Valga, Estonia

Last updated

Valga
Valga2015dec.jpg
Valga Town Hall, Jaani (St. John´s) Church and Railway Station
Motto(s): 
1 linn, 2 riiki (1 city, 2 countries)
Estonia adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Valga
Location in Estonia
Coordinates: 57°47′N26°02′E / 57.783°N 26.033°E / 57.783; 26.033
Country Estonia
County Valga County
Municipality Valga Parish
First mention1286
Area
  Total16.54 km2 (6.39 sq mi)
Elevation
65 m (213 ft)
Population
 (2021) [1]
  Total11,792
  Rank 11th
  Density710/km2 (1,800/sq mi)
Ethnicity (2021)
   Estonians 59.2%
   Russians 26.3%
   Latvians 5.65%
   Ukrainians 3.02%
  other5.83%
Time zone UTC+2 (EET)
  Summer (DST) UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
68230

Valga (German : Walk) is a town in southern Estonia and the capital of Valga County and Valga Parish. Until their separation in 1920, Valga and the town of Valka in northern Latvia were one town. They are now twin-towns. The area of Valga is 16.5 square kilometres (6.4 square miles) and that of Valka is 14.2 km2 (5.5 sq mi). Their populations are respectively 12,261 and 6,164. On 21 December 2007 all border-crossing points were removed and roads and fences opened between the two countries with both countries joining the Schengen Agreement.

Contents

Location and transport

The distance to Tartu is 89 km (55 mi), Pärnu 144 km (89 mi), Tallinn 245 km (152 mi), Riga 175 km (109 mi) and Pskov 170 km (106 mi).

Valga is situated at the junction of roads and railways.

The Valga-Võru-Koidula railway runs to the town. Trains stopped running in 2001. [2] Freight trains on the Valga-Võru-Koidula line have been cut back significantly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. [3]

The Tartu-Valga railway line also serves this station. After closing April 2008 for extensive repair work Edelaraudtee railway services from other parts of Estonia to Valga re-opened in January 2010. [4] [5]

With the expansion of the Schengen Agreement and the abolition of systematic border controls between Estonia and Latvia, it was announced that common public bus transport would be launched between Valga and Valka. [6]

During the Cold War, Valga was home to Valga air base.

Districts of Valga

There are six districts of Valga:

Activity

One of the main streets Street in Valga.png
One of the main streets

Since 1944, a local newspaper, Valgamaalane, has been published (3 times a week). Since 2003, there has also been a local newspaper "Walk" (in the Russian language). There also is a local correspondence office of Estonian Television (Eesti Televisioon) and a local radio – "Raadio Ruut".

The former urban municipality of Valga has established partnerships with many towns, mostly in foreign countries, which are listed in a special subsection below.

Valga is developing quickly. Since 1996, the populace's quality of life has improved due to the renovation of several buildings, including the Central Library, Valga Stadium, the Museum, Valga Hospital, and the Culture and Hobby Centre. Step by step, the schools and kindergartens are also being modernized. Since 2003, a new water treatment plant has improved the quality of water in the town.

In the private sector, there have been extensive investments in trade, light industry, and forestry.

Demographics

Ethnic composition 1922-2021
Ethnicity 1922 [8] 1934 [9] 1941 [10] 1970 [11] 1979 [12] 1989 [12] 2000 [13] 2011 [14] 2021 [15]
amount%amount%amount%amount%amount%amount%amount%amount%amount%
Estonians 699774.0891982.3794188.9963557.41005254.4938352.9897062.6788664.3711059.2
Russians 4434.693683.392092.34524131.2616433.4614034.6391327.3322426.3316026.3
Ukrainians --60.06--5543.307664.157204.064212.943863.153633.02
Belarusians ------1701.013221.743071.732111.471561.271591.32
Finns --10.0170.081210.721360.741260.71990.69550.45400.33
Jews 3934.162622.4200.00730.43310.17240.14130.0970.0630.02
Latvians --10379.566066.793822.274482.434562.573342.332622.146795.65
Germans 1821.921431.32----2731.482411.36360.25270.22340.28
Tatars --00.00----280.15270.15180.13130.11100.08
Poles --350.32200.22--680.37680.38350.24240.20150.12
Lithuanians --60.0640.04340.20240.13410.23320.22290.24230.19
unknown130.14180.1740.0400.0000.0000.00460.32300.241020.85
other142715.1470.431391.565853.481620.881891.071951.361621.323122.60
Total9455100108421008930100167951001847410017722100143231001226110012010100
Year188118971922193419591970197919892000201120172021
Population4,20010,9009,50010,80013,30017,00018,50017,70014,32312,26112,45212,010
Population of Valga by first language
Language2000 census [16] 2011 census [17] 2021 census [18]
Number %Number %Number %
Estonian 8,77261.247,57361.776,81856.76
Russian 4,74433.124,11333.554,09534.09
Latvian 2591.811911.565314.42
Ukrainian 1921.341591.301341.12
Belarusian 750.52230.19240.20
Total14,32312,26112,010

