Selnica, Međimurje County

Selnica
Municipality
Church of Saint Mark
Selnica
Location of Selnica in Croatia
Coordinates: 46°29′N 16°23′E / 46.483°N 16.383°E / 46.483; 16.383
Country Croatia
CountyMeđimurje
Government
 • Municipal mayorErvin Vičević (HDZ)
Area
 • Municipality
24.9 km2 (9.6 sq mi)
 • Urban
5.5 km2 (2.1 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
 • Municipality
2,636
 • Density106/km2 (274/sq mi)
 • Urban
949
 • Urban density170/km2 (450/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
40313 Sveti Martin na Muri[3]
Websiteselnica.hr

Selnica (Hungarian: Szelence) is a village and municipality in Međimurje County, in northern Croatia.

History

In 1334 Selnica was mentioned as a Catholic parish named Sancti Marci in the Census of parishes of the Zagreb Diocese.[4] A charter issued in 1478 mentions the villages Zenth Mark and Zelnycz.[5] The name of the settlement Selnica was first mentioned in the parish list from 1501, during the reign of the Ernuszt family.[6]

In 1802, Count Juraj Festetić ruled the estates in Selnica, and all the peasants in the village were his serfs. After the annexation of Međimurje by Croatia in 1849, all the serfs were freed.[6]

In the 1850s, oil was discovered in Selnica. Exploitation of the two oil fields began in the late 19th century and lasted until the 1950s.[7]

During World War II, Međimurje, including Selnica, was occupied by Hungary. In late November 1944, the Yugoslav Partisans attacked Hungarian troops which were guarding the oil wells in Selnica. After an hour of fighting, the Hungarians surrendered. 12 Hungarians were killed, 15 wounded, and 56 captured.[6]

The Municipality of Selnica was established in 1992.[8]

Geography

Selnica is located in part of Međimurje called Gornje Međimurje. Village of Selnica, municipality centre, is about 14 kilometres northwest from Čakovec, and some 100 kilometres north of Zagreb. The municipality covers an area of 24.84 km2.[9]

Geomorphologically, the municipality can be divided into two parts. The southern part consists of low hills called Međimurske Gorice, while the northern part consists of alluvial plain of the river Mur.

Demographics

In the 2021 census, the municipality had a population of 2,636 in 10 villages.[2]

Village Population[2]
Bukovec 168
Donji Koncovčak 244
Donji Zebanec 173
Gornji Zebanec 184
Merhatovec 122
Plešivica 83
Praporčan 189
Selnica 949
Zaveščak 212
Zebanec Selo 312
TOTAL 2,636

The majority of inhabitants are Croats making up 98.03% of population.[10]

Selnica: Population trends 1857–2021
v
population
1529
1534
1808
2048
2412
2634
2572
3136
3652
3784
3527
3664
3413
3322
3442
2991
2636
18571869188018901900191019211931194819531961197119811991200120112021
Sources:Croatian Bureau of Statistics publications

Administration

The current mayor of Selnica is Ervin Vičević (HDZ) and the Selnica Municipal Council consists of 13 seats.

Groups Councilors per group
HDZ
7 / 13
NPS-SDP
4 / 13
Independents
2 / 13
Source:[11]

Culture

The privately owned Oldtimer museum Šardi with a collection of historic cars, motorcycles, tractors, and other vehicles is located in Selnica.[12]

There are also several associations operating in Selnica:[13]

  • VFD Selnica
  • Cultural and Artistic Society Selnica
  • Orienteering Club MEĐIMURJE
  • TENNIS CLUB «SELNICA»
  • Sports and Recreation Association «Sport for All», Selnica
  • Sports and Recreation Association «Sport for All», Plešivica
  • Association «Oaza 98»
  • Pensioners' Association, Selnica branch
  • Hunting Association “Srndać”
  • Oldtimer Club
  • FC Zebanec
  • FC Donji Koncovčak
  • FC «Mladost» Selnica
  • Firefighter Sports Association MERHATOVEC
  • Association Pikač
  • Shooting Club Selnica
  • Consumers' Association Međimurje, Trg sv. Marka 2, Selnica
  • Consumer Protection Development Organization – Alliance, Trg sv. Marka 2, Selnica
  • Garage Freaks, Bukovec

References

  1. ^ Register of spatial units of the State Geodetic Administration of the Republic of Croatia. Wikidata Q119585703.
  2. ^ a b c "Population by Age and Sex, by Settlements" (xlsx). Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in 2021. Zagreb: Croatian Bureau of Statistics. 2022.
  3. ^ "Pretraživanje mjesta s pripadajućim poštanskim brojem". Hrvatska pošta (in Croatian). Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  4. ^ Vugrinčić, Benjamin (2015). Župe na području Međimurja u 14. i 15. stoljeću [Parishes in the Međimurje area during 14th and 15th century] (Thesis) (in Croatian). pp. 62–64. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  5. ^ "8143". Hungaricana (in Latin). Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c "Povijest općine Selnica" (in Croatian). Municipality of Selnica. Retrieved 2025-09-15.
  7. ^ Mikolaj, Ksenija (2015). Nafta u Međimurju [Oil in Međimurje] (Thesis) (in Croatian). pp. 15–20. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  8. ^ "2018 – Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Croatia" (PDF). Croatian Bureau of Statistics. December 2018. p. 74. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 21, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  9. ^ "PPUO Selnica – VI. ID" (in Croatian). Zavod za prostorno uređenje Međimurske Županije. April 2020. p. 21. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  10. ^ "Population by Ethnicity/Citizenship/Mother tongue/Religion" (xlsx). Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in 2021. Zagreb: Croatian Bureau of Statistics. 2022.
  11. ^ "XX. MEĐIMURSKA ŽUPANIJA" (PDF). State Election Committee of the Republic of Croatia. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  12. ^ Keglević, Tomislav (July 26, 2020). "Obišli smo sve muzeje automobila u Hrvatskoj". Auto Press. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  13. ^ "Društva i udruge na području općine Selnica" (in Croatian). Municipality of Selnica. Retrieved 2025-09-15.

46°29′45.96″N 16°24′12.96″E / 46.4961000°N 16.4036000°E / 46.4961000; 16.4036000