Vilyeyka Explained

Settlement Type:Town
Vilyeyka
Native Name:
Flag Size:150
Pushpin Map:Belarus
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Belarus
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Minsk Region
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Vilyeyka District
Population As Of:2024
Population Total:26,625
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone:MSK
Utc Offset:+3
Coordinates:54.4972°N 26.9111°W
Elevation M:183
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:222410
Area Code:+375 1771
Blank Name:License plate
Blank Info:5
Website:Official website

Vilyeyka (Belarusian: Вілейка|Viliejka, in Belarusian pronounced as /vʲiˈlʲɛjka/; Russian: Вилейка|Vileyka) is a town in Minsk Region, Belarus. It serves as the administrative center of Vilyeyka District. It is located on the Viliya River, northwest of Minsk. The first historical record dates from 16 November 1460. As of 2024, the town has a population of 26,625.[1]

The Vilyeyka VLF transmitter operated by the Russian Navy is located near Vilyeyka. It provides VLF communication between Russian Navy's headquarters and atomic submarines in the Atlantic, Indian and parts of the Pacific Ocean.

History

In the 10th–13th centuries, the territory was under the Principality of Polotsk, and in XIV–XVII under Grand Duchy of Lithuania as manor house Kurenets. The city was first mentioned in 1460 as a borough center of the Vilyeyka Starostwo of the Ashmyany county in Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

Geography

The modern city is located on the right bank of the river Viliya, in the northwest part of the Minsk region, 100 kilometers from Minsk. The town's population numbers 30,000 people. There is a railway station of the Maladzyechna–Polotsk line in the city. The roads to Maladzyechna, Smarhon, Myadzel, Dokshytsy, Plyeshchanitsy run through the city. The town's industry is represented by the Zenit plant, wood processing enterprises (including a furniture factory), a motor repair plant, building materials plants, light and food enterprises. Vilyeyka also houses the Museum of Regional Studies.

The territory of the Vilyeyka district is . Forests account for 41% of the territory. The main part of the district is situated within the borders of Narach-Vilyeyka lowland. In the year 1974, near the town of Vilyeyka Belarus's largest artificial reservoir was built — Vilyeyka reservoir with a total area of 63.3km2 and a volume of .

Demography

According to the 1921 census, the town's population was 62.8% Polish, 27.4% Belarusian and 8.1% Jewish.

International relations

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

Twin towns — Sister cities

Vilyeyka is twinned with:

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Численность населения на 1 января 2024 г. и среднегодовая численность населения за 2023 год по Республике Беларусь в разрезе областей, районов, городов, поселков городского типа. https://web.archive.org/web/20240402055418/https://www.belstat.gov.by/ofitsialnaya-statistika/solialnaya-sfera/naselenie-i-migratsiya/naselenie/statisticheskie-izdaniya/index_89355/. 2 April 2024. belsat.gov.by. 9 April 2024.
  2. Book: Mikoda . Janina . Zbrodnicza ewakuacja więzień i aresztów NKWD na Kresach Wschodnich II Rzeczypospolitej w czerwcu – lipcu 1941 roku. Materiały z sesji naukowej w 55. rocznicę ewakuacji więźniów NKWD w głąb ZSRR, Łódź 10 czerwca 1996 r.. Criminal evacuation of NKVD prisons and detention centers in the Eastern Borderlands of the Second Polish Republic in June-July 1941. Materials from the scientific session on the 55th anniversary of the evacuation of NKVD prisoners deep into the USSR, Łódź, June 10, 1996. Główna Komisja Badania Zbrodni przeciwko Narodowi Polskiemu – Instytut Pamięci Narodowej. Warszawa. 1997. 76, 95–98. 83-903356-6-2. pl.
  3. Dr. Smilovitsky, Vileika (Polish: Wilejka) JewishGen, Yizkor Book Project. From materials of the Extraordinary Commission.
  4. http://www.zenit-belomo.by/index-eng.htm Zenit-BelOMO