Smižany

Smižany
Smižany
Smižany
Location of Smižany in the Košice Region
Smižany
Location of Smižany in Slovakia
Coordinates: 48°58′N 20°32′E / 48.96°N 20.53°E / 48.96; 20.53
Country Slovakia
Region Košice Region
DistrictSpišská Nová Ves District
First mentioned1246
Area
 • Total
45.70 km2 (17.64 sq mi)
Elevation479 m (1,572 ft)
Population
 (2024)[2]
 • Total
8,825
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
531 1[3]
Area code+421 53[3]
Vehicle registration plate (until 2022)SN
Websitewww.smizany.sk

Smižany (Hungarian: Szepessümeg, German: Schmögen) is a large village and municipality in the Spišská Nová Ves District in the Košice Region of central-eastern Slovakia.

With a population of over 8,500 people as of 2021, Smižany is the second largest village in Slovakia (a village being defined as a municipality that does not have town status). Smižany is situated directly adjacent to the town of Spišská Nová Ves and the two municipalities form a contiguous urban area, one of the main population centers in Eastern Slovakia.

History

Excavations in Čingov, just south of the village, have found traces of Stone Age settlement. The village was settled by German settlers in 1242. There is a Romanesque church of the 13th century.

Geography

The municipality lies at an altitude of 479 metres (1,572 ft)[3] and covers an area of 45.70 km2 (17.64 sq mi) (2024).[4]

Population

Population statistic (10 years)[5]
Year1994200420142024
Count6592826986238825
Difference +25.43% +4.28% +2.34%
Population statistic[5]
Year20232024
Count88288825
Difference−0.03%

It has a population of 8825 people (31 December 2024).[6]

Ethnicity

Census 2021 (1+ %)[7][8]
EthnicityNumberFraction
Slovak788489.2%
Not found out8109.16%
Romani4425%
Total8838

In year 2021 was 8838 people by ethnicity 7884 as Slovak, 810 as Not found out, 442 as Romani, 50 as Rusyn, 31 as Czech, 26 as Other, 13 as Polish, 9 as German, 8 as Ukrainian, 8 as Russian, 8 as Hungarian, 3 as Chinese, 3 as English, 2 as Irish, 2 as Vietnamese, 2 as Austrian, 1 as Jewish, 1 as Italian and 1 as Bulgarian.

The municipality has a significant Roma community. In 2019, they constituted an estimated 32% of the local population, or 2898 people, concentrated in the settlement outside of the municipal core.[9]

Religion

Census 2021 (1+ %)[10]
ReligionNumberFraction
Roman Catholic Church609368.94%
None127914.47%
Not found out7648.64%
Evangelical Church2873.25%
Greek Catholic Church1902.15%
Total8838

In year 2021 was 8838 people by religion 6093 from Roman Catholic Church, 1279 from None, 764 from Not found out, 287 from Evangelical Church, 190 from Greek Catholic Church, 79 from Christian Congregations in Slovakia, 26 from Ad hoc movements, 24 from Other and not ascertained christian church, 18 from Eastern Orthodox Church, 14 from Other, 12 from Calvinist Church, 12 from Church of the Brethren, 11 from Jehovah's Witnesses, 9 from Buddhism, 9 from Apostolic Church, 4 from Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3 from Paganism and natural spirituality, 2 from Old Catholic Church, 1 from Islam and 1 from United Methodist Church.

Cultural attractions

  • Čingov castle, an archaeological site that encompasses a set of Slavic forts from the 9th century. Monuments found in the castle confirm the settlement was founded during the Stone Age. The name The castle was composed of an acropolis on the cliff and a smaller fort on the western and northeastern parts. During the examination of the main area under the castle, the northern rampart and 90 m of the western rampart were almost completely exposed. Archaeological excavations continue to be performed at this location.[11]

Twin towns — sister cities

Smižany is twinned with:[12]

References

  1. ^ "Hustota obyvateľstva - obce [om7014rr_obc=AREAS_SK, v_om7014rr_ukaz=Rozloha (Štvorcový meter)]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2025-03-31. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  2. ^ "Počet obyvateľov podľa pohlavia - obce (ročne) [om7101rr_obce=AREAS_SK]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2025-03-31. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  3. ^ a b c d "Základná charakteristika". www.statistics.sk (in Slovak). Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2015-04-17. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  4. ^ "Hustota obyvateľstva - obce [om7014rr_obc=AREAS_SK, v_om7014rr_ukaz=Rozloha (Štvorcový meter)]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2025-03-31. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  5. ^ a b "Počet obyvateľov podľa pohlavia - obce (ročne) [om7101rr_obce=AREAS_SK]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2025-03-31. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  6. ^ "Počet obyvateľov podľa pohlavia - obce (ročne) [om7101rr_obce=AREAS_SK]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2025-03-31. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  7. ^ "Population - Basic results". www.scitanie.sk. Statistical Office of the Slovak republic. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  8. ^ "Population - Basic results". www.scitanie.sk. Statistical Office of the Slovak republic. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  9. ^ Ábel Ravasz, Ľuboš Kovács and Filip Markovič, Atlas rómskych komunít 2019. Bratislava: Veda, 2020, ISBN 978-80-224-1874-4, database appendix available at:https://www.institutmatejabela.sk/ark2019
  10. ^ "Population - Basic results". www.scitanie.sk. Statistical Office of the Slovak republic. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  11. ^ "SLOVENSKÝ RAJ - internetový portál o Slovenskom raji". 2020-08-12. Archived from the original on 2020-08-12. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
  12. ^ "Základné údaje". smizany.sk (in Slovak). Obec Smižany. Retrieved 2019-09-05.