:Utena

{{About|the city in north-east Lithuania|the manga and anime series|Revolutionary Girl Utena|other uses|Utena (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Utena

| nickname =

| settlement_type = City

| image_skyline = {{multiple image

| border = infobox

| total_width = 250

| image_style = border:1;

| perrow = 1/2/2/1

|image1 = Utena city - Real is beautiful.jpg

|caption1 = Aerial view of Utena

|image2 = Church of the Ascension of Christ in Utena, Lithuania in 2024.jpg

|caption2 = Church of the Ascension of Christ

|image3 = Church of the Providence of God in Utena, Lithuania in 2015.png

|caption3 = Church of the Providence of God

|image4 = Utena, TIC, muziejus.JPG

|caption4 = Museum of Freedom Fights at the former railway station

|image5 = Utena, pašto stotis.JPG

|caption5 = Department of Visual Arts of the Utena Art School

|image6 = Utena, muzikālās strūklakas- Musical fountains in Utena, Lithuania - panoramio.jpg

|caption6 = Musical fountains at Lake Dauniškis and memorial for the Lithuanian partisans in the background at center

}}

| pushpin_map = Lithuania#Baltic states#Europe

| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Utena in Lithuania##Location of Utena within the Baltics##Location of Utena in Europe

| pushpin_relief = 1

| pushpin_label_position =

| image_shield = Coat of arms of Utena (Lithuania).svg

| image_flag = Utenos vėliava.svg

| coordinates = {{coord|55|30|N|25|36|E|region:LT_type:city(32000)|display=inline,title}}|

| leader_title = Mayor

| leader_name = Marijus Kaukėnas

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = {{LTU}}

| subdivision_type1 = Ethnographic region

| subdivision_name1 = Aukštaitija

| subdivision_type2 = County

| subdivision_name2 = 23px Utena County

| subdivision_type3 = Municipality

| subdivision_name3 = Utena district municipality

| subdivision_type4 = Eldership

| subdivision_name4 = Utena town eldership

| subdivision_type6 = Capital of

| subdivision_name6 = Utena district municipality
Utena town eldership
Utena rural eldership

| established_date = 1261

| established_title = First mentioned

| established_date2 = 1599

| established_title2 = Granted city rights

| area_total_km2 = 15.3

| elevation_m = 113

| population_total = 25397

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_density_km2 = auto

| population_metro = 48378

| postal_code_type = Postal code

| postal_code = 28xxx

| area_code = (+370) 389

| population_demonym ={{lang|en|Utenian(s)}} (English)
{{lang|lt|uteniškiai}} (Lithuanian)

| timezone = EET

| utc_offset = +2

| timezone_DST = EEST

| utc_offset_DST = +3

| website = {{URL|https://utena.lt}}

| module = {{Maplink|frame=yes|plain=y|frame-width=270|frame-height=270|zoom=12|frame-lat=55.5|frame-long=25.605|type=shape-inverse|id=Q189157|title=Utena}}

}}

Utena ({{pronunciation|Utena.ogg}}) is a city in north-east Lithuania. It is the administrative center of Utena district and Utena County. Utena is one of the oldest settlements of Lithuania. The name of the city is most probably derived from a hydronym.{{cite web |url=http://www.utena-on.lt/Utenos_enciklopedija/town.htm |title= Utenos Enciklopedija (English summary)|access-date=2008-06-30 |year= 2002 |work= Utenos Enciklopedija |publisher=Utenos A. ir M. Miškinių viešoji biblioteka}} The name of the settlement has been known since 1261.{{cite web | title=Utena | website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija | url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/utena/ | language=lt | access-date=2023-12-23}}{{cite web | title=Utena County - Geography and history| website=circabc.europa.eu | url=https://circabc.europa.eu/webdav/CircaBC/ESTAT/regportraits/Information/lt009_geo.htm | access-date=2023-12-23}}{{cite web | title=Utenos krašto enciklopedija | website=Utenos A ir M. Miškinių viešoji biblioteka | url=https://www.uvb.lt/senasis/Utenos_enciklopedija/town.htm | access-date=2023-12-23}}

Utena is an industrial city. It is known for its clothing, food and beverage factories. In recent years, however, streets, public squares and large areas of the parks in the city were reconstructed and Utena is now more attractive for recreation and tourism.

The anniversary of Utena City had been held each year on the last weekend of September. Since 2013 the anniversary has been held on the first weekend of September to take advantage of better weather conditions.

