Vilnius City Municipality

The Vilnius City Municipality (Lithuanian: Vilniaus miesto savivaldybė), is one of 60 municipalities in Lithuania. It is in the southeastern part of country, in Vilnius County and consists of the city of Vilnius, the town of Grigiškės and some rural areas.

History

This section is about the history of the municipality. For history of Vilnius city itself, see History of Vilnius.

During the Soviet era, Vilnius was given the unique status of a city, that was not controlled by local governments, but was responsible directly to the central government of the Lithuanian SSR. Officially, it remained a part of the Vilnius district.

After independence the system of districts and republican administered cities was reorganized into that of municipalities. Therefore the territory that formerly included Vilnius, became the Vilnius city municipality, while the remaining areas of Vilnius district became Vilnius District Municipality. Although whole area is considered Vilnius, it has some areas that are actually suburbs, separated from the city by forests and such.

Under the municipality reform of 2000, the town of Grigiškės was separated from the Trakai District Municipality, and made part of the Vilnius city municipality. It became an elderate (a unique Lithuanian designation) of this municipality. However, Grigiškės is not considered part of Vilnius, only of the municipality. That is because joining it with Vilnius, would require renaming many streets in both cities, and it would be too costly at this time.

The government of Vilnius City Municipality also would like that the town of Lentvaris, currently part of Trakai District Municipality, would be attached to the Vilnius City Municipality (which is allegedly supported by people of Lentvaris, according to surveys done by Vilnius City Municipality). This is opposed by the government of Trakai District Municipality.

Geography

Valakupiai Beach on Neris

The population density of the municipality is almost 1,400 people per square kilometer. In spite of this, however, almost a half of it is covered by woods and greenery. Parks separate the different districts and forests separate Vilnius from its suburbs. There are recreational places such as lakes in the municipality (water makes up almost 3% of the area). Outside of the Vilnius city limits it is also possible to swim in the Neris River. Forests are also prevalent in the northern part of the municipality.

The Vilnius District Municipality surrounds Vilnius city municipality from the north, east and south, while in the west Vilnius City Municipality borders Trakai District Municipality.

Demographics

The Vilnius city municipality is the most populous municipality in Lithuania and is one of the most diverse municipalities, with Lithuanians making 62% (census, 2011) of the population. The minority communities are Poles, Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians, Jews, Tatars, Gypsies, Karaites and others; most of them have resided there for centuries. There are many Lithuanian, Polish and Russian schools, as well as some other minority schools. There are also various religious communities in the municipality (also many atheists, as in other urban municipalities), including various Christian denominations, the largest number of Jews of any Lithuanian municipality, relatively large number of Muslims, also some Karaites (who have a temple in the city). In addition to traditional religions, there are many new ones practiced. Such diversity comes from the turbulent history of the region. The percentage of Poles is largest in the suburbs of Vilnius, such as Naujoji Vilnia, most Russians live in Vilnius itself.

Urbanization:

Urban – 553,735 (99.97%)
Rural – 169 (0.03%)

Žirmūnai elderate, the most populous in Vilnius

Sexual makeup:

Men – 252,464 (45.58%)
Women – 301,440 (54.42%)

Religious makeup:

Roman Catholics – 366,052 (72.32%)
Atheists – 71,463 (14.12%)
Eastern Orthodox – 54,530 (10.77%)
Old Believers – 6,507 (1.29%)
Others less than 0.5% each

Ethnic makeup:

Lithuanians – 318,510 (59.16%)
Poles – 104,446 (19.40%)
Russians – 77,698 (14.43%)
Belarusians – 22,555 (4.19%)
Ukrainians – 7,159 (1.33%)
Jews – 2,785 (0.52%)
Others less than 0.5% each

Politics

Vilnius City Municipality building

As the municipality is the most populous, and as it includes the capital city of Lithuania, it is very important. It has the largest city council. Since April 2015, the mayor of Vilnius is Remigijus Šimašius.

Some of the actions of the municipality government were pioneering the ideas in Lithuania or even the world. The innovative actions were such as letting people always see the mayor's office online over a webcam, giving people free bikes to ride with and otherwise promoting bike travel (which was not popular before), banning of any public alcohol consumption (previously not done in Lithuania), installing TV sets in public transportation, allowing tall skyscrapers near city centre (previously undone in Lithuania) and others. As former mayor Artūras Zuokas said, it is a problem of Lithuania and other Eastern European societies that one has to prove that the idea has been done in different western European or American cities before anyone takes you seriously that it would work in Lithuania; he thinks that instead Lithuanians should not be afraid to be the first in the world to do various things and let others to follow.