Sports

Valga is home to several notable Estonian sports teams.

Warrior Valga is a football club that currently plays in the III liiga. Warrior Valga played in the Meistriliiga from 2003 to 2006.

Valga is a basketball club that currently plays in the Estonian top-tier Korvpalli Meistriliiga and the Baltic Basketball League.

Climate

Valga lies within the temperate humid continental climate zone.

Climate data for Valga (normals 1991–2020, extremes 1925–present)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)10.1
(50.2)
10.9
(51.6)
21.3
(70.3)
27.4
(81.3)
30.7
(87.3)
33.2
(91.8)
34.4
(93.9)
34.3
(93.7)
29.5
(85.1)
21.7
(71.1)
15.2
(59.4)
11.9
(53.4)
34.4
(93.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)−1.6
(29.1)
−1.1
(30.0)
3.8
(38.8)
11.6
(52.9)
17.7
(63.9)
21.2
(70.2)
23.6
(74.5)
22.2
(72.0)
16.6
(61.9)
9.5
(49.1)
3.5
(38.3)
0.1
(32.2)
10.6
(51.1)
Daily mean °C (°F)−4.0
(24.8)
−4.3
(24.3)
−0.4
(31.3)
6.0
(42.8)
11.6
(52.9)
15.6
(60.1)
18.0
(64.4)
16.5
(61.7)
11.6
(52.9)
5.9
(42.6)
1.3
(34.3)
−2.0
(28.4)
6.3
(43.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)−6.6
(20.1)
−7.4
(18.7)
−4.2
(24.4)
0.9
(33.6)
5.5
(41.9)
10.0
(50.0)
12.6
(54.7)
11.5
(52.7)
7.3
(45.1)
2.8
(37.0)
−0.9
(30.4)
−4.2
(24.4)
2.3
(36.1)
Record low °C (°F)−38.5
(−37.3)
−38.2
(−36.8)
−30.1
(−22.2)
−17.8
(0.0)
−5.6
(21.9)
−1.6
(29.1)
2.5
(36.5)
1.5
(34.7)
−6.5
(20.3)
−14.4
(6.1)
−21.9
(−7.4)
−40.5
(−40.9)
−40.5
(−40.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches)52
(2.0)
42
(1.7)
38
(1.5)
37
(1.5)
52
(2.0)
82
(3.2)
67
(2.6)
78
(3.1)
53
(2.1)
71
(2.8)
56
(2.2)
50
(2.0)
675
(26.6)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)11.69.89.28.09.010.49.810.49.212.011.412.4123.2
Average relative humidity (%)89867870687376798487909081
Source: Estonian Weather Service [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24]

History

Border crossing between Valga, Estonia and Valka, Latvia in the 1920s Grens Valga.jpg
Border crossing between Valga, Estonia and Valka, Latvia in the 1920s

International relations

Twin towns – Sister cities

The former municipality of Valga, Estonia was twinned with: [27]

City Twins Association

The former municipality of Valga was a founding member of City Twins Association that was founded in Imatra, Finland on 13 December 2006. In addition to sister towns, Valga had a cooperation through the association with following cities: [28]

