Blagoevgrad Благоевград
Coat of arms
Blagoevgrad Location of Blagoevgrad
Coordinates: 42°01′N 23°06′E / 42.017°N 23.100°E / 42.017; 23.100Coordinates: 42°01′N 23°06′E / 42.017°N 23.100°E / 42.017; 23.100
Country	Bulgaria
Province (Oblast)	Blagoevgrad
Government
• Mayor	Atanas Kambitov (GERB)
Area
• City	28.909 km2 (11.162 sq mi)
Elevation	410 m (1,350 ft)
Population (Census February 2011)[1]
• City	70,881
• Density	Bad rounding here2,500/km2 (Bad rounding here6,400/sq mi)
• Urban	77,441
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Postal Code	2700
Area code(s)	073
Website	Official website

Blagoevgrad (Bulgarian: Благоевград) is а city in southwestern Bulgaria, the administrative centre of Blagoevgrad Province, with a population of 70,881 inhabitants^[1] (as of 2011^[update]). It lies on the banks of the Blagoevgradska Bistritsa River.

The city is the economic and cultural centre of southwestern Bulgaria. It is located in the valley of the Struma River at the foot of the Rila and Pirin Mountains, 101 km south of Sofia, close to Republic of Macedonia border. Blagoevgrad features a pedestrian downtown with preserved 19th century architecture and numerous restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, and boutiques.

Blagoevgrad is home to two universities, the South-West University "Neofit Rilski" and the American University in Bulgaria. The city hosts also the "Sts. Cyril and Methodius National Humanitarian High School", the former Bulgarian Men's High School of Thessaloniki moved from Thessaloniki to Blagoevgrad (then Gorna Dzhumaya) in 1913. Attractions in the surrounding area include the resort Bodrost.

Climate [edit]

The climate is transitional continental with a strong Mediterranean influence, due to air masses that enter from the south valley of the river Struma. The city is protected from cold northerly winds due to the natural barrier of the high hills of Rila massif and the village of Belo pole. Mountain breeze descends from Rila along the river Bistritsa bringing cool air during hot summer days. Wind is moderate - 1.6 meters per second. Thanks to the many mountain forests around the town and the lack of industrial pollution, the air is clean in Blagoevgrad. Winter is mild, brief and marked by little to no snowfall. The average temperature in January is 0.6 °C. Summers are long and dry, with a small amount of rainfall. The average July temperature is 23.4 °C and the maximum temperature measured in Blagoevgrad is 41.6 °C. The average annual temperature is approximately 12.6 °C.

History [edit]

Petition to Roman Emperor Gordian III from the inhabitants of ancient Scaptopara

An ancient Thracian settlement called Scaptopara (market town in Thracian, Σκαπτοπαρα in Greek) emerged on the site around 300 BC and was later conquered by the Roman Empire. The settlement was known for the hot springs in the vicinity. Although the history of the settlement in the Middle Ages is unknown, during the Ottoman rule of the Balkans it became a Muslim-majority town called Cuma-ı Bala, meaning Upper Juma in Persian and Ottoman Turkish. A Bulgarian quarter called Varosha was formed during the Bulgarian National Revival, with many of its typical houses and the Church of the Presentation of the Mother of God from 1844 being preserved to this day. A chitalishte was founded in 1866 and the Balkan Wars of 1912-1913 saw the liberation of the area from Ottoman rule and its integration in the Bulgarian state. Before the Balkan Wars, Cuma-ı Bala was bounded as kaza to Serez sandjak in Selanik vilayet.

Houses in Varosha, the old quarter of Blagoevgrad

Many refugees from Aegean and Vardar Macedonia arrived in the town in the subsequent decades as the town, then known as Gorna Dzhumaya (a partial translation of the Ottoman name), continued to grow in size and importance. The name Gorna Dzhumaya ( Горна Джумая; "Upper Dzhumaya") contrasts the town from Dolna Dzhumaya (Долна Джумая; "Lower Dzhumaya", "Cuma-i Zir" in Turkish) to the south, today called Irakleia in Serres regional unit, Macedonia, Greece.

The town was renamed Blagoevgrad in 1950 after the founder of the Bulgarian Communist Party, Dimitar Blagoev, a refugee from Aegean Macedonia.

Economy [edit]

Because of the large number of students (partly due to the American University in the city), its cross-road location, nature and number of social factors, the city has relatively well developed economy. There are many clothing stores, cafes, and restaurants. The district is in sixth place for its share of the GDP right after the more industrial districts of Sofia, Varna, Sofia District, Plovdiv, Bourgas. The registere unemployment is slightly below 10%, less than the average for the country.