History

File:1501._Roman_Catholic_churches_within_the_Grand_Duchy_of_Lithuania,_where_the_priests_must_know_the_Lithuanian_language.svg where the priests had to know the Lithuanian language according to the Grand Duke of Lithuania Alexander Jagiellon in 1501]]

File:Utena, Šv. Sergijaus Radonežiečio cerkvė, 1930.jpg

Utena was first mentioned in historical documents dating back to 1261. The settlement was a major center of Nalšia. It was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania until 1795, when it fell under the Russian Empire rule. From 1802 it belonged to the Vilna Governorate until 1843 when it became a part of the Kovno Governorate. The town grew rapidly after the St.Petersburg-Warsaw road was constructed between 1830 and 1835.{{cite web |title=Muziejus Utenos Senajame pašte |url=https://www.utenainfo.lt/lankytinos-vietos/senasis-utenos-pastas/ |website=Utenainfo.lt |access-date=19 November 2024 |language=lt}} In 1835–1836, the Utena Postage Station for horse post with lodging houses and stables was constructed, which was used or passed by the Russian tsars, French writer Honoré de Balzac, Russian painter Ilya Repin, Lithuanian poet Antanas Baranauskas, Lithuanian national movement figure Jonas Basanavičius, etc. In 1899 a narrow gauge railway line, connecting Panevėžys-Utena-Švenčionys, was constructed. At the end of the 19th century two big fires devastated the town.

Germany occupied Utena from 1915 to 1918, until the Soviet Bolsheviks took over. Following the defeat of Soviets, in June 1919, Utena became a district center in independent Lithuania.{{Cite web|url=http://kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/utena/utena1.html|title = Utena (Utyan)}}

Utena, known as the shtetl Utyan in Yiddish, historically had a Jewish population. In 1941, approximately 2,000 Jews were rounded up in the town, which was then under the Nazi occupation, and shot in the Rašė Forest about {{cvt|2|km}} to the north.{{Cite web|url=http://kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/utena/utena3.html|title = During World war II and afterwards}}

Demography

= Population =

According to the 2021 census, the city population was 25,343 people, of which:{{cite web|title=Gyventojų skaičius|trans-title=Population|url=https://osp.stat.gov.lt/lt/statistiniu-rodikliu-analize?hash=eaab70eb-f564-48f7-b34b-ef4be0c62eec#/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703154037/https://osp.stat.gov.lt/lt/statistiniu-rodikliu-analize?hash=eaab70eb-f564-48f7-b34b-ef4be0c62eec#/|archive-date=3 July 2023|url-status=live|access-date=3 July 2023|website=State Data Agency of Lithuania}}

Lithuanians – 95.61% (24,232)
Russians – 2.20% (558)
Poles – 0.63% (160)
Ukrainians – 0.17% (42)
Belarusians – 0.15% (37)
Others / did not specify – 1.26% (320)

{{historical populations| width = 10em| cols = 2

|align=center| percentages = pagr

| 1939 | 6,276

| 1959 | 7,066

| 1979 | 23,461

| 1989 | 34,430

| 1999 | 36,100

| 2005 | 33,086

| 2006 | 32,881

| 2007 | 32,789

| 2008 | 32,572

| 2009 | 32,476

| 2010 | 31,940

|source={{cite web|url= http://panevezystsv.stat.gov.lt/lt/pages/view/?id=2083|title= Gyventojų skaičius Utenos apskrityje ir savivaldybėse 2005 - 2009 metų pradžioje|access-date= 2009-03-29|year= 2009|work= Department of Statistics to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110722151045/http://panevezystsv.stat.gov.lt/lt/pages/view/?id=2083|archive-date= 2011-07-22}}{{cite web|url= http://db1.stat.gov.lt/statbank/selectvarval/saveselections.asp?MainTable=M3010210&PLanguage=0&TableStyle=&Buttons=&PXSId=3239&IQY=&TC=&ST=ST&rvar0=&rvar1=&rvar2=&rvar3=&rvar4=&rvar5=&rvar6=&rvar7=&rvar8=&rvar9=&rvar10=&rvar11=&rvar12=&rvar13=&rvar14=|title= Gyventojų skaičius metų pradžioje. Požymiai: miestas - Rodiklių duomenų bazėje|access-date= 2010-01-01|year= 2009|work= Department of Statistics to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110720132035/http://db1.stat.gov.lt/statbank/selectvarval/saveselections.asp?MainTable=M3010210&PLanguage=0&TableStyle=&Buttons=&PXSId=3239&IQY=&TC=&ST=ST&rvar0=&rvar1=&rvar2=&rvar3=&rvar4=&rvar5=&rvar6=&rvar7=&rvar8=&rvar9=&rvar10=&rvar11=&rvar12=&rvar13=&rvar14=|archive-date= 2011-07-20}}

}}

Geography

Utena is located in northeastern Lithuania. The city covers 15.1 km² and is the eighth-largest city by area in Lithuania. Four rivers cross the city territory: Vyžuona, Krašuona, Vieša and Utenėlė. There are also two lakes in Utena, Dauniškis and Vyžuonaitis.