Cooperation without any formal agreement

Notable residents


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References

Notes
  1. Population by sex, age and place of residence after the 2017 administrative reform, 1 January. Statistics Estonia.
  2. "Edelareisija album "diiselrongide sõiduplaan aastal 2001." - Nagi". 21 April 2019. Archived from the original on 21 April 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  3. "[Lost Video] Operail / Eesti Raudtee GE C36-7 1545 at Antsla". YouTube .
  4. "Taasavatud Tartu-Valga rongiliini esimene sõit osutus ülipopulaarseks" (in Estonian). tartupostimees.ee. 30 December 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  5. Tere, Juhan (15 December 2009). "Tartu-Valga train connection to get relaunched from January". The Baltic Course. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  6. "Establishment of common public bus transport (Presentation)" (PDF). euregio-heltal.org. Retrieved 17 April 2018.[ permanent dead link ]
  7. "LINNAOSADE JA -JAGUDE LÜHENDID". www.eki.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  8. 1922 a. üldrahvalugemise andmed. Vihk X. Tartu ja Valga maakonnad (tabelid). Eesti riikline statistika (in Estonian and French). Tallinn: Riigi Statistika Keskbüroo. 1924. p. 22. hdl:10062/4445.
  9. Rahvastiku koostis ja korteriolud. 1.III 1934 rahvaloenduse andmed. Vihk II (in Estonian and French). Tallinn: Riigi Statistika Keskbüroo. 1935. pp. 47–53. hdl:10062/4439.
  10. Eesti Statistika : kuukiri 1942-03/04 (in German and Estonian). Tallinn: Riigi Statistika Keskbüroo. 1942. pp. 66–67.
  11. Население районов, городов и поселков городского типа Эстонской ССР : по данным Всесоюзной переписи населения на 15 января 1970 года (in Russian). Tallinn: Eesti NSV Statistika Keskvalitsus. 1972. p. 76.
  12. 1 2 Eesti Vabariigi maakondade, linnade ja alevite rahvastik. 1. osa, Rahvaarv rahvuse, perekonnaseisu, hariduse ja elatusallikate järgi : 1989. a. rahvaloenduse andmed (in Estonian). Tallinn: Eesti Vabariigi Riiklik Statistikaamet. 1990. pp. 31, 35. ISBN   978-9949-7193-2-7 via Digar.
  13. "RL222: RAHVASTIK ELUKOHA JA RAHVUSE JÄRGI". Estonian Statistical Database (in Estonian).
  14. "RL0429: RAHVASTIK RAHVUSE, SOO, VANUSERÜHMA JA ELUKOHA JÄRGI, 31. DETSEMBER 2011". Estonian Statistical Database. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  15. "RL21429: Rahvastik Rahvuse, Soo, Vanuserühma Ja ELukoha (Haldusüksus) Järgi, 31. DETSEMBER 2021". Estonian Statistical Database (in Estonian).
  16. "Ethnic nationality. Mother tongue. Command of foreign languages". pub.stat.ee. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  17. "Ethnic nationality. Mother tongue and command of foreign languages. Dialects". pub.stat.ee. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  18. "Population by ethnic nationality, sex, age group and place of residence (administrative unit)". andmed.stat.ee. 31 December 2021.
  19. "Climate normals-Temperature". Estonian Weather Service. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  20. "Climate normals-Precipitation". Estonian Weather Service. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  21. "Climate normals-Humidity". Estonian Weather Service. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  22. "Rekordid" (in Estonian). Estonian Weather Service. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  23. "Kliimanormid-Sademed, õhuniiskus" (in Estonian). Estonian Weather Service. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  24. "Valga Climate Normals 1991–2020". World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  25. T.Rosenberg. Künnivaod. ("Plow furrows"). Research on Estonian agrarian history of the 18th-20th centuries. The town of Valga in the first quarter of the 19th century. Tartu University Press. Learned Estonian Society, Tartu, 2013 (in Estonian), p. 239.
  26. Megargee, Geoffrey P.; Overmans, Rüdiger; Vogt, Wolfgang (2022). The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos 1933–1945. Volume IV. Indiana University Press, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. p. 72. ISBN   978-0-253-06089-1.
  27. "Valga". Valga. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  28. "Valga". Valga. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  29. "Кардынал Казімір Свёнтэк (пам. 2011 г.) (Cardinal Kazimierz Cardinal Świątek)(died 2011)(in Belarusian)" . Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  30. Bourdeaux, Michael (25 July 2011). "Cardinal Kazimierz Swiatek obituary". TheGuardian.com . Retrieved 19 February 2022.