Downtown Blagoevgrad

Industries of interest: 1. Food and tobacco processing industries - Animal products, fruit, vegetables, tobacco, and liquor production. High export potential. 2. Textile industry - Foreign investors have helped the development of many firms that produce ready-made clothing. 3. Timber and furniture industries - The easy access to local resources makes gives that branch perspectives for development. There are open foreign markets for furniture. Increasing interest of foreign investors. 4. Iron processing and machinery industry - Firms specialize mainly in production of metal constructions and details. Radio-electronic equipment and other electronic communication components are being produced. 5. Construction materials industry - The terrain characteristics are suitable for the extraction of certain minerals, used in construction. Marble is extracted at numerous locations in Sandanski municipality, Koprivlen, Petritch, Strumiani. 6. Other - Tourism, pharmaceuticals, plastics, paper, shoes.

Building [edit]

The town is very attractive to investors, both foreign and native - no coincidence that Blagoevgrad is the third largest city by number of building permits. Blagoevgrad is growing and may absorb Elenovo and Strumsko. Recently there was a major overhaul of the city park and a new bridge was built. Now completed, the Sergiyniya Market is a modern shopping center.

Currently the city has 6 hypermarkets: Metro, Technopolis^{[disambiguation needed]}, Technomarket Europe, Mr. Bricolage, Billa, and Kaufland,.

Blagoevgrad panorama

Population [edit]

Ethnic linguistic and religious composition [edit]

According to the latest 2011 census data, the individuals declared their ethnic identity were distributed as follows:^[3][4]

• Bulgarians: 62,674 (95.6%)
• Gypsies: 1,813 (2.8%)
• Turks: 123 (0.2%)
• Others: 684 (1.0%)
• Indefinable: 271 (0.4%)
  • Undeclared: 5,316 (7.5%)

Total: 70,881

The ethnic composition of Blagoevgrad Municipality is 68702 Bulgarians and 1836 Gypsies among others.

In 1900, according to Vasil Kanchov the population of the town numbers 6440 people, of whom 1250 Bulgarians, 4500 Turks, 250 Vlachs, 200 Gypsies, 180 Jews and 60 Greeks.^[5] During that time the most Turks were in the city and the Bulgarians in the surrounding villages.

Sports [edit]

Generally, sports are well developed, but the town's traditionally strong sports, handball and basketball, have been in financial crisis and without representation in the national leagues in years past (only supporting children and youth ensembles).

The crisis in basketball and handball provides others with the opportunity to pick up pace. Taekwon-Do, in the form of "Falcon" club has given Blagoevgrad and Bulgaria multiple European and World Championship medals, including a European Championship in 2004 (Todor Kozladerov).^[6] Baseball is a little-known sport in Bulgaria but it thrives in Blagoevgrad. The local team's name is the "Buffaloes" and its manager is Yassen Nedelchev, who also serves as the Bulgarian Baseball Federation's president. In 2010, the "Blagoevgrad Buffaloes" won their 17th National title (in 18 attempts).

The town has two multi-purpose sports halls, the second was opened in 2007, it has a capacity of over 1000 seats and meets all requirements of the International Federation of handball, basketball and volleyball, a game area may be used for competitions Rhythmic gymnastics and martial arts. The town has three well-maintained complexes for tennis, a football stadium, six small playgrounds for football, an Olympic size swimming pool, a go-cart track and one of the best games of baseball in the Balkans. In 2008 construction began on a new sports complex at the Southwestern University for the needs of its students.

Football [edit]

Blagoevgrad has given the Bulgarian and world football talents such as Dimitar Berbatov and regularly feeds the wealthy football clubs. Local team investment is lacking.

At present there are four in Blagoevgrad acting male clubs, three of which bear the name "Pirin". The "A" group is PFC Pirin Blagoevgrad. Pirin Authentic, then discard it in "B" group in 2005 due to obligations to Social Security, was usurped by a group of businessmen D15, and then failed to return to professional football during the 2008/09 season and will play in the Western B Group . Pirin 2001 - the team owned by former international Ivaylo Andonov, competed in the Southwestern 'B' group. In the championship of the Blagoevgrad District League (zone "Bistrita") features one Blagoevgrad football team - FC Athletic.

