| Čapljina Čapljina |
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  Čapljina
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| Coordinates: 43°06′N 17°42′E / 43.1°N 17.7°E | |||
| Country |  Bosnia and Herzegovina |
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| subdivisons | 27 Mjesni Zajednica | ||
| Government | |||
| - Municipality president | Smiljan Vidić (HDZ BiH) | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 256 km2 (98.8 sq mi) | ||
| Population (1991) | |||
| - Total | 27,584 | ||
| - Density | 139/km2 (360/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Area code(s) | +387 036 | ||
| Website | Official Web Site | ||
Čapljina is a town and municipality of the same name in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Čapljina is located on the border with Croatia a mere 20 kilometres (12 mi) from the Adriatic Sea.
The river Neretva flows through the municipality and flows into the Adriatic just over the border. The town's landmark is a statue of King Tomislav. The Church of Saint Francis Assisi is also a prominent facet of the town. The municipal coat of arms contains the Croatian chequy, the nearby tower in Pocitelj, and Saint Francis Assisi.
The municipality has a rich archaeological history and untouched wilderness and is starting to develop agricultural tourism. It is also home to Hutovo Blato Park, which contains one of the most diverse bird populations in all Europe. The Croatian town of Metković is located just over the border and there are significant commercial and other links between the two towns new Čapljina International Speedway.
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History
Not much is known about this city but it was founded by Romans in 5 BC. However, ancient Greek, and later Roman maps clearly show that the area was populated by several native Illyrian peoples, the most notable being the Ardiaei, whom the ancient Greeks had trading relations with, and ancient Romans invaded.The current name of the town Čapljina derives from the South Slavic word čaplja, which means "heron". Coincidentally enough, the name of the most prominent of Illyrian natives of this area, the Ardiaei, who later created one of the most powerful Illyrian kingdoms, may as well derive from ancient Roman (Latin) word " Ardea", which precisely means "Heron".
In WWII, Ustaše committed some of the most henious atrocities in Čapljina and nearby villages(this is a hearsay rumor and there are none facts to stands this propaganda from serbs). The town and the atrocities were celebrated in songs such as Jasenovac i Gradiška Stara, where Capljina was especially highly praised for its role in the Genocide(this is also a propaganda there are no facts to supports this statemantent) against the Serbs. The Prebilovci massacre, in which around 4000 people were killed total, including 600 villagers from the Prebilovci thrown into a pit, is one of the most significant atrocities in this area.
Since World War II it has been an important road and rail transportation link, connecting the rest of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the port of Ploče in Croatia. During the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina the city was taken over by the Croatian Defence Council who expelled the non Croat population and set up concentration camps for Bosniaks in the Gabela camp.[1]
During the Summer of 2007 wildfires caused extensive damage throughout the rural part of the municipality.
Demographics
| Population of Čapljina municipality | ||||||
| year of census | 1991. | 1981. | 1971. | |||
| Croats | 14,969 (53,68%) | 13,931 (53,51%) | 12,603 (53,72%) | |||
| Muslims by religion | 7,672 (27,51%) | 6,830 (26,23%) | 6,781 (28,90%) | |||
| Serbs | 3,753 (13,46%) | 3,467 (13,31%) | 3,672 (15,65%) | |||
| Yugoslavs | 1,047 (3,75%) | 1,566 (6,01%) | 193 (0,82%) | |||
| others and unknown | 441 (1,58%) | 238 (0,91%) | 210 (0,89%) | |||
| total | 27,882 | 26,032 | 23,459 | |||
Ethnic structure by settlements, 1991. census
Absolute ethnic majoruty
Croats Muslims by religion Serbs
Relative ethnic majority
Croats Muslims by religion Serbs
| Ethnic structure of population of Čapljina municipality, by settlements, 1991. census | ||||||
| settlement | total | Croats | Muslims | Serbs | Yugoslavs | others |
