Kamenica, Kosovo
Kamenica
| |
|---|---|
Town and municipality | |
 Panorama of the town of Kamenica | |
 Flag  Emblem | |
  Kamenica  Kamenica | |
| Coordinates: 42°35′02″N 21°34′30″E / 42.58389°N 21.57500°E | |
| Country | Kosovo |
| District | Gjilan |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Kadri Rahimaj[1] (LVV) |
| Area | |
• Municipality | 424 km2 (164 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 9th in Kosovo |
| Elevation | 470 m (1,540 ft) |
| Population (2024)[2] | |
• Municipality | 22,868 |
| • Density | 53.9/km2 (140/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 5,206 |
| • Ethnicity | |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 62000 |
| Area code | +383 280 |
| Vehicle registration | 06 |
| Website | kk |
Kamenica or Dardana (Albanian indefinite form: Kamenicë or Dardanë), or Kosovska Kamenica (Serbian Cyrillic: Косовска Каменица), is a town and municipality located in the Gjilan District of Kosovo. According to the 2024 census, the municipality of Kamenica has 22,868 inhabitants, while the town has 5,206 inhabitants.[3]
History
The Kamenica area, like the rest of Kosovo, was historically inhabited by the Dardani tribe, an Illyrian people. Archaeological evidence of their presence has been found at the Dardana Fortress site, which was later reconstructed during the late Roman period.[4]
During the Yugoslav era, Kamenica was known for maintaining relatively strong inter-ethnic relations. Today, tensions remain low, largely because the area experienced less violence than many other regions during the Kosovo War.[5]
Geography
The municipality of Kamenica is situated in eastern Kosovo, characterised by hilly and mountainous terrain. It forms part of the geographical and ethnographic region of Gollak and shares borders with Ranillug to the southwest, Novobërda to the west, Pristina to the northwest, and Serbia to the north and east. Gjilan is located 30 km (19 mi) away, while Pristina is around 75 km (47 mi) away from Kamenica.
Demographics
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1948 | 37,677 | — |
| 1953 | 39,977 | +1.19% |
| 1961 | 43,058 | +0.93% |
| 1971 | 46,505 | +0.77% |
| 1981 | 48,320 | +0.38% |
| 1991 | 52,152 | +0.77% |
| 2011 | 36,085 | −1.82% |
| 2024 | 22,868 | −3.45% |
| Source: Division of Kosovo | ||
According to the 2024 census conducted by the Kosovo Agency of Statistics, the municipality of Kamenica has a population of 22,868. The ethnic composition is predominantly Albanian, accounting for 89.9% of residents, followed by Serbs at 8.2%, with other ethnic groups making up the remaining 1.9%.[3]
Politics
Elections for the Mayor and the Municipal Assembly are held every four years. Voters receive two separate ballots: one to select a candidate for Mayor from various political parties, and another to choose a representative for the Municipal Assembly from a specific party or independent list.[citation needed]
Notable people
- Azem Vllasi, politician and lawyer
- Donat Rrudhani, footballer at FC Luzern
- Demir Krasniqi, musician
- Ermir Lenjani, footballer at FC Schaffhausen
- Leotrim Kryeziu, footballer at FC Prishtina
- Musa Hajdari, athlete
- Nuhi Berisha, revolutionary and founder of the People's Movement of Kosovo
- Qëndrim Ismajli, footballer at KF Tirana
- Rexhep Malaj, patriot and a symbol of Albanian national resistance
- Rrahim Beqiri, as known as Komandant Roki, KLA military officer
See also
References
- ^ "Rezultatet e Zgjedhjeve për Kryetar Komune 2025" (PDF) (in Albanian). Central Election Commission. 3 November 2025.
- ^ "Regjistrimi i popullsisë, ekonomive familjare dhe banesave në Kosovë 2024 - Popullsia sipas gjinisë, etnicitetit dhe vendbanimit" [Population, Household Economies, and Housing Census in Kosovo 2024 - Population by Gender, Ethnicity, and Place of Residence] (PDF) (in Albanian). Pristina: Kosovo Agency of Statistics. July 2025. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
- ^ a b "Regjistrimi i popullsisë, ekonomive familjare dhe banesave në Kosovë 2024 - Popullsia sipas gjinisë, etnicitetit dhe vendbanimit" [Population, Household Economies, and Housing Census in Kosovo 2024 - Population by Gender, Ethnicity, and Place of Residence] (PDF) (in Albanian). Pristina: Kosovo Agency of Statistics. July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ "LISTA E TRASHËGIMISË KULTURORE PËR MBROJTJE TË PËRKOHSHME" (PDF) (in Albanian). Ministry of Culture of Kosovo.
- ^ Kosovo's youngest mayor seeks to bridge ethnic divide, Financial Times
External links
| District of Ferizaj |  | |
|---|---|---|
| District of Gjakova | ||
| District of Gjilan | ||
| District of Mitrovica | ||
| District of Peja | ||
| District of Pristina | ||
| District of Prizren | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
