Veľké Kapušany Explained

Veľké Kapušany
Other Name:Nagykapos
Settlement Type:Town
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type2:Region
Subdivision Name2:Košice
Subdivision Type3:District
Subdivision Name3:Michalovce
Pushpin Map:Slovakia#Slovakia Košice Region
Pushpin Relief:yes
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Slovakia##Location in Košice Region
Coordinates:48.5503°N 22.0847°W
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Péter Petrikán
Established Title:First mentioned
Established Date:1211
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:29.62
Elevation M:109[2]
Elevation Ft:358
Population Footnotes:[3]
Population Total:8575
Population Density Km2:auto
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:079 01
Area Code:+421 56
Blank Name:Car plate
Blank Info:MI
Website:www.vkapusany.sk
Area Note:

Veľké Kapušany (in Slovak pronounced as /ˈʋeʎkeː ˈkapuʂani/; Hungarian: Nagykapos) is a small town on the eastern plains of Slovakia, not far from the Ukrainian border.

Name

The name "Kapušany" is probably derived from the Hungarian word kapu, meaning "gate".

History

The territory of the town has been settled since time immemorial (findings from the Neolithic period). From the second half of the 10th century until 1918, it was part of the Kingdom of Hungary. The first written references to the settlement stems from 1211 ("Kapos") and 1214 ("Copus"). The settlement was awarded town status in 1430. The town was the second largest settlement (after Uzhhorod) of the Ung County and frequently served as a temporary or permanent station for migrants (Germans, Rusyns, Poles, Hungarians etc.) from the east to the west.

In the town square there is a garden with a plaque commemorating the day the Germans marched into Veľké Kapušany in 1944. This is significant as both Jews and Romas were persecuted and murdered by the Nazis during World War II. At that time, Veľké Kapušany was part of Hungary (based on the First Vienna Award).

The following villages were merged with the town: Malé Kapušany (after 1913), Veškovce (1964).

City parts

Characteristics

Wood processing, food and building materials industries and Slovak and Hungarian high schools are located there as is a railroad transfer facility for goods on the broad gauge railroad to Ukraine.

Many Communist remnants remain, notably the apartment buildings of the Communist era, where mainly poor Roma people now live. The rest of the population lives in mostly comfortable-looking homes and farms outside of the main thoroughfare but still within the town's borders.

There are several churches, but no synagogue in Veľké Kapušany. On the outskirts of the town there is a heavily damaged Jewish cemetery.

Ethnic groups

According to the official census from 2001, the population include 56.98% Hungarians, 35.92% Slovaks, and 4.32% Roma.[4] In 1910, 33.8% of the population was Jewish.

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Slovakia.

Veľké Kapušany is twinned with:[5]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hustota obyvateľstva - obce . Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic (www.statistics.sk) . www.statistics.sk . 2024-02-08.
  2. Web site: Základná charakteristika . sk . 2015-04-17 . www.statistics.sk . Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2022-03-31.
  3. Web site: Počet obyvateľov podľa pohlavia - obce (ročne) . Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic (www.statistics.sk) . www.statistics.sk . 2024-02-08.
  4. http://www.statistics.sk/mosmis/eng/run.html Mestská a obecná štatistika SR
  5. Web site: Družobné mesta. vkapusany.sk. Veľké Kapušany. sk. 2019-09-05.