Srbica

Srbica
Skënderaj
—  Municipality and city  —
Srbica / Skënderaj
Srbica
Skënderaj
Location in Kosovo
Coordinates:
Country Kosovo[a]
District District of Kosovska Mitrovica
Population (2011)
 • Total 51,317 (municipality)
 • Density 137.1/km2 (355.1/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Area code(s) +381
Car plates 02
Website Municipality of Srbica

Srbica or Skënderaj is a city and municipality in the Kosovska Mitrovica district of northern Kosovo[a]. It is the largest city in the Drenica region of Kosovo.[1]

Contents

Name

The Albanians use "Skënderaj", referring to Scanderbeg, while Serbs call it after the Serbs (Srbi) i.e. Srbica.

Features

It is populated mainly by Albanians (98%). It is claimed to be the poorest city in Kosovo. It is the place where the Kosovo War began in 1998, and to which the most damage was done.[1]

Demographics

Ethnic Composition, Including IDPs
Year/Population Albanians  % Serbs  % Ashkali  % Bosniaks  % Total
1991 54,437 - 713 - 55,471
January 1999 App. 65,000 N/A 291 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A App. 65,000
Current figure App. 50,000 98% 690 0.8% 68 N/A 20 N/A App. 70,000
Ref: Yugoslav Population Censuses for data through 1991, OSCE estimates for onwards data

Economy

Srbica has historically been the poorest municipality in Kosovo, with little investment having been made since the time of the former Yugoslavia. It suffers from low economic activity and continuous high unemployment. Agriculture is the major local industry but the municipality has not fully developed existing arable land. Today, the local economy consists of small enterprises such as family-run shops and restaurants while two privatized factories, a brick and a flour mill, employ a few hundred people. The other major sector of employment is the municipality’s civil service.[1]

Sport

Srbica is home of the Kosovar Superliga football club KF Drenica.[1]

Notable People

Notes and references

Notes:

a.   ^ Kosovo is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Serbia and the self-proclaimed Republic of Kosovo. The latter declared independence on 17 February 2008, while Serbia claims it as part of its own sovereign territory. Its independence is recognised by 86 UN member states.

References:

External links