South Bačka District

The South Bačka District (Serbian: Јужнобачки округ, romanized: Južnobački okrug, pronounced [jûʒnobâːtʃkiː ôkruːɡ]; Hungarian: Dél-bácskai körzet; Slovak: Juhobáčsky okres) is one of seven administrative districts of the autonomous province of Vojvodina, Serbia. Geographically it lies in the southern part of Bačka and northern part of Syrmia. According to the 2022 census results, it has a population of 607,178 inhabitants. The administrative center of the district is the city of Novi Sad, which is also the capital and the largest city of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina.

South Bačka District Južnobački okrug Јужнобачки округ Dél-bácskai körzet Juhobáčsky okres
District of Serbia
Location of the South Bačka District within Serbia
Country	Serbia
Province	Vojvodina
Administrative center	Novi Sad
Government
• Commissioner	Milan Novaković (SNS)
Area
• Total	4,016 km^2 (1,551 sq mi)
Population  (2022 census)
• Total	607,178
• Density	150/km^2 (390/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code	RS-06
Municipalities	11 and 1 city
Settlements	77
- Cities and towns	16
- Villages	61
Website	juznobacki.okrug.gov.rs

Administrative history

In the 9th century, the area was ruled by the Bulgarian-Slavic duke Salan. From 11th to 16th century, during the administration of the medieval Kingdom of Hungary, the area was mostly part of the Bacsensis County, with small northern parts of it in the Bodrogiensis County and Csongradiensis County. In 1526–27, the area was ruled by the independent Serb ruler, emperor Jovan Nenad, while during Ottoman administration (16th-17th century), it was part of the Sanjak of Segedin.

During Habsburg administration (18th century), the area was divided between the Bodrog County, Batsch County and the Military Frontier. The two counties were joined into single Batsch-Bodrog County in the 18th century. Since the abolishment of the Theiß-Marosch section of the Military Frontier in 1751, part of that territory was also included into Batsch-Bodrog County. The only part of the area that remained within Military Frontier was Šajkaška region. From 1751 to 1848, northeastern part of the area belonged to the autonomous District of Potisje.

In the 1850s, the area was mostly part of the Novi Sad District, with some northern parts in the Sombor District. After 1860, the area was again included into Batsch-Bodrog County (officially Bács-Bodrog County since 1867). In 1873, the Military Frontier in Šajkaška region was abolished and that area was also included into Bács-Bodrog County.

During the royal Serb-Croat-Slovene (Yugoslav) administration (1918-1941), the area was initially a part of the Novi Sad County (1918-1922). Between 1922 and 1929, it was divided between Bačka Oblast and Belgrade Oblast, while from 1929 to 1941 it was part of the Danube Banovina. During the Hungarian-German Axis occupation (1941-1944), the area was included into Bács-Bodrog County.

Since 1944, the area was part of autonomous Yugoslav Vojvodina (which was part of new socialist Yugoslav Serbia since 1945). The present-day districts of Serbia (including South Bačka District) were defined by the Government of Serbia's Enactment of 29 January 1992.

Municipalities

The district is divided into 11 municipalities in addition to City of Novi Sad, which itself is divided into two urban municipalities:

• Srbobran
• Bač
• Bečej (Hungarian: Óbecse)
• Vrbas
• Bačka Palanka
• Bački Petrovac (Slovak: Báčsky Petrovec)
• Žabalj
• Titel
• Temerin
• Beočin
• Sremski Karlovci

The city of Novi Sad is divided into the municipalities Novi Sad and Petrovaradin.

Note: for municipalities with Hungarian and Slovak relative or absolute majority names are also given in these languages.

