Handlová (German: Krickerhau, Hungarian: Nyitrabánya, before 1913 Handlova) is a town in the Prievidza District, Trenčín Region in the middle of Slovakia. It is made up of the three parts Handlová, Nová Lehota and Morovno.
Handlová | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 View of Handlová | |
 Coat of arms | |
  Handlová Location of Handlová in the Trenčín Region  Handlová Location of Handlová in Slovakia | |
| Coordinates: 48°43′38″N 18°45′43″E / 48.72722°N 18.76194°E | |
| Country |  Slovakia |
| Region | Trenčín |
| District | Prievidza |
| Founded | 1376 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Silvia Grúberová |
| Area | |
| • Total | 85.55 km2 (33.03 sq mi) |
| (2022) | |
| Elevation | 465[2] m (1,526[2] ft) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 15,780 |
| • Density | 180/km2 (480/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 972 51[2] |
| Area code | +421 46[2] |
| Car plate | PD |
| Website | www.handlova.sk |
Geography
editIt is located in the Handlovka brook valley, surrounded by the mountain ranges of Vtáčnik in the west and Žiar in the south, east and north, in the historical region of Hauerland. It is 15 kilometres (9 miles) away from Prievidza and 20 km (12 mi) from Žiar nad Hronom.
Besides the main settlement, it also has "parts" of Morovno (north-west) and Nová Lehota (south), both annexed 1976.
History
editThe town was established in 1376 and was inhabited by German settlers which were later known as the Carpathian Germans. The first known settler in Handlová was Peter Kricker from Kremnica, who came here together with 200 others to establish a settlement on a site called Krásny les (Beautiful Forest). At first the settlers lived just from crops and pastoral farming. Only much later, in the 18th century, did coal mining begin. Local miners at first worked mainly to supply the needs of nearby Bojnice Castle.
In 1945, after World War II, Handlová underwent the biggest upheaval in its centuries-long history. Most of its ethnic German inhabitants were expelled from the town due to the so-called Beneš decrees. Of the original 12,800 people who lived there as late as in 1943, only 4,000 remained in Handlová by 1945. As a result, Handlová's character changed completely.[4] It received town privileges in 1960.
In 2009, the town suffered a major disaster during the 2009 Handlová mine blast, in which 20 people were killed.
On 15 May 2024, Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico was shot in front of the House of Culture after a government meeting, in an assassination attempt. He was subsequently rushed to Handlová Hospital, before later being airlifted to F.D. Roosevelt Hospital in Banská Bystrica, where he underwent successful surgery.[5]
Demographics
edit| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 17,111 | — |
| 1980 | 17,777 | +3.9% |
| 1991 | 17,835 | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 18,018 | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 17,766 | −1.4% |
| 2021 | 16,199 | −8.8% |
| Source: Censuses[6][7] | ||
According to the 2001 census, the town had 18,018 inhabitants. 96.14% of inhabitants were Slovaks, 0.85% Hungarian, 0.67% Czechs and 0.24% Germans.[8] The religious make-up was 46.10% Atheists, 44.74% Roman Catholics and 2.42% Lutherans.[8]
People
edit- Jozef Lenč, political scientist, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava
- Peter Paliatka, designer, sculptor and university pedagogue
- Martin Škrtel, Slovak footballer
Twin towns – sister cities
edit
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic (www.statistics.sk). "Hustota obyvateľstva - obce". www.statistics.sk. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
- ^ a b c d "Základná charakteristika". www.statistics.sk (in Slovak). Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2015-04-17. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
- ^ Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic (www.statistics.sk). "Počet obyvateľov podľa pohlavia - obce (ročne)". www.statistics.sk. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
- ^ "Handlová's changing fortunes". Retrieved 14 June 2014.
- ^ a.s, Petit Press (2024-05-15). "PM Fico shot as he speaks to supporters in Handlová". spectator.sme.sk. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
- ^ "Statistical lexikon of municipalities 1970-2011" (PDF) (in Slovak).
- ^ "Census 2021 - Population - Basic results". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2021-01-01.
- ^ a b "Municipal Statistics". Statistical Office of the Slovak republic. Archived from the original on 2007-11-16. Retrieved 2007-12-09.
- ^ "O našom meste" (in Slovak). Handlová. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
Genealogical resources
editThe records for genealogical research are available at the state archive "Statny Archiv in Nitra, Slovakia"
- Roman Catholic church records (births/marriages/deaths): 1642-1939 (parish A)
- Lutheran church records (births/marriages/deaths): 1735-1950 (parish B)
External links
edit
Media related to Handlová at Wikimedia Commons
