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A county (Estonian: maakond) is an administrative subdivision of Estonia. Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia ( Eesti or Eesti Vabariik) is a Country in Northern Europe in the Baltic region Politics of Estonia takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic Republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Estonia is The Constitution of Estonia was adopted on 28 June 1992. Composition Preamble The Preamble to the Constitution of Estonia reads The President of the Republic (Eesti Vabariigi President is the Head of state of the Republic of Estonia. Toomas Hendrik Ilves (ˈtoːmɑs ˈhendrik ˈilves born 26 December 1953) is the current President of Estonia. The Prime Minister of Estonia ( Estonian: Eesti Vabariigi Peaminister) is the Head of government of the Republic of Estonia. Andrus Ansip (born 1 October 1956) is the current Prime Minister of Estonia, and chairman of the Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond The Government of the Republic of Estonia ( Estonian: Vabariigi Valitsus) exercises executive power pursuant to the Constitution and the laws of the Andrus Ansip is the current Prime Minister of Estonia; his first cabinet took office on April 12, 2005 after being approved by Riigikogu by 53 The Riigikogu (from riigi-, of the state and kogu, assembly is the Parliament of Estonia. The Supreme Court of Estonia is a court of Cassation, also fulfilling the functions of a Constitutional court. Estonia elects a Legislature on the national level The Riigikogu has 101 members elected for a four year term by Proportional Parliamentary elections took place in Estonia on Sunday March 4 2007 to elect members of the Riigikogu. Estonian parliamentary election of 2003 was held on 2nd March, 2003. Political parties in Estonia lists political parties in Estonia. A Municipality (omavalitsus is the smallest administrative subdivision of Estonia. The European Union is a unique entity possessing elements of Intergovernmentalism, Supranationalism and a Multi-party Parliamentary democracy Following restoration of independence from the Soviet Union, Russia was one the first nations to recognize Estonia 's independence (the first country to do so was Information on politics by country is available for every Country, including both De jure and De facto independent A county is a Land area of Regional Government within a larger State. Estonian (; ˈeːsti ˈkeːl is the official language of Estonia, spoken by about 1 Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia ( Eesti or Eesti Vabariik) is a Country in Northern Europe in the Baltic region Estonia is divided into 15 counties. The government (Estonian: maavalitsus) of each county is led by a county governor (Estonian: maavanem), who represents the national government at the regional level. A governor is a governing official usually the executive (at least nominally to different degrees also politically and administratively of a non-sovereign level of government For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. Governors are appointed by the government for a term of five years. The Government of the Republic of Estonia ( Estonian: Vabariigi Valitsus) exercises executive power pursuant to the Constitution and the laws of the
Each county is further divided into municipalities which are of two types: urban municipality, or town (linn), and rural municipality, or parish (vald). A Municipality (omavalitsus is the smallest administrative subdivision of Estonia.
Contents |
List of counties
- Harju
- Hiiu
- Ida-Viru (Eastern Viru)
- Järva
- Jõgeva
- Lääne (Western)
- Lääne-Viru (Western Viru)
- Pärnu
- Põlva
- Rapla
- Saare
- Tartu
- Valga
- Viljandi
- Võru
History
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In the first centuries AD political and administrative subdivisions began to emerge in Estonia. Two larger subdivisions appeared: the parish (kihelkond) and the county (maakond). The parish consisted of several villages. Nearly all parishes had at least one fortress. The defense of the local area was directed by the highest official, the parish elder. The county was composed of several parishes, also headed by an elder. By the 13th century the following major counties had developed in Estonia: Saaremaa (Osilia), Läänemaa (Rotalia or Maritima), Harjumaa (Harria), Rävala (Revalia), Virumaa (Vironia), Järvamaa (Jervia), Sakala (Saccala), and Ugandi (Ugaunia). Saare County ( Estonian: Saare maakond) or Saaremaa, ( Latin: Osilia or Oesel) is one of 15 counties Läänemaa ( Latin: Rotalia, Maritima, Low German: Wiek) was an independent country on the east coast of Baltic Harjumaa, Harrien (1200 hides) was an Ancient Estonian county Revala ( Revalia, Revelia, Rävälä) was an Ancient Estonian county Virumaa ( Latin: Vironia; Low German: Wierland; Old Norse: Virland) is a former independent County Järva County (Järva maakond or Järvamaa, ( Latin: Jervia) is one of 15 counties of Estonia. Sakala County ( Estonian: Sakala, Latin: Saccalia was an Ancient Estonian county, first mentioned in print by Henry of Livonia Ugandi ( Latin: Ungannia or Ugaunia; Latvian: Ugaunija; Low German: Uggn) was an independent [1] Additionally there were several smaller elderships in central Estonia where danger of war was smaller – Vaiga, Mõhu, Nurmekund and Alempois. Vaiga was a small Landlocked Ancient Estonian county in the eastern part of the territory of Estonia. Mõhu was a small Landlocked ancient Estonian county in the central part of the territory of Estonia. Nurmekund ( Low German: Nurmegunde) was a small independent country on the north coast of Lake Võrtsjärv in Central Estonia, Alempois ( Latin: Alumbus) was a small independent Landlocked country in Ancient Estonia, bordered by Harjumaa, The exact number and borders of some elderships are disputed.
