Rajec (ⓘ; Hungarian: Rajec; German: Rajetz) is a town in the Žilina District, Žilina Region in northern Slovakia.
Rajec | |
|---|---|
 SNP Square, Rajec | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
  Rajec Location of Rajec in the Žilina Region  Rajec Location of Rajec in Slovakia | |
| Coordinates: 49°05′N 18°38′E / 49.09°N 18.63°E | |
| Country |  Slovakia |
| Region |  Žilina Region |
| District | Žilina District |
| First mentioned | 1193 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Milan Hanus |
| Area | |
• Total | 33.98 km2 (13.12 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 448 m (1,470 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | 5,641 |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 150 1[2] |
| Area code | +421 41[2] |
| Vehicle registration plate (until 2022) | ZA |
| Website | www |
Etymology
editRajec, Rajčianka, Rajčanka are derived from Proto-Slavic appellative *rajь – a wet, muddy place (modern Slovak raj – a paradise, "a place with rich vegetation").[4]
History
editThe first written record about Rajec was in 1193, as Raich, in a document issued by King Béla III. The first mention of the town comes from 1397.
Geography
editThe municipality lies at an altitude of 448 metres (1,470 ft)[2] and covers an area of 33.98 km2 (13.12 sq mi) (2025).[5] It is situated between Strážovské vrchy, and Malá Fatra mountains, in the Rajčanka river valley, around 20 km (12 mi) south-south-west of Žilina.
Population
edit| Year | 1995 | 2005 | 2015 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | 6428 | 6078 | 5850 | 5641 |
| Difference | −5.44% | −3.75% | −3.57% |
| Year | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Count | 5703 | 5641 |
| Difference | −1.08% |
It has a population of 5641 people (31 December 2025).[7]
Ethnicity
edit| Ethnicity | Number | Fraction |
|---|---|---|
| Slovak | 5567 | 94.4% |
| Not found out | 305 | 5.17% |
| Total | 5897 |
In year 2021 was 5897 people by ethnicity 5567 as Slovak, 305 as Not found out, 37 as Czech, 17 as Other, 15 as Romani, 7 as Moravian, 7 as Hungarian, 4 as Chinese, 3 as Italian, 3 as Polish, 3 as German, 3 as Croatian, 1 as Jewish, 1 as Vietnamese, 1 as Ukrainian, 1 as Greek and 1 as English.
Note on population: The difference values of population numbers in the table "Population statistic" and in the sections "Ethnicity" & "Religion" is caused by the use of various statistical methods.
Religion
edit| Religion | Number | Fraction |
|---|---|---|
| Roman Catholic Church | 4712 | 79.91% |
| None | 602 | 10.21% |
| Not found out | 369 | 6.26% |
| Evangelical Church | 108 | 1.83% |
| Total | 5897 |
In year 2021 was 5897 people by religion 4712 from Roman Catholic Church, 602 from None, 369 from Not found out, 108 from Evangelical Church, 30 from Ad hoc movements, 18 from Greek Catholic Church, 15 from Other, 7 from Christian Congregations in Slovakia, 6 from Other and not ascertained christian church, 5 from Calvinist Church, 5 from Jehovah's Witnesses, 5 from Buddhism, 4 from Paganism and natural spirituality, 4 from Islam, 2 from Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1 from Old Catholic Church, 1 from Eastern Orthodox Church, 1 from Czechoslovak Hussite Church, 1 from Bahá'i Community and 1 from Apostolic Church.
According to the 2001 census, the town had 6,074 inhabitants. 98.86% of inhabitants were Slovaks and 0.68% were Czechs.[11] The religious make-up was 92.79% Roman Catholics, 3.42% people with no religious affiliation, and 1.89% Lutherans.[11]
Sightseeings
edit- Town Hall, a Renaissance one-floor building available from all sides. Open arcades served as a market. On the second floor, there were administrative rooms of the town council. After the newest reconstruction in 1992, the arcades are full glassed and the town hall serve as wedding, concert and exhibition room. (3D Model)
- Town museum, former brewery residence
Culture
editThe Rajec Marathon, an annual road race, was established in the town in 1984.[12]
Twin towns — sister cities
edit
References
edit- ↑ "Hustota obyvateľstva - obce [om7014rr_obc=AREAS_SK, v_om7014rr_ukaz=Rozloha (Štvorcový meter)]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2026-03-31. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
- 1 2 3 4 "Základná charakteristika". www.statistics.sk (in Slovak). Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2015-04-17. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
- ↑ "Počet obyvateľov podľa pohlavia - obce (ročne) [om7101rr_obce=AREAS_SK]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2026-03-31. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
- ↑ Krško, Jaromír (2011). Hydronymia horného povodia Váhu [Hydronymy of the Upper Váh Basin] (in Slovak). Banská Bystrica: Univerzita Mateja Bela. p. 125.
- ↑ "Hustota obyvateľstva - obce [om7014rr_obc=AREAS_SK, v_om7014rr_ukaz=Rozloha (Štvorcový meter)]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2026-03-31. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
- 1 2 "Počet obyvateľov podľa pohlavia - obce (ročne) [om7101rr_obce=AREAS_SK]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2026-03-31. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
- ↑ "Počet obyvateľov podľa pohlavia - obce (ročne) [om7101rr_obce=AREAS_SK]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2026-03-31. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
- ↑ "Population - Basic results". www.scitanie.sk. Statistical Office of the Slovak republic. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
- ↑ "Population - Basic results". www.scitanie.sk. Statistical Office of the Slovak republic. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
- ↑ "Population - Basic results". www.scitanie.sk. Statistical Office of the Slovak republic. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
- 1 2 "Municipal Statistics". Statistical Office of the Slovak republic. Archived from the original on 2008-01-11. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ "1. Ročník Rajeckého maratónu (11.8.)" (PDF). Maratón (in Slovak). 21 (11): 2. November 1984. Retrieved 2025-09-01.
- ↑ "Partnerské kraje a mestá". rajec.info (in Slovak). Rajec. Retrieved 2019-09-09.
External links
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