Siauliu Apskritis
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| County | LT-SA |
| Capital | Siauliai |
| Region | Samogitia, Aukstaitija |
| Area | 8,540 km² |
| Population - Total (2003) - Density | 370,100 43.3/km² |
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Šiauliai County is one of ten apskritys in Lithuania. It is in the north of the country, and its capital is Šiauliai.
History
Formation of administrative regions in Lithuania started in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 18th century.
On October, 1795 Russian Empress Yekaterina II granted Siauliai the city rights|rights of the capital town of the region. Administrative division of Russian Empire remained unchanged up to the end of the World War I. When the war came to its end, in 1918 Lithuania was restored as an independent state.
On December 17 of 1918 a circular No.1 was issued "On Municipalities in Lithuania" that declared that entire area of Lithuania would be divided into the regions - apskritys (county sometimes translated into English as a provinces or counties). There were 20 apskritys in Lithuania.
In 1937 year Siauliai county's overall territory was 6042 km² and 210 thousands people lived there. It was largest apskritis in Lithuania.
In 1940 when Soviet Union occupied Lithuania and formed a Soviet administrative system, the older one (with counties) remained in force for some time but in 1950 the counties were abolished and entire area divided into smaller units - districts.
Only in 1994 - four years after restoration of Lithuania's independence in 1990 - the apskritys were created again. However, the interwar apskritys should not be mixed with current apskritys, as their purpose, sizes, and number are all different, see administrative division of Lithuania. So, now the entire area of Lithuania is divided into 10 larger units - apskritys and smaller districts, consisting of urban and rural elderships.
Districts
The County encompasses Šiauliai City and the district municipalities of:
External links
- Map of the county (http://www.siauliai.aps.lt/ava/selectPage.do?docLocator=26EE39C9451011D995B5746164617373&inlanguage=en&pathId=38)
- Siauliai county official page (http://www.siauliai.aps.lt/ava/selectLanguage.do?language=en)
de:Distrikt Šiauliai et:Šiauliai maakond lt:Šiaulių apskritis no:Siauliai fylke ro:Judeţul Šiauliai