Rapla County (Estonian: Rapla maakond or Raplamaa) is one of the fifteen counties of Estonia. It is situated in the north-western part of the country and borders Järva County to the east, Pärnu County to the south, Lääne County to the west, and Harju County to the north. In 2022 Rapla County had a population of 33,529 – constituting 2.5% of the total population of Estonia.[1]
Rapla County
Raplamaa | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 59°15′N 26°20′E / 59.250°N 26.333°E | |
Country | Estonia |
Capital | Rapla |
Government | |
• Governor | Tiit Leier |
Area | |
• Total | 2,979.7 km2 (1,150.5 sq mi) |
Population (2022)[1] | |
• Total | 33,529 |
• Rank | 7th |
• Density | 11/km2 (29/sq mi) |
Ethnicity | |
• Estonians | 94% |
• other | 6% |
GDP | |
• Total | €540 million (2022) |
• Per capita | €15,985 (2022) |
ISO 3166 code | EE-71 |
Vehicle registration | L |
Website | www |
History
editThe first written records of Rapla date back to the 1241 Danish census (Liber Census Daniae).
County government
editThe County Government (Estonian: Maavalitsus) is led by a governor (Estonian: maavanem), who is appointed by the Government of Estonia for a term of five years. Since 2015, the Governor position is held by Tõnis Blank.
Municipalities
editThe county is subdivided into municipalities. There are 4 rural municipalities (Estonian: vallad – parishes) in Rapla County:
Rank | Municipality | Type | Population (2018)[3] |
Area km2[3] |
Density[3] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kehtna Parish | Rural | 5,605 | 512 | 10.9 |
2 | Kohila Parish | Rural | 7,096 | 230 | 30.9 |
3 | Märjamaa Parish | Rural | 7,739 | 1,174 | 6.6 |
4 | Rapla Parish | Rural | 13,334 | 849 | 15.7 |
Religion
editReligion | 2000 | 2011 | 2021 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
Christianity | 7,747 | 26.1 | 5,144 | 17.6 | 4,370 | 15.7 |
—Orthodox Christians | 775 | 2.6 | 912 | 3.1 | 740 | 2.7 |
—Lutherans | 6,439 | 21.7 | 3,761 | 12.8 | 2,980 | 10.7 |
—Catholics | 68 | 0.2 | 50 | 0.1 | 240 | 0.8 |
—Baptists | 232 | 0.7 | 155 | 0.5 | 140 | 0.5 |
—Jehovah's Witnesses | 58 | 0.1 | 72 | 0.2 | 80 | 0.2 |
—Pentecostals | 95 | 0.2 | 37 | 0.1 | 30 | 0.1 |
—Old Believers | 4 | 0.01 | 7 | 0.01 | - | - |
—Methodists | 36 | 0.1 | 13 | 0.02 | - | - |
—Adventists | 40 | 0.1 | 29 | 0.1 | - | - |
—Other Christians | - | 108 | 0.3 | 160 | 0.55 | |
Islam | 9 | 0.02 | 11 | 0.02 | - | - |
Buddhism | - | - | 15 | 0.02 | 60 | 0.2 |
Other religions** | 177 | 0.6 | 232 | 0.8 | 340 | 1.2 |
No religion | 11,739 | 39.6 | 19,695 | 67.5 | 19,660 | 70.6 |
Not stated*** | 9,860 | 33.2 | 4,091 | 14.0 | 3,330 | 11.9 |
Total population* | 29,632 | 29,187 | 27,820 | |||
*The censuses of Estonia count the religious affiliations of the population older than 15 years of age.[4] ".[4] |
Geography
editNatural resources found in Rapla county include limestone, dolomite, peat, and clay.
Miscellaneous topics
editThe church of Rapla was built in 1901. However, much of the interior dates back to several hundred years earlier and is of high structural quality and historical value. In the churchyard there are several crosses remaining from the 17th century.
Gallery
editThis section contains an unencyclopedic or excessive gallery of images. |
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Porkuni Castle gate tower
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Palmse manor
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Rakvere Castle
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Mõdriku manor
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Malla manor
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Vihula windmill
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Laekvere pine
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Lake Neeruti Tagajärv
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View from tower on the hill of Emumägi
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Toolse Castle
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Vainupea Chapel
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Vihula Manor
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Altja river
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Sagadi manor
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Viru bog in Lahemaa National Park
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Mähu boulders in Lahemaa National Park
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Rapeseed field near Laekvere
References
edit- ^ a b "RV022U: POPULATION, 1 JANUARY by Year and County". stat.ee. Statistics Estonia. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-05.
- ^ "GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT BY COUNTY". stat.ee.
- ^ a b c "Elanike demograafiline jaotus maakonniti". Kohaliku omavalitsuse portaal. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
- ^ a b c Official census data from Statistics Estonia:
- 2000 Census:
- 2011 Census:
- 2021 Census:
External links
edit- Lääne-Viru County Government – official website (archived)
- Lääne-Virumaa County Infoserver – map and tourism info