Karcag
| Karcag | |||||
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| Basic data | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State : | Hungary | ||||
| Region : | Northern Great Plain | ||||
| County : | Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok | ||||
| Small area until December 31, 2012 : | Karcag | ||||
| Coordinates : | 47 ° 19 ' N , 20 ° 55' E | ||||
| Area : | 368.63 km² | ||||
| Residents : | 20,298 (Jan. 1, 2011) | ||||
| Population density : | 55 inhabitants per km² | ||||
| Telephone code : | (+36) 59 | ||||
| Postal code : | 5300, 5301 | ||||
| KSH kódja: | 04923 | ||||
| Structure and administration (as of 2016) | |||||
| Community type : | city | ||||
| Mayor : | László Dobos (Fidesz-KDNP) | ||||
| Postal address : | Kossuth tér 1 5301 Karcag |
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| Website : | |||||
| (Source: A Magyar Köztársaság helységnévkönyve 2011. január 1st at Központi statisztikai hivatal ) | |||||
Karcag ( ˈkɒrʦɒɡ ; German Engelhausen ) is a Hungarian city in the district of the same name in Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok county .
It is best known for its traditional culture in relation to its past and the Greater Cumania region as its capital. A special feature is the influence of the Kyptschaks , which has been preserved to this day , and who lived together with the Hungarians in this region at the time of the Mongol invasion. The city is very popular with tourists due to the diverse cultural offerings.
location
Karcag lies in the area of the Great Hungarian Plain , about 60 kilometers to the west from Debrecen . It is located on the southern edge of the Hortobágy National Park . Some areas of the city are within this nature reserve .
The city is also the center of the historical region of Greater Cumania (Nagykunság) . This name comes from the term "Kumanen", an alternative name for the Kyptschaks. The importance of belonging to this area is reflected, among other things, in the local cultural offerings.
The 4th trunk road and the 100th railway line run through Karcag.
The Hortobágy-Berettyó flows along the municipal boundary to Püspökladány .
population
By 1960 the population rose to around 26,000. Since then, this value has stagnated and fallen. In 2014 the population was 20,380. Due to the ongoing decline, the current population is even smaller. The reasons for this are falling birth rates and emigration. The outer residential areas are particularly affected. While 6,805 people lived on the outskirts in 1949, there were only 1,260 in 1980.
| year | Residents | year | Residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1869 | 14,486 | 1941 | 25,551 |
| 1880 | 15,825 | 1960 | 26,035 |
| 1890 | 18,197 | 1970 | 24,638 |
| 1900 | 20,896 | 1980 | 25,230 |
| 1910 | 22,996 | 1996 | 22,579 |
| 1920 | 22,569 | 2008 | 21,128 |
| 1930 | 24,248 | 2011 | 20,298 |
The majority of Karcag are Protestant , especially Calvinist and Baptist faith. Next to it is the Catholic Church as the second most important community.
Furthermore, there are Greek Orthodox and Jewish minorities in the city , which have their origins in settled Greek merchants.
Origin of name
The origin of the word "Karcag" is not exactly clear. However, a Cypchak origin is considered likely . According to this, the name comes from a Cypriot personal name, which in turn can be traced back to the name of the Asian fox genus "Qarsaq". This assumption is supported by the earlier city name "Karcagújszállás", which has been documented since 1506, which means something like "New hostel of Qarsaq". In fact, traces of a previous settlement from the 4th century AD were found.
Karcag got its current name in the 19th century.
history
The first traces of Neolithic cultures in today's urban area consist mainly of ceramics . They were established for a period around 4000 BC. Dated. Later finds from the Copper and Bronze Ages date from the following millennium. In the 2nd to 4th centuries AD the Sarmatians , a union of Iranian equestrian peoples, lived in the region.
The Hungarians settled the country in the 10th century. First as invaders, they were followed in the 13th century by the Kyptschaks, who lived in constant battle with the Hungarians for the area. These disputes were soon settled in the course of the Mongol storm, in which both peoples defended themselves against the Mongols . However, the invaders were victorious, so that the country was devastated and largely depopulated . Together the Hungarians carried out the reconstruction of the region with the Cyclists as subjects. The latter enjoyed relative independence, but were obliged to serve in the military towards the king . They were ultimately converted to Christianity and assimilated . Speakers of the Cypchak language were known until the 17th century. Some of the geographical names, loanwords and cultural heritage have been preserved for today's residents, and these are still being intensively cultivated.
During the Turkish Wars , Karcag had a favorable defensive position due to the surrounding moorland . Therefore, the surrounding villages were first destroyed. Only after the conquest of Szolnok in 1552 could the city be taken. As in the other occupied territories of Hungary, many residents fled, some of whom returned after the liberation. Then the rule of the Habsburgs began . They sold large cumania to the Teutonic Order against the will of the local population in 1702 . This successfully defended itself against the occupation, so that the order withdrew after three years. The region was re-incorporated into the Habsburg Empire with concessions of privileges . In return, soldiers from Karcag had to fight for Maria Theresa in the War of the Austrian Succession from 1740 to 1748 .
