Jelšava
Municipality in Banská Bystrica Region, Slovakia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jelšava (German: Eltsch or Jelschau; Hungarian: Jolsva) is a town and municipality in Revúca District in the Banská Bystrica Region of Slovakia.
Jelšava
Jolsva | |
|---|---|
Protestant church | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
  Jelšava Location of Jelšava in the Banská Bystrica Region  Jelšava Location of Jelšava in Slovakia | |
| Coordinates: 48.63°N 20.24°E | |
| Country |  Slovakia |
| Region |  Banská Bystrica Region |
| District | Revúca District |
| First mentioned | 1243 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Milan Kolesár |
| Area | |
• Total | 46.79 km2 (18.07 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 258 m (846 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | 3,177 |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 491 6[2] |
| Area code | +421 58[2] |
| Vehicle registration plate (until 2022) | RA |
| Website | www |
Etymology
Geography
The municipality lies at an altitude of 258 metres (846 ft)[2] and covers an area of 46.79 km2 (18.07 sq mi) (2024).[5]
The town lies in the Revúcka vrchovina highlands at the border of the Slovak Ore Mountains and Slovak Karst, in the valley of the Muráň river, at an altitude of around 258 m. It is located by road around 10 km (6.21 mi) from Revúca, 100 km (62.14 mi) from Banská Bystrica and 105 km (65.24 mi) away from Košice.
Along to the main settlement, it also has "part" Teplá Voda, bit north-west of the town.
History
In historical records, the town was first mentioned in 1243 (1243 Illswa, 1271 Elswa, 1344 Ilsua, 1564 Jelssawa, 1573 Jolssowa, 1582 Ölch alias Ilschwa, 1594 Oltcz, 1592 Jelsowa, Josuach) as an important town and hammer, hosting German and Hungarian colonists. In the time it was ruled by Desiderius of the Ratoldy family, who was the founder of a new family, the Ilsvay (meaning "from Jelšava"). In 1556, Jelšava was besieged by Turks, to whom it had to pay tributes. In this period Protestantism arrived in the town. It was ruled by Ottoman Empire as part of Filek sanjak (Its centre was Rima Sonbot) during periods of 1554-1593 and 1596–1686. It was known as "Yoşva" during Ottoman period.[6] In the 17th century, Jelšava passed to the Bocskay family. The first magnesite furnace in present-day Slovakia was built in 1894. After breakup of Austria-Hungary in 1918, the town passed to Czechoslovakia, which controlled the town lied until 1993, with exception of years 1938–1945, when it was occupied by Hungary (see First Vienna Award). In 1993, the town became a part of Slovakia.
Population
| Year | 1994 | 2004 | 2014 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | 2909 | 3249 | 3191 | 3177 |
| Difference | +11.68% | −1.78% | −0.43% |
| Year | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Count | 3160 | 3177 |
| Difference | +0.53% |
It has a population of 3177 people (31 December 2024).[10]
Ethnicity
In year 2021 was 3209 people by ethnicity 2651 as Slovak, 382 as Not found out, 312 as Romani, 42 as Hungarian, 17 as Czech, 4 as Ukrainian, 4 as Other, 2 as Polish, 1 as Vietnamese, 1 as Italian, 1 as Rusyn, 1 as Russian, 1 as Romanian, 1 as Austrian and 1 as German.
Note on population: The difference between the population numbers above and in the census (here and below) is that the population numbers above are mostly made up of permanent residents, etc.; and the census should indicate the place where people actually mainly live.
For example, a student is a citizen of a village because they have permanent residence there (they lived there as a child and has parents), but most of the time he studies at a university in the city.
Religion
| Religion | Number | Fraction |
|---|---|---|
| None | 1425 | 44.41% |
| Roman Catholic Church | 775 | 24.15% |
| Not found out | 524 | 16.33% |
| Evangelical Church | 334 | 10.41% |
| Greek Catholic Church | 68 | 2.12% |
| Jehovah's Witnesses | 44 | 1.37% |
| Total | 3209 |
In year 2021 was 3209 people by religion 1425 from None, 775 from Roman Catholic Church, 524 from Not found out, 334 from Evangelical Church, 68 from Greek Catholic Church, 44 from Jehovah's Witnesses, 18 from Baptists Church, 5 from Calvinist Church, 4 from Christian Congregations in Slovakia, 3 from Other, 3 from Apostolic Church, 2 from Eastern Orthodox Church, 2 from United Methodist Church, 1 from Islam and 1 from Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Twin towns — sister cities
Famous people
- Ludwig Greiner, forester