Rokiškis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Rokiškis | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
|||
| Location | |||
| Ethnographic region | Aukštaitija | ||
| County | Panevėžys County | ||
| Municipality | Rokiškis district municipality | ||
| Elderate | Rokiškis town elderate | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| General Information | |||
| Capital of | Rokiškis district municipality Rokiškis town elderate Rokiškis rural elderate |
||
| Population | 16,746 in 2001 (22nd) | ||
| First mentioned | 1499 | ||
| Granted city rights | 1920 | ||
Rokiškispronunciation (help·info) is a city in northern Lithuania with population of about 16,000.
[edit] History
The legend of the founding of Rokiškis tells about a hunter called Rokas who had been hunting for hares ( lit. "kiškis"). However, cities ending in "-kiškis" are quite popular in the region. The city was first mentioned in 1499. At first it was princes Kroszinski residence, later counts Tyzenhaus build a beautiful neogothic church of St. Matthias and a caste which is well preserved today and houses Rokiškis Regional Museum. The town was planned in a classicism manner.
The city started to grow in 1873 when a railroad was build. Rokiškis was granted city rights in 1920.
[edit] Coat of arms
The first arms for the city were designed in 1970 but were abolished the same year. The current coat of arms was approved in 1993. The shield is divided into 4 quarters. 3 of the quarters depict 3 families that ruled the city: the candelabrum represents the Kroszinski family; the bull is a symbol of the Tyzenhaus family, and three bars and a fleur-de-lis are taken from the arms of the Przezdziecki family. The fourth quarter shows impressive organ that are housed in the St. Matthias church.
[edit] Industry
Rokiškis is well-known for its cheese. "Rokiškio sūris" is one of the largest cheese manufacturing companies in Lithuania. It grew from a small local dairy established in 1925. In 1964 Soviets built a specialized factory. At present after reconstructions and foreign capital investments, its sales reach 400 million litas (about 140 million USD). 60% of the production are sold in foreign markets. The company is a very important employer in the region. It is also an important supporter of community initiatives.