The following decades were marked by strong growth. The place, located on one of the most important trade routes in Hungary, experienced a massive economic boom and advanced to become the center for trade, culture and economy of Great Cumania. This made Karcag its administrative center. In the first half of the 18th century, agriculture was clearly the dominant economic factor. After that, manual trades gained in importance and the first guilds emerged. Around 1770 the Catholics tried to gain a foothold in the area on the instructions of Maria Theresa. Although they were able to establish themselves, they never succeeded in significantly weakening the Protestant majority.
In 1849 Karcag was involved in the fight against Austrian rule that had begun the year before . The city's soldiers support the defense of Debrecen , the capital of the Hungarian Republic proclaimed in the wake of the revolution. Karcag was one of the longest resisting places, but ultimately had to surrender as well.
In 1857 Karcag was connected to the national railway network. A government reform took place in 1872 (see section: Politics ). Church affairs were now directed by three Protestant and two Catholic pastors. A magistrate supported this work. Orthodox and Jews established themselves as other religious communities. Since Karcag was visited by traders from many regions as a trading center, Greek merchants have settled in the village and established their religious communities.
Due to the increasing number of inhabitants (approx. 25,000 by 1935) an agricultural reform was initiated. Most of the pastureland went to agriculture. At the same time Karcag was industrialized. The food and clothing industries in particular were built up. However, there was also a gap between the poor (peasants, workers) and the rich (factory owners). In 1909 the city's first power station was inaugurated.
The First World War claimed 555 lives in Karcag. Estimates of the losses in World War II are several hundred. In addition, 117 residential houses, the city archive and a museum with numerous Cypriot exhibits were destroyed. The Red Army took the place on October 9, 1944. The big landowners were expropriated and their land was divided among the small farmers . The new government ruthlessly pushed industrialization. In 1948 the clothing industry began to develop with eleven factories. In 1960 the measures were intensified, so that from 1970 onwards, many small farmers and their individual farms were displaced by large farms. Families who did not want to give up their usual way of life had to move away. As a result, the traditional farms fell into disrepair and were demolished. Apartment houses were increasingly built to counter the overpopulation in the city center. Single-family houses, in which two generations of a family usually live, are still more popular today.
politics
The initial city council of Karcag was also the headquarters of Greater Cuba. The administration of justice and the representation of the people were taken over by a magistrate. It consisted of two chairmen and 13 lay judges . Elections were held annually, but power and wealth were decisive for the election results. As a result, the most important positions often remained with the same influential families.
In 1872 there was a government reform. At the top there was only a single mayor , who presided over a city council. This body of 80 councilors was made up half of peasants and workers and the other half of the city's 40 largest taxpayers. Furthermore, the mayor received support from important officials, such as the police chief and the tax administrator, and four general advisory boards .
Karcag City Council now has 17 members. Since Greater Cumania is no longer an independent administrative unit, it no longer exercises political leadership over this region. Instead, the small area of Karcag was formed with the capital of the same name.
There is a Kazakh consulate in Karcag .
A project for intensive cooperation with neighboring towns has been running since May 2005. Its contents include cooperation in infrastructure, education and business.
Town twinning
-
Schwarzheide , Germany (2002) -
Cristuru Secuiesc , Romania (1990) -
Moravica , Serbia (1994) -
Merke-Jambul , Kazakhstan (1998) -
Moldava nad Bodvou , Slovakia (1998) -
Krosno , Poland (2004) -
Longueau , France (2004)
Economy and Infrastructure
The historical importance of agriculture has declined massively over time. While in 1949 only 6,906 inhabitants worked for them, the number even fell to 2808 by 1980. The reason for this is the industrialization, which was increasingly introduced in the course of the communist regime. The once important clothing industry has largely lost its importance. Instead, the food and ceramics industries, a glassworks and a natural gas production facility are primarily active.
According to the last data collection from 1996, there are 1,205 companies in the city:
| Art | number | Percentage ownership % |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial and industrial companies | 392 | 32.5 |
| Industry | 286 | 23.7 |
| Post and transportation | 88 | 7.3 |
| Agriculture | 84 | 7.0 |
| tourism | 74 | 6.1 |
| Others | 281 | 23.4 |
Public facilities
The city administration meets in the town hall, which was completed in 1912 . Other public administrative tasks are performed by the employment office and the surveying office.
The judicial authority responsible for this region is located in Karcag .
A retirement home, kindergartens and the Kátai Gabór hospital, built in 1946, perform social and medical tasks. It can accommodate 450 patients.
Various banks have one or more branches in the city, including the Austrian Erste Bank AG .
tourism
Karcag is a popular vacation spot. In order to be able to coordinate tourism efficiently, a tourism office was set up.
