Štip

Štip
Штип

Coat of arms

City motto :

Coordinates

41.44° N 22.1° E

Municipality :

Štip municipality

Elevation

300 m

Population

43 625

Time zone
- Standard
- Summer (DST)

CET (UTC+1)
CEST (UTC+2)

Founded

1st century AD

Area code

+389 32

Postal code

2000

Car plates

ŠT

Official Website

www.Stip.gov.mk/

Štip (Macedonian: Штип) is the largest city in the eastern part of the Republic of Macedonia. Located at the intersection of the Lakavica, Ovche Pole, and Kochani valleys, it exists as a settlement for at least 2000 years, and as of 2002, it had a population of 43,625. Two rivers pass through Štip, Bregalnica which is the second largest in Republic of Macedonia and Otinja which bisects the city center and around which the Quay of Otinja is built. The hill Issar with it's early medieval fortress on top, dominates the city, and provides for the common reference as "The city under the Issar'. The area surrounding the city suffers from deforestation which contributes to the temperature extremes experienced, summers being hot and dry with days above 40C not being uncommon, and winters being cold and snowy (but short), with winter minimums going to -10C. Štip serves as a cultural and economic center of Eastern Republic of Macedonia, and is the largest textile production center in the country, as well as the location of one of the public universities, the Goce Delchev University of Shtip. The city of Štip is the seat of the Štip municipality.

History

Štip (or Astibo/Astibos) has its heritage in being the ancient capital^{[citation needed]} of the Paeonian tribe who were situated in the western part of the fertile river Axius basin around the fifth and fourth centuries BC. The two tribes that lived along the river Astibo, an estuary to Axius, were the Derrones, called after their god of healing, Darron and the Laeaeans, who minted their own heavy coins as a sign of their sovereignty, following the example of the Greek city-states on Chalkidiki ^[1] . Although these tribes have been heavily weakened by the Persian invasion of 480BC by King Xerxes I, they remained a formidable power and well-organized people, renowned for the production of their exceptionally heavy coins with emblems including domesticated specimens of the wild aurochs for which Paeonia was also famous. They were absorbed into the Macedonian empire by Alexander I before 360BC.

The area itself has first mention in the writings of the historian Polien form the 3rd century BC, who talks of a river named Astibo presumed to be the river Bregalnica today, and who claims that around the place where Štip is today, the Paeonian emperors were crowned ^[2] The first mention in written sources of a settlement in this area is from the time of the Roman emperor Tiberius 14-37 AD, when it is mentioned as an important settlement in the Roman province of Paeonia and the second stop on the Roman road from Stobi to Pautalia^[3]

During the second half of the 3rd century BC the barbarian tribes, especially the Goths destroy much of the northern settlements in the eastern part of the Roman Empire, among which Astibo as well. However, soon a new settlement has been founded on the same site called Estipeon which thrived though the late Roman and the Early Byzantine period^[4]. Between the 5th and 6th century AD the joint Slavic and Avar tribes attacks destroy the Byzantine settlement, and the Slavic tribe of Sagudats permanently settle in this area, and give the current name Štip to the settlement. During the 10th century, the Saints Cyril and Methodius after creating the first Slavic alphabet, first came to preach to the Slavic tribes in this area before going to Great Moravia, thus the Slavic population from this area were the first Christians among the Slavs ^[5]

Many rulers conquered the area of Štip during the early middle ages. The Bulgarian Empire incorporates the area during the rule of Tzar Samuil, however after the Byzantine victory at the Battle of Kleidion it falls again under Byzantium until 1330 when the Serbian king Stefan Decanski conquers it and incorporates it in the Serbian empire. The Serbian rule lasted only until 1395 when Ottoman Turkey conquers the area, and renames the city to Ishtib making it the capital of the local county. There is little information for the development of Štip during Turkish occupation which would continue for the next 5 centuries, interrupted only during 1689-1690 when the city is liberated by the Austrians for two years. During the Balkan Wars Štip and the surrounding territory goes as to Kingdom of Serbia as war spoils and later is incorporated into the Kingdom of Yugoslavia together with all of Vardar Macedonia. During the Second World War the Axis-allied Bulgarian forces occupy the city until November 8th, 1944 when it is liberated by the Macedonian National Liberation Army. ^[6] November 8th is celebrated as 'Liberation Day' today in Štip, and is municipal holiday.

Geography

Located at the intersection of the Lakavica, Ovche Pole, and Kochani valleys, the area of the contemporary city of Štip has been judged an attractive place to establish a settlement from very early times. The landscape is mostly hilly, with the only flat parts being along the rivers Bregalnica and Otinja. The soil is mostly sandy, and has large patches of red soil (Macedonian: Црвеница) which indicates large percentage of Iron in the soil. The geographical area of the city of Štip is bordered by the mountain Plachkovica east, by the Krivolak valley south-east, the estuary of the river Bregalnica in the south-west, and by its alluvial plain in the north ^[7].

