Montana, Bulgaria

Montana (Bulgarian: Монтана [monˈtanɐ]) is a town in northwestern Bulgaria. It is the administrative centre of the Montana Province. On the 2021 census, it had a population of 36,455.[1]

Montana
Монтана
Town
Panoramic view of Montana
Panoramic view of Montana
Coat of arms of Montana
Coat of arms
Montana is located in Bulgaria
Montana
Montana
Location of Montana, Bulgaria
Coordinates: 43°24′27″N 23°13′18″E
CountryBulgaria
Province
(Oblast)		Montana
Government
 • MayorZlatko Zhivkov
Area
 • Total69.235 km2 (26.732 sq mi)
Elevation
135 m (443 ft)
Population
 (Census 2021)[1]
 • Total36,455
 • Density530/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
DemonymMontansko
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal Code
3400
Area code096
WebsiteOfficial website
Montana central square
Street in Montana center

Names

When the town was first settled by Slavs it was known as Kutlovitsa; later in Ottoman Turkish as Kutlofça. The town was renamed Ferdinand in 1890, receiving the benevolence of Bulgarian Knyaz Ferdinand and town status. On 1 March 1945, by a decree of the government, the communist authorities changed the town's name to Mihaylovgrad after the Communist Party activist Hristo Mihaylov (died 1944), a leader of the 1923 September Uprising in the region. In 1993, after a presidential decree, the town received the name Montana, inspired by the name of the nearby Roman settlement,[2] setting up a military camp, Castra ad Montanesium, on top of an existing Thracian settlement.[3]

Geography

Montana is situated on the river Ogosta, north of Stara Planina, surrounded on the south and east by uplands.

The climate is temperate continental, with a cold winter and hot summer. The average temperature is 1 °C (34 °F) in January and 25 °C (77 °F) in July. In the last 15–20 years, temperatures reaching up to 35 to 40 °C (95 to 104 °F) in the summer are not uncommon.

Population

As of February 2011, the town had a population of 43,781 inhabitants.[4] The number of the residents of the town reached its peak in the period 1988-1991 when it exceeded 55,000, with the highest measurement in 1991 of 57,142.[5]

According to the latest 2011 census data, the individuals declared their ethnic identity were distributed as follows:[6][7]

  • Bulgarians: 38,278 (91.8%)
  • Roma: 3,055 (7.3%)
  • Turks: 29 (0.1%)
  • Others: 166 (0.4%)
  • Indefinable: 171 (0.4%)
  • Undeclared: 2,082 (4.8%)

Total: 43,781

There is a large concentration of Roma within the town limits as the Roma are 3055 in the town and 3764 in the municipality, while the Bulgarian elements are 38278 in the town and 47464 in the municipality. The following table presents the change of the population after 1887.

Montana
Year 1887 1910 1934 1946 1956 1965 1975 1985 1992 2001 2005 2009 2011 2021
Population  ??  ??  ?? 8,049 13,399 27,040 40,197 51,714 52,397 49,176 46,866 45,350 43,324 36,455
Highest number 57,142 in 1991
Sources: National Statistical Institute,[4][5][8][1] citypopulation.de,[9] pop-stat.mashke.org,[10] Bulgarian Academy of Sciences[11]

Educational facilities
Town Hall

The town hosts about a dozen high schools, two of the most notable are:

  • Math and Science HS "St. Kliment Ohridski". Enhanced studies in math, biology, geography and foreign languages. Excellent development of talents and outstanding student performance. http://www.pmgmontana.com/pmgsite/
  • Foreign Language HS "Petar Bogdan". Emphasis on English and German language proficiency. Recognized and praised for its scholars' academic accomplishments worldwide. http://gpchemont.com/sitegpche/

History

Roman times

The region around Montana became part of the Roman province of Upper Moesia in 29 BC. Around 160 AD, a military camp that was most likely founded on the remains of an older Thracian settlement acquired city rights under the name of Civitas Montanensium. [12] The town developed and urbanized after a Roman model and became the second most important settlement in the province after Raciaria (near modern-day Archar). The fortress of Castra ad Montanesium was built atop the hill overlooking Montana, as well as public and residential buildings, temples, baths and theatres. Montana became a typical imperial settlement, where the local Romanized population coexisted alongside Italic and Anatolian settlers. The base of the town's economy was the big landowners of Italic origin and their villas and mansions, while the locals served to work in agricultural production and gold mining in the Ogosta river valley. A community of Greek settlers engaged in craftsmanship and money-lending lived in the town during the period. The patrons of Montana, in the spirit of Hellenism, were Diana and Apollo.