The first documented mentioning of Estonian political and administrative subdivisions comes from the Chronicle of Henry of Livonia, written in the 13th Century during the Northern Crusades. The Chronicle of Henry of Livonia ( Latin: Heinrici Cronicon Lyvoniae) is a historic document describing the history of Livonia and surrounding areas from The Northern Crusades or Baltic Crusades were Crusades undertaken by the Catholic kings of Denmark and Sweden, the German Livonian
The Autonomy of the Estonia counties and parishes ended after conquered and divided between Denmark, Livonian Order, Bishopric of Dorpat and Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek. The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe The Livonian Order was autonomous Livonian branch of the Teutonic Order and a member of the Livonian Confederation from 1418&ndash1561 The Bishopric of Dorpat (Tartu piiskopkond Bisdom Dorpat Ecclesia Tarbatensis was a medieval principality and a Catholic Diocese which existed from 1224 The Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek (Saare-Lääne piiskopkond Bistum Ösel-Wiek Low German: Bisdom Ösel-Wiek; contemporary Ecclesia Osiliensis was a semi-independent The name of Rävala became Reval, replacing the name of an Estonian town Lindanisse, later Tallinn. Tallinn (historically known by the German, Swedish and Danish name Reval or the Polish name Rewal, among other names Ugandi, Sakala and the smaller elderships disappeared from common usage.
In the 1580s, after the Livonian war as Sweden had conquered Northern Estonia, Harju, Järva, Lääne and Viru counties were officially formed there. The Livonian War of 1558–1582 was a lengthy military conflict between the Tsardom of Russia and variable coalition of Denmark–Norway, Grand Duchy of "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. Southern Estonia, which belonged to Poland 1582-1625, was divided into voivodships of Pärnu and Tartu; the island of Saaremaa belonged to Denmark until 1645. Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland This article concerns both historical and contemporary voivodeships in various countries The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe They all became counties as they went under Swedish rule.
This administrative system mostly remained as Estonia went under Russian rule as a result of the Northern War. In 1793 were formed Võru County in the south of Tartumaa, Viljandi County between Tartu and Pärnu counties, and Paldiski County in the west of Harjumaa. Year 1793 ( MDCCXCIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Võrumaa ( Võru County)( Võro: Võro maakund) officially Võru maakond, is a County in Southern Estonia Viljandi County ( Estonian: Viljandi maakond or Viljandimaa) is one of 15 counties of Estonia. Paldiski is a town and Baltic Sea Port situated on the Pakri peninsula of north-western Estonia. In 1796 Paldiski County was joined with Harjumaa again. Year 1796 ( MDCCXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Until 1888 Võrumaa and Viljandimaa were not completely independent from Tartumaa and Pärnumaa respecively. Year 1888 ( MDCCCLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a
Several changes were made to the borders of countis after Estonia became independent, most notably the formation of Valga County (from parts of Võru, Tartu and Viljandi counties) and Petseri County (area acquired from Russia with the 1920 Tartu peace treaty). Valga County (Valga maakond or Valgamaa, is one of 15 counties of Estonia. Petseri County ( Petserimaa) was a former county of Estonia established in 1920
During the Soviet rule, Petseri County once again became a part of Russia in 1945. Hiiumaa seceded from Läänemaa in 1946, Jõgevamaa from Tartumaa in 1949 and Jõhvimaa (modern Ida-Virumaa) from Virumaa in 1949. Ida-Viru County (Ida-Viru maakond or Ida-Virumaa, is one of 15 counties of Estonia. Counties were completely dissolved in 1950 as Estonian SSR was divided into regions (rajoonid) and (until 1953) oblasts. The Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic (Eesti Nõukogude Sotsialistlik Vabariik Эстонская Советская Социалистическая Республика Estonskaya Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Oblast (во́бласць oblast о́бласт oblast о́бласть област/ oblast; oblasť област о́бласть is a type of Administrative division Until the 1960s the borders of regions changed often until 15 of them were left. Out of them, Põlva and Rapla regions became separate, while the others were roughly corresponding to the pre-1950 counties. Põlva County (Põlva maakond or Põlvamaa, is one of 15 counties of Estonia. Rapla County (Rapla maakond or Raplamaa, is one of 15 counties of Estonia.
Counties were re-established in 1 January 1990 in the borders of the Soviet-era regions. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) Due to the numerous differences between the current and historical (pre-1940) layouts, the historical borders are still used in ethnology, representing cultural and lingustical differences better.
See also
- Ranked list of Estonian counties
- Flags of Estonian Counties
- Coats of arms of Estonian Counties
- ISO 3166-2:EE
- Municipalities of Estonia
References
- ^ Estonia and the Estonians (Studies of Nationalities) Toivo U. By population as of 1 January 2004 By area By density The Flags of the 15 (+1 Counties of Estonia are all white and green with the Coat of arms of the respective county on the white part The coats of arms of the 15 Counties of Estonia are presented below ISO 3166-2EE Here is the list of the ISO 3166-2 codes for the Counties of Estonia. A Municipality (omavalitsus is the smallest administrative subdivision of Estonia. Raun p. 11 ISBN 0817928529
External links
- Local Government Reform Estonian Institute publication
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