Šakiai

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Šakiai
Location Coat of Arms
Location
Ethnographic region Sudovia
County Marijampolė County
Municipality Šakiai district municipality
Elderate Šakiai elderate
Coordinates 54°57′N, 23°3′E
General Information
Capital of Šakiai district municipality
Šakiai rural elderate
Population 6,605 in 2005 (48th)
First mentioned 1599
Granted city rights 1776

Šakiai (pronunciation (help·info)) is a city in Marijampolė County. It is 65 km west of Kaunas. It is presumed that Šakiai first expanded from Šakaičai village. By 1719 a church in Šakiai was built. By the 19th century Šakiai already had city rights; it also had a school, Catholic and Lutheran churches a synagogue and a post office. During World War II the city was destroyed by the German army.