Čaška (Macedonian: Чашка, Albanian: Çashkë) is a municipality in the central part of North Macedonia. Čaška is also the name of the village where the municipal seat is located. This municipality is part of the Vardar Statistical Region.

Čaška Municipality
Општина Чашка
Komuna e Çashkës
Rural municipality
Flag of Čaška Municipality
Official seal of Čaška Municipality
Location of Čaška Municipality
Country North Macedonia
Region Vardar
Municipal seatČaška
Government
 • MayorGoran Stojanovski (SDSM)
Area
 • Total819.45 km2 (316.39 sq mi)
Population
 (2002)
 • Total7,673
 • Density9.4/km2 (24/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
Area code043
Car PlatesVE
Websitewww.caska.gov.mk

Geography edit

 
Bogomila

The Municipality of Čaška is located in the central part of the country. It covers an area of 819.45 km 2 and by the territory is one of the three largest municipalities in Northern Macedonia. It is a rural municipality with a good geographical position. The municipality has a total arable land of 476 km 2 and 48.97 km 2 pastures.

The municipality borders to the north Zelenikovo Municipality and Studeničani Municipality, to the east Veles Municipality and Gradsko Municipality, to the west Makedonski Brod Municipality, to the south-west Dolneni Municipality, to the south Prilep Municipality and to the south-east Kavadarci Municipality and Rosoman. The municipality of Čaška includes 42 settlements. The population density is 10 inhabitants per km 2 .

The municipality has a good geographical position. There are beautiful and attractive areas of the mountains Jakupica, Dautica and Babuna from the west, Klepa from the east, Karadzicica and Golesnica from the north-west. On the western border of the municipality is the highest peak of Jakupica, Solunska Glava (2,540 m). The main rivers are Babuna and Topolka. Along the course of these rivers there is an alluvial field formed as a result of river sediments which is very fertile. The hydropower plant "Lisiće" has been built recently.

The climatic characteristics of the municipality are quite different. The high mountains are covered with snow during all the year, while in the flat part in the summer period there is an unbearably high temperature. The climate is continental. Rainfall is light mainly on autumn and winter days, and summers are hot and dry. Winds come from all directions, but prevail from the north and northwest.

History edit

The Municipality of Čaška was established in 1996. By the 2004 according to the new territorial division of the Republic, the rural Bogomila Municipality and Izvor Municipality as well as the most western part of Veles Municipality were attached to Čaška Municipality.

Demographics edit

According to the 2021 Macedonian census, Čaška Municipality has 7,942 inhabitants.

Ethnic groups in the municipality:

2002 2021
Number % Number %
TOTAL 7,673 100 7,942 100
Albanians 2,703 35.2 4,032 50.7
Macedonians 4,395 57.3 3,071 38.7
Turks 391 5.1 373 4.70
others 184 2.4 164 2.06
Persons for whom data are taken from administrative sources n/a n/a 302 3.80

Religions edit

Religious affiliation according to the 2002 and 2021 Macedonian censuses:

2002 2021
Number % Number %
TOTAL 7,673 100 7,942 100
Islam 3.497 45.58 4.710 59.3
Orthodox 4.145 54.02 909 36.7
Catholics 2 0.03 10
Protestants and other Christians .. .. 1,994
others 29 0.38 17 2.06
Persons for whom data are taken from administrative sources n/a 302 3.80

Demographic trends edit

Live births by ethnic affiliation of mother, 2010-2021

Macedonians Albanians Turks Bosniaks others TOTAL
Year Births % Births % Births % Births % Births % Births
2010 37 23.13 109 68.13 6 3.75 0 0.68 8 5.00 160
2011 26 18.18 111 77.62 3 2.10 0 1.05 3 2.10 143
2012 30 17.65 130 76.47 6 3.53 1 0.92 3 1.76 170
2013 38 23.03 116 70.30 4 2.42 1 0.90 6 3.64 165
2014 26 17.33 116 77.33 4 2.67 1 0.46 3 2.00 150
2015 15 11.11 113 83.70 5 3.70 1 0.88 1 0.74 135
2016 21 12.96 127 78.40 8 4.94 4 1.04 2 1.23 162
2017 21 14.69 103 72.03 12 8.39 1 0.79 6 4.20 143
2018 18 13.33 106 78.52 4 2.96 2 1.05 5 3.70 135
2019 16 10.96 116 79.45 3 2.05 2 0.71 9 6.16 146
2020 15 12.61 98 82.35 3 2.52 0 0.94 3 2.52 119
2021 22 17.46 98 77.78 4 3.17 1 1.42 1 0.79 126
2022 38 26.95 93 65.96 7 4.96 1 0.71 2 1.42 141

Inhabited places edit

There are 33 inhabited places in this municipality.