Middle Ages

Between 440 and 490, the northwest of modern Bulgaria was devastated by the raids of the Huns, under Attila, and later by the Goths. Slavs and Avars delivered the final blow to Greco-Roman culture in the region. The Slavs who settled later in the area called the town Kutlovitsa. During the time of the First and Second Bulgarian Empires, the settlement recovered and became the centre of an eparchy.

Ottoman rule

After Kutlovitsa was seized by the Ottomans, the settlement was destroyed and became deserted. It was renamed "Kutlofça" by the Ottomans, which was derived from Kutlovitsa. Between 1450 and 1688, the town was resettled by Turks because of its strategic location, and went through another period of blossoming as a typically Oriental town. A mosque, fountains, and other new buildings were erected. There was also a Roman Bath left over from the Middle Ages.

Modern history

After the Liberation began a massive wave of migration towards Kutlovitsa and a period of economic blossoming. An electricity station, a railway station, a post office and a hospital were built, a fair and a community centre emerged. The football team, FC Montana, was founded in 1921 and currently plays in the Bulgarian First League.

Notable people
  • Yordanka Blagoeva (born 1947) - World champion and record holder in high jump between September 24, 1972 and August 24, 1974
  • Stiliyan Petrov (born 1979) - Football player in the national team of Bulgaria, Celtic and Aston Villa
  • Stefan Savov (1896–1969) - playwright
  • Nelly Rangelova (born 1958) - Bulgarian pop-singer
  • Dragomir Asenov (1926–1981) - playwright
  • Rosalin Nakov (born 1965) - Composer
  • Elen Koleva (born 1984) - actress
  • Zlatko Zhivkov (born 1959) - Mayor of Montana (1999-2023)

Twin towns – sister cities
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Bulgaria

Montana is twinned with:[13]

Additionally, Montana Bluff on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, is named after the city of Montana.[14]

Montana Stadium

Districts
  • Central
  • Mladost 1 and 2 - large residential district in the northwestern part of the town composed of about 40, built in the 80's, blocks of flats.
  • Pliska
  • Pastrina
  • Mala Kutlovitsa - suburban district composed mainly of residential houses
  • Izgrev
  • Kosharnik - rundown neighbourhood on the outskirts of the town populated mainly with Roma Gypsies.
  • Ogosta
  • Zhivovtsi
  • Industrial Zone
  • Bodur Mahala (unofficial name)
  • Barcelon mahala (unofficial name)
  • Church of Sts Cyril and Methodius
    Church of Sts Cyril and Methodius
  • The interior of Church of Sts Cyril and Methodius
    The interior of Church of Sts Cyril and Methodius
  • Central bus station
    Central bus station
  • Monument to the victims of the wars
    Monument to the victims of the wars
  • The lapidarium
    The lapidarium
  • Montana Courthouse
    Montana Courthouse
  • Montana History Museum
    Montana History Museum
  • Montana Art Gallery
    Montana Art Gallery

References
  1. "Население по градове и пол". Национален статистически институт (in Bulgarian). Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  2. Rough Guide to Bulgaria (2008) ISBN 978-1-85828-068-4 p.182
  3. "Bulgaria's Montana Reenacts Ancient Thracian Food and Wine Rituals at Restored Fortress Montanesium - Archaeology in Bulgaria". The Roman Empire conquered the region of Montana in today’s Northwest Bulgaria around 29 BC (all of Ancient Thrace south of the Danube was conquered by Ancient Rome in 46 AD) setting up a military camp, Castra ad Montanesium, on top of the existing Ancient Thracian settlement. 2015-05-31. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
  4. (in Bulgarian)National Statistical Institute - Main Towns Census 2011 Archived 2012-04-22 at the Wayback Machine
  5. (in Bulgarian)National Statistical Institute - Towns population 1956-1992
  6. (in Bulgarian) Population on 01.02.2011 by provinces, municipalities, settlements and age; National Statistical Institute Archived 2013-09-08 at the Wayback Machine
  7. Population by province, municipality, settlement and ethnic identification, by 01.02.2011; Bulgarian National Statistical Institute Archived 2012-04-22 at the Wayback Machine (in Bulgarian)
  8. (in English) Bulgarian National Statistical Institute - towns in 2009
  9. (in English) „WorldCityPopulation“
  10. „pop-stat.mashke.org“
  11. (in Bulgarian) Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine
  12. The Roman Cult of Mithras: The God and His Mysteries (2001) ISBN 978-0-415-92977-6 p.129
  13. "Побратимени градове". montana.bg (in Bulgarian). Montana. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  14. Montana Bluff. SCAR Composite Antarctic Gazetteer
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