Gorna Banjica (Macedonian: Горна Бањица, Turkish: Yukarı Banisa, Albanian: Banjicë e Epërme) is a village in the municipality of Gostivar, North Macedonia.

Gorna Banjica
Горна Бањица
Banjicë e Epërme
Yukarı Banisa
Village
Gorna Banjica is located in North Macedonia
Gorna Banjica
Gorna Banjica
Location within North Macedonia
Coordinates: 41°47′N 20°54′E / 41.783°N 20.900°E / 41.783; 20.900
Country North Macedonia
Region Polog
Municipality Gostivar
Population
 (2002)
 • Total
4,423
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Car platesGV
Website.

History

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According to the 1467-68 Ottoman defter, the village had 17 houses, with the inhabitants having a mixed Slavic-Albanian anthroponymy - usually a Slavic first name and an Albanian last name or last names with Albanian patronyms and Slavic suffixes, (e.g Nikolla Arbanas (t.Arnaut); Progon, son of Tanush; Jovan, son of Prenk).[1]

A policy of Turkification of the Albanian population was employed by the Yugoslav authorities in cooperation with the Turkish government, stretching the period of 1948-1959. Starting in 1948, Turkish schools were opened in areas with large Albanian majorities, such as Gorna Banjica.[2]

Demographics

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According to the 1942 Albanian census, Gorna Banjica was inhabited by 854 Muslim Albanians, 35 Serbs and 11 Bulgarians.[3]

The Yugoslav census of 1953 recorded 1,072 people of whom 754 were Albanians, 240 Turks, 73 Macedonians and 5 others. The 1961 Yugoslav census recorded 1,108 people of whom 212 were Albanians, 827 Turks, 68 Macedonians and 1 others. The 1971 census recorded 1,267 people of whom 239 were Albanians, 1,003 Turks and 25 Macedonians. The 1981 Yugoslav census recorded 1,611 people of whom 474 were Albanians, 7 Macedonians, 1,118 Turks, 1 Bosniak and 11 others. The Macedonian census of 1994 recorded 1,622 people of whom 422 were Albanians, 1,239 Turks and 1 other.[4]

According to the 2002 census, the village had a total of 4,423 inhabitants.[5] Ethnic groups in the village include:[5]

As of the 2021 census, Gorna Banjica had 3,436 residents with the following ethnic composition:[6]

  • Turks 1,503
  • Macedonians 839
  • Albanians 811
  • Roma 610
  • Persons for whom data are taken from administrative sources 107
  • Others 16

References

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  1. ^ Rexha, Iljaz (2011). "Vendbanimet dhe popullsia albane gjatë mesjetës në hapësirën e Maqedonisë së sotme: Sipas burimeve sllave dhe osmane". Gjurmime Albanologjike: Seria e Shkencave Historike (41–42): 167–218. The names are: Nikolla Arbanas (t.Arnaut); Progon, son of Tanush; Jovan, son of Prenk; Todori, son of Tono; Pron-ko, son of Rale; Marin, son of Stojko; Nik-o Dibrani; Kol-in, son of Bojk-a; Gjon, son of Nikolla; Jovan, son of Nikolla; Vasil, son of Nikolla; Stepan, son of Nikolla; Todori, son of Nikola; Niko, son of Kola; Cvetko, son of Kola; Koljo Domazet; Dimitri, his son.
  2. ^ Lita, Qerim (2009). "SHPËRNGULJA E SHQIPTARËVE NGA MAQEDONIA NË TURQI (1953-1959)". Studime Albanologjike. ITSH: 75–82.
  3. ^ "Ethnic/Religious composition of Dibër and Tetovë prefectures".
  4. ^ Sherafedin Kaso (2005). The settlements with Muslim population in Macedonia. Logos-A. p. 24. ISBN 978-9989-58-155-7.
  5. ^ a b Macedonian Census (2002), Book 5 - Total population according to the Ethnic Affiliation, Mother Tongue and Religion, The State Statistical Office, Skopje, 2002, p. 96.
  6. ^ Total resident population of the Republic of North Macedonia by ethnic affiliation, by settlement, Census 2021
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