Settlements

 

South Bačka (Južna Bačka) District within Vojvodina

 

Map of South Bačka District

 

Ethnic map of South Bačka District

There are 76 towns and villages, and 1 city in South Bačka. The largest settlements in the district are:^[1]

Settlement	Population (2002 census)	Population (2011 census)^[2]	Population (2022 census)
Novi Sad	191,405	250,439
Bačka Palanka	29,449	28,239	25,476
Vrbas	25,907	24,112	20,892
Bečej	25,774	23,895	19,492
Temerin	19,216	19,661
Futog	18,582	18,641
Veternik	18,626	17,454
Petrovaradin	13,973	14,810
Sremska Kamenica	11,205	12,273
Srbobran	13,091	12,009	10,496
Kać	11,166	11,740
Žabalj	9,598	9,107	8,449
Sremski Karlovci	8,839	8,750	7,872
Beočin	8,058	7,839	7,274
Rumenka	5,729	6,495
Bačko Petrovo Selo	7,318	6,350
Bački Petrovac	6,727	6,155	5,227
Bački Jarak	6,049	5,687
Kovilj	5,599	5,414
Bač	6,087	5,390	4,450
Titel	5,894	5,247	4,522
Bačko Gradište	5,445	5,110
Kisač	5,471	5,091

Demographics

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1948	358,722	—
1953	377,282	+1.01%
1961	432,873	+1.73%
1971	486,083	+1.17%
1981	538,016	+1.02%
1991	553,027	+0.28%
2002	593,666	+0.65%
2011	615,371	+0.40%
2022	607,178	−0.12%
Source: ^[3]

According to the last official census done in 2022, the South Bačka District has 607,178 inhabitants.

Ethnic groups

Population of South Bačka District according to ethnic group 2002–2011-2022.

Ethnic group	census 2002		census 2011		census 2022
	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
Serbs	409,988	69.06%	445,270	72.36%	446,591	73.55%
Hungarians	55,128	9.29%	47,850	7.78%	35,356	5.82%
Slovaks	27,640	4.66%	24,670	4.01%	19,812	3.26%
Roma	6,053	1.02%	10,482	1.70%	9,989	1.65%
Croats	12,040	2.03%	10,022	1.63%	6,903	1.14%
Montenegrins	17,340	2.92%	11,378	1.85%	6,783	1.12%
Rusyns	7,443	1.25%	6,974	1.13%	5,842	0.96%
Yugoslavs	15,959	2.69%	3,642	0.59%	4,699	0.77%
Total	593,666		615,371		607,178

There are 9 municipal areas with Serbian ethnic majority: City of Novi Sad (79%), Sremski Karlovci (78%), Titel (87%), Žabalj (85%), Beočin (70%), Srbobran (66%), Bačka Palanka (79%), Temerin (68%) and Vrbas (55%).

One municipality in the district has a Slovak majority: Bački Petrovac or Báčsky Petrovec in Slovak (65%), and 2 are mixed: Bač, with relative Serb majority (47%) and Bečej or Óbecse in Hungarian, with relative Hungarian majority (46%).

Culture

The first Serbian primary school was founded in Bečej and Zmajevo in 1703, while the first grammar school was established in Sremski Karlovci in 1791.

Novi Sad is home to the oldest cultural and scientific institution of the Serbian people - the Matica Srpska, which was founded in 1826 in Budapest, and transferred to Novi Sad in 1864. The Serbian National Theatre was founded in Novi Sad in 1861.

Economy

Within the district the following industries prevail: chemical, oil, machines, tools and electrical porcelain, textile, food, and construction industry.^{[citation needed]}

Administration

By the Serbian government's 2006 Regulation of the administrative districts^[4] the names of all districts were changed from okrug (district) to upravni okrug (administrative district). District is governed by the prefect (načelnik) who is appointed by the central government. Prefects of the South Bačka District were:

• 19?? - 1997: Jovo Ubibarip
• 1997 - 12 April 2001: Obrad Milošević
• 12 April 2001 - 28 June 2002: Arsen Kurjački (b. 1958)
• 28 June 2002 - 29 April 2004: Branko Bjelajac
• 29 April 2004 - 3 November 2005: Darko Mandić
• 3 November 2005 - 6 July 2007: Svetlana Selaković (b. 1957)
• 6 July 2007 – present: Darija Šajin (b. 1973)

See also

• Administrative divisions of Serbia
• Districts of Serbia

References

1. "South Bačka District (Serbia): Municipalities & Settlements - Population Statistics in Maps and Charts". Citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2016-09-25.
2. . Citypopulation.de. Archived from the original on 2015-11-08. Retrieved 2016-09-25.
3. "2011 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of Serbia" (PDF). stat.gov.rs. Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
4. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-26. Retrieved 2007-08-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

Note: All official material made by Government of Serbia is public by law. Information was taken from official website.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to South Bačka District.

• Official website