| Bajovci | 181 | 176 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bivolje Brdo | 841 | 256 | 562 | 4 | 6 | 13 |
| Crnići | 50 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Čapljina | 7,461 | 3,067 | 2,191 | 1,267 | 707 | 229 |
| Čeljevo | 1,058 | 827 | 194 | 1 | 8 | 28 |
| Doljani | 365 | 357 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| Domanovići | 1,270 | 326 | 727 | 186 | 21 | 10 |
| Dračevo | 630 | 582 | 0 | 41 | 0 | 7 |
| Dretelj | 576 | 508 | 53 | 3 | 11 | 1 |
| Dubravica | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Gabela | 2,440 | 2,046 | 32 | 324 | 24 | 14 |
| Gnjilišta | 345 | 338 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Gorica | 456 | 380 | 65 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| Grabovina | 947 | 817 | 29 | 57 | 29 | 15 |
| Hotanj | 275 | 178 | 93 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Jasenica | 165 | 1 | 157 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Klepci | 417 | 14 | 0 | 383 | 13 | 7 |
| Lokve | 587 | 0 | 395 | 192 | 0 | 0 |
| Opličići | 1,386 | 108 | 916 | 357 | 0 | 5 |
| Počitelj | 905 | 172 | 660 | 20 | 36 | 17 |
| Prćavci | 260 | 260 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prebilovci | 174 | 1 | 0 | 171 | 0 | 2 |
| Sjekose | 169 | 146 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 1 |
| Stanojevići | 194 | 31 | 163 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Struge | 437 | 284 | 130 | 2 | 16 | 5 |
| Svitava | 319 | 317 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Ševaš Njive | 262 | 69 | 191 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Šurmanci | 403 | 354 | 47 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Tasovčići | 1,675 | 294 | 511 | 698 | 138 | 34 |
| Trebižat | 1,399 | 1,371 | 9 | 1 | 11 | 7 |
| Višići | 1,788 | 1,207 | 528 | 23 | 15 | 15 |
| Zvirovići | 440 | 431 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| total | 27,882 | 14,969 | 7,672 | 3,753 | 1,047 | 441 |
Current
The Bosniak populations were expelled during the war in the early 1990s and today the majority of the population are Croats. No reliable estimates on the population exist since a census has not been conducted since 1991.
Culture
In the Capljina area, there are lots of Croatian cultural associations such as the following:
- HKUD Čapljina (Čapljina)
- HKUD Sv.Ante (Dretelj)
- HKUD Seljačka Sloga (Trebižat)
- HKUD " ZORA " Struge-Gorica
Famous People
- trash singer Danijel Boto
- Serbian journalist Dada Vujasinović
- actor Zdenko Jelčić
- actor Branimir Vidić -Flika
- basketball player Mario Primorac
- basketball player Veljko Mršić
- basketball trainer Jasmin Repeša
- football trainer Mirsad Fazlagić
- Croatian international footballer Sladjan Aracic
- actor Dejan Aćimović
- basketball player Ibrahim "Ibrica" Bećirović
Sport
- HNK Čapljina - football club (previously named Borac) - currently in the 2nd division of the BiH South League. Nicknamed the Patriots, Capljina has been home to such talented players such as Kana Colic, Zlatan Vego, Ilija Ivankovic,Dadi Mulalic, Zara Zurovac, Milivoje Drasko, Seno Elezovic, Velija Kudra and Mladen Bartolovic.
Their home ground is at Bjelave which holds 5,000 people.
- GOSK Gabela - football club known as the Blue Lions from village of Gabela, currently in the First Division of the Bosnia-Hercegovina Football League.
- HKK Čapljina Lasta - basketball club currently in the Bosnia-Hercegovina D1 League
References
- Official results from the book: Ethnic composition of Bosnia-Herzegovina population, by municipalities and settlements, 1991. census, Zavod za statistiku Bosne i Hercegovine - Bilten no.234, Sarajevo 1991.
- Wilkes, J. J. The Illyrians, 1992, ISBN0631198075
- Stipčević, Aleksandar; "The Illyrians-History and Culture", 1989, page 54,(ISBN 0815550529 ISBN 978-0815550525 )
- Axhanela (Adžanela) Ardian,"Ethnolinguistic overeview of ancient Illyrian tribe names/Etnolingvistički osvrt na nazive drevnih ilirskih plemena/Rishqyrtimi etnolingvistik i emrave te fiseve ilire te lashte - Article (paragraph referring to the etymology of Ardiaei),Qendra per studime Ballkanike/Centre for Balkan Studies/Centar za balkanske studije, Prishtine/Priština, 2004
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