Järva County (Estonian: Järva maakond or Järvamaa; German: Jerwen; Latin: Jervia) is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It is located in the central part of the country, and it borders Lääne-Viru County to the east, Jõgeva County to the southeast, Viljandi County to the south, Pärnu County to the southwest, Rapla County to the west, and Harju County to the north. Residents of Järva County are called Järvis. In 2022, Järva County had a population of 29,693, constituting 2.7% of the total population in Estonia.[1]
Järva County
Järvamaa | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Coat of arms | |
 | |
| Country | Estonia |
| Capital | Paide |
| Area | |
• Total | 2,459.58 km2 (949.65 sq mi) |
| Population (2022)[1] | |
• Total | 29,693 |
| • Rank | 12th |
| • Density | 12.072/km2 (31.267/sq mi) |
| Ethnicity (2023) | |
| • Estonians | 92.7% |
| • Ukrainians | 3.1% |
| • Russians | 2.3% |
| • Other | 2.0% |
| GDP | |
| • Total | €610 million (2022) |
| • Per capita | €20,405 (2022) |
| ISO 3166 code | EE-52 |
| Vehicle registration | P |
History
editIn the first centuries AD, political and administrative subdivisions began to emerge. Two larger subdivisions appeared: the parish (kihelkond) and the county (maakond). The parish consisted of several villages. Nearly all parishes had at least one fortress. The defense of the local area was directed by the highest official, the parish elder. The county was composed of several parishes, also headed by an elder. By the 13th century, the following major districts had developed in Estonia: Saaremaa (Osilia), Läänemaa (Rotalia or Maritima), Harjumaa (Harria), Rävala (Revalia), Virumaa (Vironia), Järvamaa (Jervia), Sakala (Saccala), and Ugandi (Ugaunia).[3]
County government
editUntil 2017, the County Government (Estonian: maavalitsus) was led by Governor (Estonian: maavanem), who was appointed by the Government of Estonia for a term of five years. Since 2014, the Governor position was held by Alo Aasma.[4]
Municipalities
editThe county is subdivided into municipalities. There are two rural municipalities (Estonian: vallad 'parishes') and one urban municipality (Estonian: linnad 'towns') in Järva County.
The county has two towns - Paide and Türi, and one borough - Järva-Jaani. There are also 10 small boroughs in the county, the largest of which is Koeru. There are 217 villages in Järvamaa, the largest of which is Türi-Alliku, with a population of 357.[1]
| Rank | Municipality | Type | Population (2018)[5] | Area km2[5] | Density[5] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Järva Parish | Rural | 9,121 | 1,223 | 7.5 |
| 2 | Paide | Urban | 10,898 | 443 | 24.6 |
| 3 | Türi Parish | Rural | 11,063 | 1,009 | 11.0 |
Religion
editThe Lutheran congregations in the county are under the Järva Deanery of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church.[6]
Orthodox congregations in the county are predominantly under the administration of the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church[7] but also one of them is under the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.[8]
Catholic masses are also held regularly in Paide.[9]
Other Christian congregations such as Baptists,[10] Methodists,[11] Jehovah's Witnesses, and other Christian congregations operate in the county.
| Religion | 2000 | 2011 | 2021 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
| Christianity | 5,647 | 18.3 | 3,774 | 14.6 | 3,250 | 12.9 |
| —Orthodox Christians | 542 | 1.7 | 584 | 2.2 | 530 | 2.1 |
| —Lutherans | 4,544 | 14.7 | 2,655 | 10.2 | 1,960 | 7.8 |
| —Catholics | 64 | 0.2 | 40 | 0.1 | 270 | 1.1 |
| —Baptists | 174 | 0.5 | 90 | 0.3 | 120 | 0.4 |
| —Jehovah's Witnesses | 172 | 0.5 | 164 | 0.6 | 110 | 0.4 |
| —Pentecostals | 47 | 0.1 | 28 | 0.1 | 50 | 0.2 |
| —Old Believers | 3 | 0.01 | 6 | 0.02 | - | - |
| —Methodists | 37 | 0.1 | 22 | 0.08 | 20 | 0.08 |
| —Adventists | 64 | 0.2 | 44 | 0.1 | 30 | 0.1 |
| —Other Christians | - | - | 153 | 0.6 | 160 | 0.6 |
| Islam | 8 | 0.02 | 4 | 0.01 | - | - |
| Buddhism | - | - | 10 | 0.03 | 20 | 0.08 |
| Other religions** | 201 | 0.6 | 160 | 0.6 | 340 | 1.3 |
| No religion | 14,796 | 48.0 | 18,694 | 72.2 | 18,890 | 74.9 |
| Not stated*** | 10,166 | 33.0 | 3,165 | 12.2 | 2,610 | 10.3 |
| Total population* | 30,818 | 25,865 | 25,210 | |||
| *The censuses of Estonia count the religious affiliations of the population older than 15 years of age.[12] ".[12] | ||||||
Images
edit
The northern part of the county
Järva-Jaani
Koeru
Tarvasjõgi river in Kõrvemaa Nature Park
Albu manor stone bridge on Ambla River, built in 1879
Järva-Peetri church
Lake Väinjärv
Laupa manor
Paide Town Hall
Paide Castle
References
edit- 1 2 3 "Population by sex, ethnic nationality and County, 1 January". stat.ee. Statistics Estonia. 1 January 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
- ↑ "GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT BY COUNTY". stat.ee.
- ↑ Estonia and the Estonians (Studies of Nationalities) Toivo U. Raun p.11 ISBN 0-8179-2852-9
- ↑ "Endine maavanem ja linnapea läheb ministeeriumi asekantsleriks". Järva Teataja. 2020-10-15.
- 1 2 3 "Elanike demograafiline jaotus maakonniti". Kohaliku omavalitsuse portaal. Archived from the original on 2 March 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
- ↑ "The Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church. Congregations". Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ↑ "Eesti Apostlik-Õigeusu Kirik. Kogudused". Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ↑ "Moskva Patriarhaadi Eesti Õigeusu Kirik. Kontaktid". Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ↑ "Rooma-katoliku Kirik. Tallinna Piiskopkond. Missade ajad". Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ↑ "Union of Free Evangelical and Baptist Churches of Estonia. Kogudused". Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ↑ "Eesti Metodisti Kirik. Kogudused". Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- 1 2 3 Official census data from Statistics Estonia:
- 2000 Census:
- 2011 Census:
- 2021 Census:
External links
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