The new Vilnius City Center in Šnipiškės

Council

Vilnius City Municipality council is the governing body of the Vilnius city municipality. It is responsible for municipality laws. The council is the member of the Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania. Vilnius City Municipality council overall has 51 seats. Last elections were held in March 2015, terms are 4 years. The results are:

Liberal Movement – 15
The coalition of the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania and Lithuanian Russian Union – 10
Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats – 8
Lithuanian Freedom Union (Liberals) – 6
Social Democratic Party of Lithuania – 4
List of Lithuania – 4
Order and Justice – 3

Mayors

1990 – Arūnas Grumadas (the president of council)
1993 – Valentinas Šapalas (the president of council)
1995 – Alis Vidūnas
1997 – Rolandas Paksas
1999 – Juozas Imbrasas
2000 – Rolandas Paksas
2001 – Artūras Zuokas
2003 – Gediminas Paviržis
2003 – Artūras Zuokas
2007 – Juozas Imbrasas
2009 – Vilius Navickas
2010 – Raimundas Alekna
2011 – Artūras Zuokas
2015 – Remigijus Šimašius

Economics

The municipality thrives economically, unemployment is among the lowest and average wage is among the highest in Lithuania. Economic policies however criticised by some people because such things as green areas and old buildings are being sacrificed for skyscrapers and other commercial objects. The government of municipality however envisions Vilnius as a modern European city and during past few years it rapidly changed. Other parts of the municipality are developing too. Due to good economic policies, municipality is attractive to investors; it already houses tallest skyscraper Europa Tower, largest shopping center Akropolis in the Baltic States and other such objects.

Transport

Municipality has largest international airport in Lithuania (Vilnius International Airport), is connected by major roads and railways. There are plans to build a Light rail system in the municipality to promote public transport. Currently public transport consists of buses and trolleybusses, as well shared taxis and taxis.

Elderates

Culture

Cultural life is very active in the municipality. There are several theaters (some of which are world famous and takes part in various international festivals), cinemas, art galleries and other cultural institutions.

External links

Vilnius Municipality Website – Interactive map of Vilnius' neighbourhoods.

Vilnius County

Municipalities	Elektrėnai Šalčininkai Širvintos Švenčionys Trakai Ukmergė Vilnius City Vilnius District

Cities	Baltoji Vokė Eišiškės Elektrėnai Grigiškės Lentvaris Nemenčinė Pabradė Rūdiškės Šalčininkai Širvintos Švenčionėliai Švenčionys Trakai Ukmergė Vievis Vilnius

Towns	Adutiškis Aukštadvaris Bagaslaviškis Bezdonys Deltuva Dieveniškės Gelvonai Jašiūnai Kaltanėnai Kernavė Labanoras Lyduokiai Maišiagala Mickūnai Musninkai Onuškis Pabaiskas Semeliškės Šešuoliai Siesikai Šumskas Taujėnai Vepriai Vidiškiai Želva Žemaitkiemis Zibalai

Villages	Belazariškiai Buivydiškės Buivydžiai Didžiosios Kabiškės Glitiškės Jauniūnai Kaniūkai Karmazinai Kena Krakūnai Mačiuliškės Mateikonys Medininkai Miežionys Nemėžis Norviliškės Rudamina Rykantai Vaigeliškės Saugūniškės Senieji Trakai Skaidiškės Valtūnai Zalavas

Municipalities of Lithuania

District municipalities	Akmenė Alytus Anykščiai Biržai Ignalina Jonava Joniškis Jurbarkas Kaišiadorys Kaunas Kėdainiai Kelmė Klaipėda Kretinga Kupiškis Lazdijai Mažeikiai Molėtai Pakruojis Panevėžys Pasvalys Plungė Prienai Radviliškis Raseiniai Rokiškis Skuodas Šakiai Šalčininkai Šiauliai Šilalė Šilutė Širvintos Švenčionys Tauragė Telšiai Trakai Ukmergė Utena Varėna Vilkaviškis Vilnius Zarasai

City municipalities	Alytus Kaunas Klaipėda Palanga Panevėžys Šiauliai Vilnius

Municipalities	Birštonas Druskininkai Elektrėnai Kalvarija Kazlų Rūda Marijampolė Neringa Pagėgiai Rietavas Visaginas

Coordinates: 54°41′N 25°17′E / 54.683°N 25.283°E / 54.683; 25.283

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