fighting surrounding its JNA army barracks, but escaped major damage. In May 1995, it was targeted by Serb rocket artillery in two Zagreb rocket attacks that killed seven civilians.

Urbanized area connects Zagreb with the following surrounding districts: Sesvete, Zaprešić, Samobor, Dugo Selo and Velika Gorica; Sesvete was the first and the closest one to become a part of the agglomeration and is in fact already administratively included in the City of Zagreb.

Demographics

See also: Demographics of Zagreb

Zagreb is the largest city in Croatia, and is the only Croatian city whose metropolitan population exceeds one million people. Most people live in the city proper. The official 2001 census counted 779,145 residents, although by 2006 that number had grown to 784,900, according to the city government estimates.^[3] According to the 2001 census, there are 1,088,841 people in the Zagreb metropolitan area, which includes the smaller cities of Dugo Selo, Samobor, Velika Gorica and Zaprešić. However, non-city-sanctioned 2007 estimates place this number around 1.2 million.^[4] The majority of its citizens are Croats making up 91.94% of the city's population (2001 census). The same census records 40,066 residents belonging to ethnic minorities. Such ethnic minorities comprise: 18,811 Serbs (2.41%), 6,204 Bosniaks (0.80%), 4,030 Muslims by nationality (0.52%), 3,389 Albanians (0.43%), 3,225 Slovenes (0.41%), 1,946 Roma (0.25%), 1,131 Montenegrins (0.17%), 1,315 Macedonians (0.17%), together with other smaller minor ethnic communities.^[17]

Area and population development

Year	Area (km²)	Population (inside city limits at that time)	Population (inside today's city limits)	Notes
1368		2,810		from the household census
1742		5,600		from the household census
1805		7,706		population census without clergy and nobility
1850		16,036
1857		16,657	48,266
1869		19,857	54,761
1880		30,830	67,188
1890	3.33	40,268	82,848
1900	64.37	61,002	111,565
1910	64.37	79,038	136,351
1921	64.37	108,674	167,765
1931	64.37	185,581	258,024
1948	74.99	279,623	356,529
1953	235.74	350,829	393,919
1961	495.60	430,802	478,076
1971	497.95	602,205	629,896
1981	1,261.54	768,700	723,065
1991	1,715.55	933,914	777,826
2001	641.36	779,145	779,145
The data in column 3 refers to the population in the city borders as of the census in question. Column 4 is calculated for the territory now defined as the City of Zagreb (Narodne novine 97/10).[18]

Economy

Most important branches of industry are: production of electric machines and devices, chemical, pharmaceutical, textile, food and drink processing. Zagreb is international trade and business center, and the transport crossroad of Central and East Europe.^[19]

The city of Zagreb has the highest nominal gross domestic product per capita in Croatia ($19,132 in 2005, compared to the Croatian average of $10,431).^[20] In 2004, the GDP in purchasing power parity was $28,261 (€19,067).^[21]

As of July 2008^[update], the average monthly net salary in Zagreb was 6,228 kuna, about $1,356 (Croatian average is 5,234 kuna, about $1,140).^[22] In 2006 the average unemployment rate in Zagreb was around 8.6%.^[1]

34% of companies in Croatia have headquarters in Zagreb, and 38.4% of Croatian workforce works in Zagreb, including almost all banks, utility and public transport companies.

Companies in Zagreb create 52% of total turnover and 60% of total profit of Croatia in 2006 as well as 35% of Croatian export and 57% of Croatian Import.^[21][23]

Cityscape

The most important high-rise constructions are Neboder on Ban Jelačić Square, Cibona Tower (1987) and Zagrepčanka (1976) on Savska Street, Mamutica in Travno (Novi Zagreb - istok district, built in 1974) and Zagreb TV Tower on Sljeme (built in 1973).

There have been many recent constructions in Zagreb, such as the Almeria Tower, Eurotower, HOTO Tower and Zagrebtower. Several new skyscrapers, such as Center Črnomerec, Sky Office Tower and the Tower 123 are planned for construction in 2008, along with proposed business districts in Kajzerica and Buzin, both in Novi Zagreb. There has recently been an announcement of high-rise development along the Jadranska Avenue, near Blato and Lanište, where the Zagreb Arena is being built.^[24]

Due to a long-standing restriction that forbade construction of 10-story or higher buildings most of Zagreb's skyscrapers date from 70s and 80s and new apartment buildings on the outskirts of the city are usually 4-8 floors tall. Exceptions to the restriction have been made in recent years, such as permitting the construction of skyscrapers in Lanište or Kajzerica.^[25]

Metropolitan administration

According to the Constitution, the city of Zagreb, as the capital of Croatia, has special status. As such, Zagreb performs self-governing public affairs of both city and county. The city administration bodies are the city assembly as the representative body and mayor and the city government as the executive body. The members of the city assembly are elected at direct elections. They elect the mayor and members of the city government by majority vote. The city government has 11 members elected on mayor’s proposal by the city assembly by majority vote. The mayor is the head of city government and has two deputies. The city administrative bodies are composed of 12 city offices, 3 city bureaus and 3 city services. They are responsible to the mayor and the city government. Local government is organized in 17 city districts represented by City District Councils. Residents of districts elect members of councils.^[26] City budget for 2009 is 8 billion kuna.^[26]