Women's football is represented by the football club Sportika - a participant in the National Championship for Women

Twin cities [edit]

Blagoevgrad is twinned with:^[2]

• Auburn, United States
• Delčevo, Republic of Macedonia
• Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
• Serres, Greece
• Székesfehérvár, Hungary
• Thessaloniki, Greece
• Nagasaki, Japan
• Batumi, Georgia

Honours [edit]

Blagoevgrad Peninsula in Graham Land, Antarctica is named after the city,^[7] and Skaptopara Cove in Greenwich Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named after its ancient ancestor Skaptopara.^[8]

References [edit]

External links [edit]

• Blagoevgrad Municipality website
• Търговски комплекс Комфорт мебели ниски цени

v t e Cities and towns of Bulgaria 1,000,000+ Sofia (capital) 300,000+ Plovdiv Varna 100,000+ Burgas Ruse Stara Zagora Pleven 50,000+ Asenovgrad Blagoevgrad Dobrich Gabrovo Haskovo Pazardzhik Pernik Sliven Shumen Veliko Tarnovo Vratsa Yambol 20,000+ Aytos Botevgrad Dimitrovgrad Dupnitsa Gorna Oryahovitsa Karlovo Kardzhali Kazanlak Kyustendil Lom Lovech Montana Nova Zagora Petrich Razgrad Samokov Sandanski Sevlievo Silistra Smolyan Svishtov Targovishte Troyan Velingrad Vidin 10,000+ Balchik Bankya Bansko Berkovitsa Byala, Rousse Province Byala Slatina Cherven Bryag Chirpan Elhovo Etropole Gotse Delchev Harmanli Ihtiman Isperih Karnobat Kavarna Knezha Kostinbrod Kozloduy Kubrat Levski Mezdra Momchilgrad Nesebar Novi Iskar Novi Pazar Panagyurishte Parvomay Pavlikeni Peshtera Pomorie Popovo Provadiya Radnevo Radomir Rakovski Razlog Stamboliyski Svilengrad Teteven 5,000+ Aksakovo Ardino Belene Belogradchik Beloslav Bobov Dol Chepelare Dalgopol Devin Devnya Dolni Chiflik Dragoman Dryanovo Dulovo Dzhebel Elena Elin Pelin Galabovo General Toshevo Hisarya Kameno Koynare Kostenets Kotel Krichim Krumovgrad Kuklen Lukovit Lyubimets Lyaskovets Madan Nedelino Omurtag Oryahovo Perushtitsa Pirdop Polski Trumbesh Rakitovo Saedinenie Septemvri Simeonovgrad Simitli Slivnitsa Sopot Sredets Straldzha Strazhitsa Suvorovo Svoge Tervel Topolovgrad Tryavna Tsarevo Tutrakan Tvarditsa Varshets Vetovo Veliki Preslav Yakoruda Zlatitsa Zlatograd Under 5,000 Ahtopol Alfatar Antonovo Apriltsi Balgarovo Batak Batanovtsi Belitsa Belovo Boboshevo Bolyarovo Borovo Boychinovtsi Bozhurishte Bratsigovo Bregovo Breznik Brusartsi Byala, Varna Province Byala Cherkva Chiprovtsi Debelets Dimovo Dobrinishte Dolna Banya Dolna Mitropoliya Dolna Oryahovitsa Dolni Dubnik Dospat Dunavtsi Dve Mogili Glavinitsa Glodzhevo Godech Gramada Gulyantsi Gurkovo Hadzhidimovo Iskar Ivaylovgrad Kableshkovo Kalofer Kaolinovo Kaspichan Kermen Kilifarevo Kiten Klisura Kocherinovo Koprivshtitsa Kostandovo Kresna Krivodol Kula Laki Letnitsa Loznitsa Madzharovo Maglizh Malko Turnovo Marten Melnik Merichleri Miziya Momin Prohod Nikolaevo Nikopol Obzor Opaka Pavel Banya Plachkovtsi Pliska Pordim Pravets Primorsko Rila Roman Rudozem Sadovo Sapareva Banya Sarnitsa Senovo Shabla Shipka Shivachevo Slavyanovo Slivo Pole Smyadovo Sozopol Strelcha Suhindol Sungurlare Sveti Vlas Tran Trastenik Tsar Kaloyan Ugarchin Vetren Valchedram Valchi Dol Varbitsa Yablanitsa Zavet Zemen Zlataritsa

v t e Municipality of Blagoevgrad Capital: Blagoevgrad Villages Belo Pole Bistritsa Buchino Balgarchevo Debochitsa Delvino Drenkovo Dabrava Elenovo Gabrovo Gorno Harsovo Izgrev Klisura Leshko Lisiya Logodazh Marulevo Moshtanets Obel Padesh Pokrovnik Riltsi Selishte Tserovo Zelenodol Landmarks Blagoevgrad History Museum Tserovo Fortress Hristo Botev Stadium Culture Bulgarian Men's High School of Thessaloniki American University in Bulgaria South-West University "Neofit Rilski" PFC Pirin Blagoevgrad (1922) PFC Pirin Blagoevgrad (1931) Notable people Dimitar Berbatov

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