| Vrútky | |
| Settlement Type: | Town |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Slovakia |
| Subdivision Type2: | Region |
| Subdivision Name2: | Žilina |
| Subdivision Type3: | District |
| Subdivision Name3: | Martin |
| Pushpin Map: | Slovakia |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of Vrútky within Slovakia |
| Coordinates: | 49.1117°N 18.9183°W |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Branislav Zacharides |
| Established Title: | First mentioned |
| Established Date: | 1255 |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 18.66 |
| Elevation M: | 381[2] |
| Elevation Ft: | 1,250 |
| Population Footnotes: | [3] |
| Population Total: | 7424 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone1: | CET |
| Utc Offset1: | +1 |
| Timezone1 Dst: | CEST |
| Utc Offset1 Dst: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 038 61 |
| Area Code: | +421 43 |
| Blank Name: | Car plate |
| Blank Info: | MT |
| Website: | www.vrutky.sk |
| Area Note: | |
Vrútky (in Slovak pronounced as /ˈʋruːtki/; German: Ruttek (rare); Hungarian: Ruttka) is a town in northern Slovakia, close to the city of Martin. It lies in the historic Turiec region.
The town lies at the confluence of Váh and the Turiec, in the Turčianska kotlina, near the Malá Fatra mountain range. It is located 3km (02miles) north of the city of Martin, with which it shares a public transport system, and 25km (16miles) from Žilina.
The name is derived from a plural form of Proto-Slavic *vьrǫ tъkъ > vrútok meaning "a hot spring".[4]
The town was first mentioned in 1255 as villa Vrutk. However, a settlement had previously existed, and had the old Slavic name vrutok.[5] By the end of the 13th century, the settlement had been divided into Dolné Vrútky and Horné Vrútky. By 1332, the settlement gained independence and in 1809, the town had almost 300 inhabitants. The construction of the Košice-Bohumín Railway in 1870 and the Salgótarján in 1872, brought economic development and Vrútky gained the status of being a key railway junction.[5] This new status was also reflected in the increased number of inhabitants, which rose from 915 in 1869, to 1,944 in 1880 and 4,345 in 1900. Before the establishment of independent Czechoslovakia in 1918, Vrútky was part of Turóc County within the Kingdom of Hungary. From 1939 to 1945, it was part of the Slovak Republic. Between the years 1949-1954 and 1971-1990 the town was amalgamated with Martin under the name Martin-Vrútky.[5] Vrútky regained independence in the year 1990, when it separated from Martin.
According to the 2001 census, the town has 7,298 inhabitants; 96.01% of inhabitants are Slovaks, 1.33% Czechs 0.47% Roma and 0.33 Hungarians.[6] This same census shows that Roman Catholics account for 50.34%, people with no religious affiliation account for 24.86% and Lutherans account for 19.01% of the total town population.[6]
In the Slovak educational system, gymnáziums are secondary or high schools which prepare students for university study. Over 85% of students at the local four-year, co-educational Gymnázium Vrútky attend university.[7]
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Slovakia.