Inhabited Places Total Macedonians Albanians Turks Roma Vlachs Serbs Bosnians Others
Čaška Municipality 7,942 3,071 4,032 373 - - - - 468
Banjica 119 19 98 - - - - - 2
Bistrica 44 41 - - - - - - 3
Bogomila 359 319 3 - - - - - 33
Busilci 15 - 15 - - - - - -
Crešnevo 1 1 - - - - - - -
Čaška 1,390 1,300 1 - - 1 23 - 63
Elovec 35 22 9 - - - - - 4
Dolno Vranovci 38 27 8 - - - - - 3
Dolno Jabolčište 1,047 - 1,021 - - - - 1 25
Drenovo 24 15 - - - - - - 9
Elovec 35 22 9 - - - - - 4
Gabrovnik 8 8 - - - - - - -
Golozinci 30 28 2 - - - - - -
Gorno Jabolčište 2,444 - 2,401 - - - - - 33
Gorno Vranovci 318 1 304 5 - - - 1 -
Izvor 312 281 2 - - - 1 - 28
Lisiče 128 126 2 - - - - - -
Martolci 122 113 - - - - - - 9
Melnica 775 179 87 368 - - - 15 106
Mokreni 5 5 - - - - - - -
Nežilovo 33 30 - - - - - - 3
Omorani 172 167 - - - - - - 5
Oraov Dol 4 4 - - - - - - -
Oreše 71 50 - - - - - - 21
Otištino 39 - 22 - - - - 17 -
Papradište 14 14 - - - - - - -
Rakovec 36 33 - - - - - - 3
Smilovci 8 8 - - - - - - -
Sogle 116 70 41 - - - - - 5
Stari Grad 83 62 15 - - - - - 6
Teovo 104 97 - - - - - - 7
Vladilovci 47 47 - - - - - - -
Vojnica 11 4 1 - - - - - 6

Economy edit

Livestock breeding and agriculture are the main branches of production. Mountainous areas are ideal for livestock breeding, where there are a large number of registered breeders.

Many residents are engaged in the production of tobacco, as well as the production of barley, corn and rice, which has grown along the Topolka River. The well-known mountain potato is cultivated in the areas of the villages of Gorno Jabolčište, Dolno Jabolčište, Drenovo and Papradište. Gorno Vranovci is known for chestnuts, while trout grow in Goložinca and Nežilovo.

In 2010 in Gorno Jabolčište was held the first event with a competitive character which gathered potato growers.[1]

There has been an increase in tourism in the municipality recently. In 2008, there were 25% more tourists than the year before. Besides domestic tourists, there are now also visitors from Poland, Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Czech Republic and Slovakia.[2]

Settlements and infrastructure edit

The largest settlement in the Municipality of Čaška is Gorno Jabolčište with over 1,700 inhabitants. Recent years have seen more infrastructure commitments and investments. In 2012 the villages Gorno Jabolčište and Dolno Jabolčište were for the first time ever connected to a paved road.[3]

Generally today there is good road connectivity in the municipality. The municipality is connected to City of Veles through a regional road. The Skopje-Bitola train railway also passes through its territory. It is also foreseen the connection to the highway Veles-Prilep-Bitola, which will improve the territorial connection with other parts of the state.

There is no good network of health institutions in the municipality. There are only 6 ambulances in the settlements: Čaška, Melnica, Izvor, Bogomila, Gorno Jabolčište and Dolno Jabolčište, as well as two dental clinics in Čaška and Gorno Jabolčište. There is a specialized clinic for lung diseases in the village of Jasenovo, which the population in the surrounding settlements uses as an ambulance.

The citizens of the Municipality of Čaška are only partially supplied with drinking water through the water supply system built with local self-contribution and voluntary work, own wells and village fountains. Through the water supply network, 22 settlements are supplied with drinking water, while the other 20 settlements are supplied through alternative own sources.

Education edit

There are no high schools in the Municipality of Čaška, with the nearest in the city of Veles. Instruction in Albanian has been conducted since the 2008/2009 school year.[4]

The municipal council voted for the opening of the classroom with teaching in Albanian at Todor Janev Primary School in Čaška. Supporting this decision were 7 out of 11 councilors.[5] A day earlier, a certain group of Macedonian parents protested against the opening of Albanian-language classroom and boycotted of the lesson.[6]

References edit

  1. ^ bf% d0% b8% d1% 80% d0% b8% d1% 98% d0% b0% d0% b4% d0% b0 Kompirijada 2010
  2. ^ "Dnevnik newspaper". Archived from the original on 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
  3. ^ "Pocetok asfaltiranja Jabolciste" – via www.youtube.com.
  4. ^ "Një paralele në gjuhën shqipe në gjimnazin "Koço Racin" në Veles". IDIVIDI.
  5. ^ "Alsat.mk". Alsat.
  6. ^ "Çashkë, maqedonasit kundërshtojnë paralelen shqipe" – via www.youtube.com.

External links edit

41°38′N 21°40′E / 41.64°N 21.67°E / 41.64; 21.67