Tourism is an important branch of the economy for the place. The hostels and hotels in particular benefit from this. In 1994 there were 94 restaurants in Karcag. There is also a bathing beach and a thermal spring , the water of which is used to operate a medicinal bath .
The main attraction are the sights of the city ( see below ), which decorate the entire area of Karcag extensively.
education
Basic education is provided by various elementary and middle schools. The Gábor-Áron-Gymnasium was established in 1894 for a further degree. There is also a music school .
Despite the declining importance of agriculture in Karcag, the Sámuel Szentannai Agricultural College is still an important research center for agricultural sciences . The University of Debrecen has its agricultural science center here.
The city library is responsible for extracurricular education . It promotes cultural activities for young people and organizes, for example, art competitions.
media
Karcag owns a television station, Karcag Televízió , which broadcasts its programs from 6 pm to 9 pm on the week and from 9 am on the weekend. The main content is current local topics, such as discussions with the mayor and other important people, and cultural topics. The station can also be received on the Internet via live stream.
The weekly newspaper Karcagi Hírmondó also contains local and cultural content.
Public transport
The Hungarian state railway MÁV also runs through Karcag on the Budapest - Nyíregyháza line .
Due to the poorly developed rail network in Hungary, the Volán company offers possibilities for passenger transport by bus.
Culture and sights
As a center for trade and culture, Karcag has long had a diverse society. This will be highlighted during the Hungarian independence celebrations on August 20th. Not least because of the diverse cultural offerings, the city has already received several awards.
Buildings and monuments
There are ornamental monuments all over Karcag. One of the most famous is the Kuman memorial, which was erected in 1995 by Sándor Györfi, a nationally important artist. In the form of a group of statues, it is reminiscent of the Kyptschak people who once lived here.
Since Lajos Kossuth is considered a national hero for his services to the independence of Hungary, a bronze statue was made in his honor in 1907.
There is a memorial for those who died in both world wars.
Due to the high number of religious communities, there are many churches in the city. The Protestant church, built in the classical style, was followed by a neo-Gothic Catholic church in 1901 .
Greek traders built both an Orthodox church and icon statues in 1796 . There is also a synagogue built in 1899 .
The István Györffy Museum is the successor to the museum that was destroyed in World War II. Most of the exhibits at that time were destroyed. To this day, attempts are being made to build up a new collection with Cypchak art and local, traditional and contemporary exhibits. In addition, there is the Greater Cumania Local History Museum with the same aim.
Karcag pottery is famous throughout the country for its traditional style pottery with Cypchak influences. In particular, the pottery house of Sándor Kántor, a regional artist, is of great importance for Greater Cumanian art.
The city has preserved a number of buildings from the past centuries, including apartment buildings, a pharmacy and a 19th century windmill . The listed buildings are now museums, where objects and tools typical for the respective buildings are exhibited.
The flora of Great Cumania is summarized in the arboretum .
The Zádor Bridge has stood since 1802 and has led over the river of the same name, which has now dried up.
As a cultural center of the city for residents and tourists that counts community center . It contains, among other things, a cinema and room for dance and theater performances by local clubs.
In addition, a palace of culture was built in 1926 . It houses a culture and youth center and the tourist office.
societies
The municipal associations are mainly concerned with culture. The main focus is on the folk dance groups that maintain the region's cultural heritage. Accordingly, festivals and events take place comparatively often in Karcag, such as the commemorative festival of the Kyptschaks or a festival in honor of the Hungarian hussars who fought in the American Civil War. For some events, dancers and delegations from the partner cities are brought in.
A symphony and string orchestra , as well as smaller music groups and bands, provide musical entertainment .
Karcag has a vigilante group . She mainly performs ceremonial tasks, but also assists the police in maintaining public order.
Personalities
- Sándor Fazekas (* 1963), politician
- Sándor Györfi , sculptor
- Avram Hershko (* 1937), chemist
- Sándor Kántor , artist, winner of the Kossuth Prize
- Wilhelm Karczag (1857–1923), writer
- Gyula Németh (1890–1976), linguist and Turkologist
- Anita Pádár (* 1979), soccer player
- Zita Szabó (* 1975), triathlete
- Mihály Varga (* 1965), politician
Web links
- Official website of the city of Karcag ( Hungarian )
- Karcag in A Pallas nagy lexikona (Hungarian)
- Website of the community center (Hungarian)
- Local TV station "Karcag Televízió" (Hungarian)
- The city library (Hungarian)
- The twin town of Schwarzheide via Karcag
Individual evidence
- ↑ http://www.vcsk.hu/ See chapter on town history (Hungarian)
- ↑ Archived copy ( memento of the original from February 15, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Program for cooperation with neighboring towns (Hungarian)
- ↑ Archived copy ( memento of the original dated August 31, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Overview of the city's awards (Hungarian)
- ↑ http://www.karcag.hu/mss01/alpha?do=2&st=1&pg=3&m7_doc=90&m4_act=136 ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. The vigilante group on the official site of the city (Hungarian)
