Žepče (Serbian Cyrillic: Жепче) is a town and municipality located in Zenica-Doboj Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is situated in central Bosnia and Herzegovina, between Doboj and Zenica. As of 2013, it has a population of 30,219 inhabitants.

Žepče
Жепче
Ferhat-pasha Mosque
Ferhat-pasha Mosque
Flag of Žepče
Coat of arms of Žepče
Location of Žepče within Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Location of Žepče within Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Žepče is located in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Žepče
Žepče
Coordinates: 44°26′N 18°02′E / 44.433°N 18.033°E / 44.433; 18.033
Country Bosnia and Herzegovina
EntityFederation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Canton Zenica-Doboj
Government
 • Municipal mayorMato Zovko (HDZ BiH)
Area
 • Total282 km2 (109 sq mi)
Population
 (2013 census)
 • Total31,582
 • Density112/km2 (290/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Area code+387 32
Websitewww.opcina-zepce.com

The river Bosna flows through this city. Near within the town, there are 14 mineral water springs. Žepče is within the vicinity of the Lasva valley and thus is surrounded by mountains.

History edit

The town was first mentioned in 1458 in a charter issued by the Bosnian king Stjepan Tomašević, "... Pissanna Žepču va ljetu 1458. oktombrija 14. dan." (Written in Žepče in the year 1458. 14.day of October)

The city would see combat during the Bosnian War, as HVO forces would launch an operation against ARBiH over complete control of the city on the 24th of June, 1993. After the Dayton Agreement in 1995, the city would end up becoming a part of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as part of the Zenica-Doboj Canton.

Demographics edit

In 2001 the following Croat villages from the municipalities of Maglaj and Zavidovići merged with the municipality of Žepče to form one entity with Croat majority: Adže, Pire, Ponijevo, Matina, Ljubatovići, Grabovica, Čusto Brdo, Komšići, Radunice, Globarica, Brankovići, Donji Lug, Gornji Lug, Vrbica, Debelo Brdo, Osova, Vinište and Gornja Lovnica.

Population edit

Population of settlements – Žepče municipality
Settlement 1961. 1971. 1981. 1991. 2013.
Total 13,924 16,906 19,754 22,966 31,582
1 Adže 414 358
2 Begov Han 1,041 1,299
3 Bistrica 1,192 978
4 Brankovići 547 499
5 Čusto Brdo 322 296
6 Donji Lug 504 528
7 Globarica 823 637
8 Goliješnica 798 925
9 Golubinja 398 363
10 Gornja Golubinja 483 399
11 Gornja Lovnica 721 473
12 Gornji Lug 509 613
13 Grabovica 411 396
14 Ljubatovići 564 502
15 Ljubna 176 246
16 Lupoglav 869 844
17 Matina 501 497
18 Mračaj 687 562
19 Orahovica 1,295 929
20 Osova 561 441
21 Ozimica 1,546 1,431
23 Papratnica 1,130 1,192
24 Pire 384 338
25 Ponijevo 775 864
26 Radunice 601 312
27 Ravne Donje 141 230
28 Tatarbudžak 571 588
29 Vašarište 327 566
30 Vinište 1,061 845
31 Vitlaci 339 256
32 Vrbica 600 400
33 Želeće 410 204
34 Željezno Polje 4,384 4,791
35 Žepče 2,709 3,209 4,257 5,571 5,460

Ethnic composition edit

Ethnic composition – Žepče town
2013. 1991. 1981. 1971. 1961.
Total 5,460 (100,0%) 5,571 (100,0%) 4,257 (100,0%) 3,209 (100,0%) 2,709 (100,0%)
Bosniaks 2,696 (49,38%) 3,367 (60,44%) 2,337 (54,90%) 2,242 (69,87%) 1,312 (48.43%)
Croats 2,591 (47,45%) 1,450 (26,03%) 935 (21,96%) 637 (19,85%) 461 (17.02%)
Serbs 82 (1,502%) 270 (4,847%) 252 (5,920%) 227 (7,074%) 349 (12.88%)
Others 82 (1,502%) 103 (1,849%) 71 (1,668%) 31 (0,966%) 32 (1.18%)
Albanians 5 (0,092%) 7 (0,164%) 6 (0,187%)
Montenegrins 4 (0,073%) 11 (0,258%) 22 (0,686%)
Yugoslavs 381 (6,839%) 640 (15,03%) 33 (1,028%) 555 (20.49%)
Macedonians 2 (0,047%) 4 (0,125%)
Slovenes 2 (0,047%) 7 (0,218%)
Ethnic composition – Žepče municipality
2013. 1991. 1981. 1971. 1961.
Total 31,582 (100,0%) 22,966 (100,0%) 19,754 (100,0%) 16,906 (100,0%) 13,924 (100,0%)
Croats 17,801 (58,91%) 9,100 (39,62%) 7,813 (39,55%) 7,174 (42,43%) 5,978 (42.93%)
Bosniaks 11,727 (38,81%) 10,820 (47,11%) 8,769 (44,39%) 7,531 (44,55%) 5,038 (36.18%)
Serbs 501 (1,658%) 2,278 (9,919%) 2,004 (10,14%) 2,028 (12,00%) 2,033 (14.60%)
Others 190 (0,629%) 222 (0,967%) 187 (0,947%) 68 (0,402%) 54 (0.39%)
Yugoslavs 546 (2,377%) 933 (4,723%) 56 (0,331%) 821 (5.90%)
Montenegrins 25 (0,127%) 32 (0,189%)
Albanians 14 (0,071%) 6 (0,035%)
Macedonians 7 (0,035%) 4 (0,024%)
Slovenes 2 (0,010%) 7 (0,041%)

Town edit

Sport edit

The town is home to local football club NK Žepče.

Notable people edit

Gallery edit

References edit

External links edit