= Districts =

The city is divided into 10 districts:

Aukštakalnis
Ąžuolija
Centras (Center)
Dauniškis
Pramonės rajonas (Industrial district)
Rašė
Vyturiai
Šilinė
Grybeliai
Krašuona

= Parks and gardens =

City Garden
Vyžuona Park
Dauniškis Park
Krašuona Park
Aukštakalnis Pine Forest
Rašė Park
Utenėlė Park
Vieša Park
Monkey park

=Climate=

Under the Köppen climate classification, Utena has a humid continental climate (Dfb). The lowest temperature ever recorded in Lithuania occurred in Utena: {{cvt|-42.9|C}} on 1 February 1956.{{cite web|title=Meteorologiniai rekordai Lietuvoje|trans-title=Meteorological records in Lithuania|url=http://www.meteo.lt/lt/rekordai|access-date=3 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522035401/http://www.meteo.lt/lt/rekordai|archive-date=22 May 2023|url-status=live|website=Lietuvos hidrometeorologijos tarnyba}}

{{Weather box

|location = Utena (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1925−1990)

|single line = Y

|metric first = Y

|Jan record high C = 7.7

|Feb record high C = 13.3

|Mar record high C = 19.5

|Apr record high C = 26.8

|May record high C = 30.8

|Jun record high C = 31.7

|Jul record high C = 34.4

|Aug record high C = 32.0

|Sep record high C = 28.4

|Oct record high C = 23.4

|Nov record high C = 15.9

|Dec record high C = 10.5

|year record high C =

|Jan high C = -1.1

|Feb high C = -0.2

|Mar high C = 4.7

|Apr high C = 12.8

|May high C = 18.6

|Jun high C = 21.9

|Jul high C = 24.1

|Aug high C = 23.1

|Sep high C = 17.5

|Oct high C = 10.6

|Nov high C = 4.3

|Dec high C = 0.4

|year high C = 11.4

|Jan mean C= -3.5

|Feb mean C= -3.2

|Mar mean C= 0.6

|Apr mean C= 7.1

|May mean C= 12.5

|Jun mean C= 16.0

|Jul mean C= 18.3

|Aug mean C= 17.1

|Sep mean C= 12.2

|Oct mean C= 6.8

|Nov mean C= 2.1

|Dec mean C= -1.6

|year mean C= 7.0

|Jan low C = -6.0

|Feb low C = -6.1

|Mar low C = -3.2

|Apr low C = 1.8

|May low C = 6.4

|Jun low C = 10.1

|Jul low C = 12.6

|Aug low C = 11.7

|Sep low C = 7.8

|Oct low C = 3.6

|Nov low C = 0.0

|Dec low C = -3.8

|year low C = 2.9

|Jan record low C = -38.9

|Feb record low C = -42.9

|Mar record low C = -33.7

|Apr record low C = -17.6

|May record low C = -4.6

|Jun record low C = -1.5

|Jul record low C = 3.7

|Aug record low C = -0.1

|Sep record low C = -5.2

|Oct record low C = -13.2

|Nov record low C = -20.0

|Dec record low C = -31.3

|year record low C =

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 47

|Feb precipitation mm = 41

|Mar precipitation mm = 38

|Apr precipitation mm = 39

|May precipitation mm = 58

|Jun precipitation mm = 74

|Jul precipitation mm = 77

|Aug precipitation mm = 84

|Sep precipitation mm = 58

|Oct precipitation mm = 63

|Nov precipitation mm = 50

|Dec precipitation mm = 49

|year precipitation mm = 678

| Jan humidity = 85

| Feb humidity = 83

| Mar humidity = 77

| Apr humidity = 69

| May humidity = 69

| Jun humidity = 72

| Jul humidity = 74

| Aug humidity = 76

| Sep humidity = 80

| Oct humidity = 83

| Nov humidity = 87

| Dec humidity = 87

| year humidity = 78

|Jan sun= 35.6

|Feb sun= 63.3

|Mar sun= 137.0

|Apr sun= 196.6

|May sun= 265.4

|Jun sun= 269.6

|Jul sun= 270.7

|Aug sun= 243.0

|Sep sun= 162.3

|Oct sun= 92.8

|Nov sun= 30.6

|Dec sun= 24.6

|year sun= 1791.4

|source 1 = Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service{{cite web |title=Klimato duomenys 1991-2020|url=https://www.meteo.lt/klimatas/lietuvos-klimatas/klimato-duomenys/ |website=Lietuvos hidrometeorologijos tarnyba |language=lt}}

|source 2 = NOAA (extremes){{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/RA-VI/LU/26633.TXT

| title = Nida Climate Normals 1961–1990

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = March 27, 2023}}}}

Sport

File:Utena. Utenio stadionas.JPG]]

FK Utenis Utena plays in A Lyga and BC Juventus plays in LKL.

Hometown of Jonas Valančiūnas of the Sacramento Kings.

Aidenas Malašinskas is the best handball player in Lithuania (2019, 2021).

Twin towns – sister cities

Utena is twinned with:{{cite web |title=Tarptautiniai ryšiai|url=https://www.utena.lt/index.php/lt/apie-utenos-rajono-savivaldybe1/tarptautiniai-rysiai|website=utena.lt|publisher=Utena|language=lt|access-date=2021-03-23}}