Demographics

According to the National Census of 2002 the populations of Štip Municipality breaks down as follows:

Shtip Municipality	Total	Macedonians	Turks	Gypsies	Vlach	Serbs	Albanians	Bosniaks	Others
Total	47796	41670	1272	2195	2074	294	12	11	265
Women	23876	20935	612	1039	981	153	4	6	146
Men	23920	20735	660	1156	1093	144	8	5	119
R.M. (%)	2,36	3,21	1,63	4,07	21,39	0,83	0	0,06	1,26

Famous residents

Novo Selo, one of the oldest parts of Štip, is famous as the birthplace of many revolutionary, political and religious leaders including the first president of independent Republic of Macedonia Kiro Gligorov, Mr. Mihail, the previous head of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, Aco Shopov a poet and WWII fighter, General Mihajlo Apostolski the first commander of the Army of People's Republic of Macedonia, Todor Aleksandrov and Ivan Mihailov, leaders of IMRO between the World Wars. It's also here where the famous revolutionary Gotse Delchev came to teach and spread his ideas for an uprising against the Ottoman Empire.

Economy

Today, Štip is the regional center as well as the center of the country’s textile and fashion industry.

Government

The current mayor of Štip is Pande Sarev(Macedonian: Панде Сарев)^[8].

Transportation

The public transport is organized in suburban services and inter-city. The suburbs of Babi, Senjak, Prebeg, Makedonka, Kezhovica, etc. are served by a fleet of municipal buses running 7 days a week and connecting several locations in the city center with the suburbs. The inter-city services are provided by the public transportation company "Balkan Ekspres" (Macedonian: Балкан Експрес) which has connections to all cities in Republic of Macedonia as well as some neighboring countries. The train station located in the northern suburb "Zheleznichka" provides links to Kochani in the east, and Veles and Skopje to the west. There is a large fleet of private taxi vehicles in the city, with very competitive prices.

Education

There are numerous pre-school, elementary/primary and middle school institutions in Štip. There are five high/secondary schools, each somewhat specialized in a particular field, according to the educational policy of Republic of Macedonia. The five high schools are as follows:

Music High School (Macedonian: Музички Училишен Образовен Центар) - web site
Textile Secondary School "Dimitar Mirasčiev" (Macedonian: Државно Средно Текстилно Училиште „Димитар Мирашчиев“)
Secondary School for Children with Special Needs - Iskra - web site
Medical Secondary School "Jane Sandanski" (Macedonian: Државно Средно Медицинско Училиште) - web site
Electro-Technical Secondary School "Kole Nehtenin" (Macedonian: Државно Средно Електротехничко Училиште) - web site
Lyceum "Slavčo Stojmenski" (Macedonian: Државна Гимназија „Славчо Стојменски“) - web site

^[9]

The city is also the home of one of the four state universities of Republic of Macedonia, the Goce Delchev University of Shtip.

Architecture and sights

Štip has a well preserved 14th-century monastery and the ruins of its old castle which keeps a watchful eye on the town from the Isar Hill. The Bezisten, a massive stone building which used to be a closed bazaar (but is now an art gallery) is a remnant of the muslim influence in the city. In the old parts of the town (and especially in Novo Selo) some houses built in the Old Macedonian style of architecture can still be found. The town can also boast with the healing powers of the Kežovica mineral bath and with the ruins of the ancient city of Bargala.

Arts and Culture

Štip boasts the largest festival of contemporary music in Republic of Macedonia called MakFest. It is held every November in the Cultural Center "Aco Šopov" for over two decades. The other large cultural event is the "Štip Summer of Culture" (Macedonian: Штипско Културно Лето) a month long festival held from July 1st to August 1st since 1987 ^[10].

Sports and Recreation

Štip has two professional football teams, "Bregalnica-Štip" which plays in the Macedonian Major League, and "Kezhovica" which plays in the minor league.

Media

Štip is rich in different media establishments. The first private television in Republic of Macedonia was founded in Štip, called "TV TEKO", which is still operational. The other currently operational local TV station is "TV IRIS". Both television stations took part in the pre-election monitoring for the election of 1998 ^[11]

Štip is home to several radio stations, among which is "Kanal 77", the first private radio station in Republic of Macedonia, which currently has a network throughout the northeastern part of the country. Other important radio stations are "Radio Shtip" Macedonian: Радио Штип web site and the Roma language radio station "Radio Cherenja" Macedonian: Радио Черења web site.

Тhe local newspaper is called "Shtipski Vesnik" (Macedonian: Штипски Весник).

Notable people

Kiro Gligorov, former president of the Republic of Macedonia
Lyubomir Miletich (1863-1937), Bulgarian scientist, chairman of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Aleksandar Donski, historian
Aleksandar Balabanov, Bulgarian writer critic and IMRO member

References

^ Macedonian Coins (2007-09-07). Retrieved on 2007-09-07.
^ Astibo (2007-09-07). Retrieved on 2007-09-07.
^ Stip (2007-09-07). Retrieved on 2007-09-07.
^ City of Shtip (2007-09-07). Retrieved on 2007-09-07.
^ City of Shtip (2007-09-07). Retrieved on 2007-09-07.
^ City of Shtip (2007-09-07). Retrieved on 2007-09-07.
^ Geography of Shtip (2007-09-13). Retrieved on 2007-09-13.
^ City Mayor (2007-09-13). Retrieved on 2007-09-13.
^ Macedonian High School Portal (2007-09-13). Retrieved on 2007-09-13.
^ Cultural Manifestations (2007-09-13). Retrieved on 2007-09-13.
^ Radio Broadcasting Council (2007-09-13). Retrieved on 2007-09-13.

External Links

Official web site of the city of Štip
Štip Online