Rajec
Municipality in Žilina Region, Slovakia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rajec (Hungarian: Rajec; German: Rajetz) is a town in the Žilina District, Žilina Region in northern Slovakia.
Rajec | |
|---|---|
SNP Square, Rajec | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
  Rajec Location of Rajec in the Žilina Region  Rajec Location of Rajec in Slovakia | |
| Coordinates: 49.09°N 18.63°E | |
| Country |  Slovakia |
| Region |  Žilina Region |
| District | Žilina District |
| First mentioned | 1193 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Milan Hanus |
| Area | |
• Total | 31.45 km2 (12.14 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 448 m (1,470 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | 5,703 |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 150 1[2] |
| Area code | +421 41[2] |
| Vehicle registration plate (until 2022) | ZA |
| Website | www |
Etymology
Rajec, Rajčianka, Rajčanka are derived from Proto-Slavic appellative *rajь – a wet, muddy place (modern Slovak raj – a paradise, "a place with rich vegetation").[4]
History
The first written record about Rajec was in 1193, as Raich, in a document issued by King Béla III. The first mention of the town comes from 1397.
Geography
The municipality lies at an altitude of 448 metres (1,470 ft)[2] and covers an area of 31.45 km2 (12.14 sq mi) (2024).[5] It is situated between Strážovské vrchy, and Malá Fatra mountains, in the Rajčanka river valley, around 20 km (12 mi) south-south-west of Žilina.
Population
| Year | 1994 | 2004 | 2014 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | 6404 | 6074 | 5881 | 5703 |
| Difference | −5.15% | −3.17% | −3.02% |
| Year | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Count | 5777 | 5703 |
| Difference | −1.28% |
It has a population of 5703 people (31 December 2024).[7]
Ethnicity
In year 2021 was 5897 people by ethnicity 5567 as Slovak, 305 as Not found out, 37 as Czech, 17 as Other, 15 as Romani, 7 as Moravian, 7 as Hungarian, 4 as Chinese, 3 as Italian, 3 as Polish, 3 as German, 3 as Croatian, 1 as Jewish, 1 as Vietnamese, 1 as Ukrainian, 1 as Greek and 1 as English.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Roman Catholic Church | 4712 | 79.91% |
| None | 602 | 10.21% |
| Not found out | 369 | 6.26% |
| Evangelical Church | 108 | 1.83% |
| Total | 5897 |
In year 2021 was 5897 people by religion 4712 from Roman Catholic Church, 602 from None, 369 from Not found out, 108 from Evangelical Church, 30 from Ad hoc movements, 18 from Greek Catholic Church, 15 from Other, 7 from Christian Congregations in Slovakia, 6 from Other and not ascertained christian church, 5 from Calvinist Church, 5 from Jehovah's Witnesses, 5 from Buddhism, 4 from Paganism and natural spirituality, 4 from Islam, 2 from Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1 from Old Catholic Church, 1 from Eastern Orthodox Church, 1 from Czechoslovak Hussite Church, 1 from Bahá'i Community and 1 from Apostolic Church.
According to the 2001 census, the town had 6,074 inhabitants. 98.86% of inhabitants were Slovaks and 0.68% were Czechs.[11] The religious make-up was 92.79% Roman Catholics, 3.42% people with no religious affiliation, and 1.89% Lutherans.[11]
Sightseeings
- Town Hall, a Renaissance one-floor building available from all sides. Open arcades served as a market. On the second floor, there were administrative rooms of the town council. After the newest reconstruction in 1992, the arcades are full glassed and the town hall serve as wedding, concert and exhibition room. (3D Model)
- Town museum, former brewery residence
Culture
The Rajec Marathon, an annual road race, was established in the town in 1984.[12]