City districts

The city districts (Template:Lang-hr) are:^[27]

No.	District	Area (km²)	Population (2001)	Population density
1.	Donji Grad	3.01	45,108	14,956.2
2.	Gornji Grad - Medveščak	10.12	36,384	3,593.5
3.	Trnje	7.37	45,267	6,146.2
4.	Maksimir	14.35	49,750	3,467.1
5.	Peščenica - Žitnjak	35.30	58,283	1,651.3
6.	Novi Zagreb - istok	16.54	65,301	3,947.1
7.	Novi Zagreb - zapad	62.59	48,981	782.5
8.	Trešnjevka - sjever	5.83	55,358	9,498.6
9.	Trešnjevka - jug	9.84	67,162	6,828.1
10.	CČrnomerec	24.33	38,762	1,593.4
11.	Gornja Dubrava	40.28	61,388	1,524.1
12.	Donja Dubrava	10.82	35,944	3,321.1
13.	Stenjevec	12.18	41,257	3,387.3
14.	Podsused - Vrapče	36.05	42,360	1,175.1
15.	Podsljeme	60.11	17,744	295.2
16.	Sesvete	165.26	59,212	358.3
17.	Brezovica	127.45	10,884	85.4
	TOTAL	641.43	779,145	1,214.9

City government

See also: List of mayors of Zagreb

The current mayor of Zagreb is Milan Bandić (SDP).

As of the 2005 mayoral elections, the city assembly is composed of 51 representatives, presided by Tatjana Holjevac (independent representative) and coming from the following political parties:^[28]

• Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP) 19
• Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) 7
• Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) 6
• Croatian People's Party-Liberal Democrats (HNS) 4
• Croatian Party of Pensioners (HSU) 3
• Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) 3
• Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) 1
• Democratic Centre (DC) 1
• Independent 7

Transport

Main article: Transport in Zagreb

Highways

Further information: Highways in Croatia

Zagreb is the hub of five major Croatian highways. Until a few years ago all Croatian highways either started or ended in Zagreb.

The highway A6 was upgraded in October 2008 and leads from Zagreb to Rijeka, crossing 146.5 kilometers (91.0 mi) and forming a part of the Pan-European corridor Vb. The upgraded coincided with the Mura Bridge opening on A4 and the completion of the Hungarian M7, which marked the opening of the first freeway corridor between Rijeka and Budapest.^[29] The A1 starts at Lučko interchange and concurs with the A6 up to the Bosiljevo interchange, connecting Zagreb and Split (as of October 2008^[update] Vrgorac). Further extension of A1 up to Dubrovnik is in construction. Both highways are tolled.^[30]

Highway A3 (formerly named Bratstvo i jedinstvo) was the showpiece of Croatia in the SFRY. It is the oldest Croatian highway. A3 forms a part of the Pan-European Corridor X. The highway starts at the Bregana border crossing, bypasses Zagreb forming the southern arch of the Zagreb bypass and ends at Lipovac near the Bajakovo border crossing. It continues in Southeast Europe in the direction of Near East. This highway is tolled except for the stretch between Bobovica and Ivanja Reka interchanges.^[30]

Highway A2 is a part of the Corridor Xa.^[31] It connects Zagreb and the frequently congested Macelj border crossing, forming a continuous highway-level link between Zagreb and Western Europe except for the Slovenian part, which is still just a primary route.^[30][32] Forming a part of the Corridor Vb, highway A4 starts in Zagreb forming the northeastern wing of the Zagreb bypass and leads to Hungary until the Goričan border crossing. It is the least used highway around Zagreb.

The railway and the highway A3 along the Sava river that extend to Slavonia (towards Slavonski Brod, Vinkovci, Osijek and Vukovar) are some of the busiest traffic corridors in the country.^[30][33] The railway running along the Sutla river and the A2 highway (Zagreb-Macelj) running through Zagorje, as well as traffic connections with the Pannonian region and Hungary (the Zagorje railroad, the roads and railway to Varaždin - Čakovec and Koprivnica) are linked with truck routes.^[34] The southern railway connection to Split operates on a high-speed tilting trains line via the Lika region (renovated in 2004 to allow for a five-hour journey); a faster line along the Una river valley is currently in use only up to the border between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.^[34][35]

Continued at Zagreb, part 2

See also

• Archdiocese of Zagreb
• Eurovision Song Contest 1990
• List of mayors of Zagreb
• List of radio stations in Zagreb

Notes and references

External links

• Official website of the City of Zagreb
• Zagreb Tourist Board
• Zagreb Photo Galeries
• "Croatian Museums and Galleries". Archived from the original on 2007-09-26. http://web.archive.org/web/20070926235508/http://vlmp.museophile.org/croatia.html. 
• Zagreb picture gallery
• Zagreb Apartment
• Pictures Zagreb
• Zagreb Fair
• Zagreb International airport
• Zagreb U.S. Embassy
• Zagreb Upper town photos
• Zagreb Jarun photos
• Zagreb Botanical garden photos
• Project Zagreb, ISBN 978-84-96540-57-6

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