Bijelo Polje
{{about|the town in Montenegro|the village in Zeta Municipality|Bijelo Polje, Zeta|the Bosnian village|Bijelo Polje, Kakanj}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name =
| settlement_type = Town and municipality
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = Montenegro
| subdivision_type1 = Region
| subdivision_name1 = Northern
|subdivision_type2 = Municipality
|subdivision_name2 = Bijelo Polje
| image_flag = Flag of Bijelo Polje.png
| image_shield = BijeloPoljeWeapon.png
| timezone1 = CET
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = CEST
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| image_skyline = {{multiple image
| border = infobox
| perrow = 1/2/2/2/2
| total_width = 250
| image1 = Panorama Bijelog Polja.jpg
| image2 = Свјетлопис срб. пр. цр. Никољац у Бијелом Пољу.jpg
| image3 = Bijelo Polje (1).jpg
| footer = From the top: Bijelo Polje at Night, Church of St. Nicholas, Town Centre}}
| image_size =
| image_caption =
| population_as_of = 2011 census
| name = Bijelo Polje
| native_name = Бијело Поље
| government_type = Mayor-Assembly
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Petar Smolović (DPS)
| area_total_km2 = 924
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 578
| elevation_ft = 1896
| population_footnotes =
| population_rank = 6th in Montenegro
| population_blank1_title = Municipality
| population_blank1 = 46,051
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_urban = 12,900
| population_rural = 30,651
| population_demonym = Belopoljese
Bjelopoljci
| parts = 98
| parts_type = Settlements
| established_date =
| pushpin_map = Montenegro
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Bijelo Polje in Montenegro
| pushpin_mapsize =
| coordinates = {{coord|43.04|19.75|region:ME|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type = Postal code
| postal_code = 84000
| blank_info_sec1 = ME-04
| blank_name_sec1 = ISO 3166-2 code
| area_code_type = Area code
| area_code = +382 50
| blank1_info_sec1 = BP
| blank1_name_sec1 = Car plates
| website = {{URL|www.bijelopolje.co.me}}
| blank2_name = Climate
| blank2_info = Cfb
}}
Bijelo Polje (Cyrillic: Бијело Поље, {{IPA|sh|bîjɛlɔː pɔ̂ʎɛ|pron}}) is a town located in the Northern Region of Montenegro, situated along Lim River. It has an urban population of 12,900 (2011 census). It is the administrative, economic, cultural and educational centre of northern Montenegro.
Bijelo Polje is the center of Bijelo Polje Municipality (population of 38,662). Bijelo Polje means 'white field' in Serbo-Croatian.
History
File:Свјетлопис србске православне цркве Светих апостола Петра и Павла у Бијелом Пољу4.jpg
Bijelo Polje's Saint Peter and Paul Church is the place where the UNESCO Miroslav's Gospel of Miroslav, brother of Serbian ruler Stefan Nemanja was written.
During World War II, Bijelo Pole was a prominent location for the anti-fascist resistance movement in Yugoslavia, Montenegro in particular.{{Cite book|title=Montenegro: A Modern History|last=Morrison|first=Kenneth|publisher=I.B.Tauris|year=2008|isbn=0857714872}}
A significant number of Muslim families in Bijelo Polje originate from historical Muslim brotherhoods from Kuči, including the Abdići, Adžajlići, Adžibegovići, Alići, Aličkovići, Babajići, Bajramspahići, Bakija, Beganovići, Bektaševići, Biso, Bisonjići, Višnjići, Drekovići, Durovići, Zaimovići, Zajmovići, Zajimovići, Zejnilovići, Zećirovići, Kajevići, Kasumovići, Kolići, Kos, Kočani, Kršići, Kujovići, Kukuljac, Kuči, Kučevići, Ličine, Lukači, Medunjani, Mehovići, Mekići, Mekići (Ličine), Memići, Mulalići, Muratovići, Muslići, Numanovići , Omerovići, Omerhodžići, Pepeljak, Premtići, Radončići, Rastoderi, Rizvanovići, Smailovići, Smakići, Spahići, Ćemani, Fetahovići, Fetići, Hadžajlići, Hadžibegovići, Halilovići, Hodžići, Cokovići, Čokrlije, Džogovići, and Šabovići.{{cite journal |last1=Konjević |first1=Veselin |title=Iseljavanje muslimana iz Crne Gore |journal=Matica |date=2018 |volume=74 |page=391 |url=https://www.maticacrnogorska.me/files/74/19%20veselin%20konjevic.pdf}}
Demographics
Bijelo Polje is the administrative centre of the Bijelo Polje municipality, which in 2011 had a population of 46,251. The town of Bijelo Polje itself has 12,900 citizens.
Town{{Historical populations
|type =
|1948|3547 |1953|4029 |1961|5856 |1971|8925 |1981|11927 |1991|16464 |2003|15883 |2011|12900
|}}
Municipality{{Historical populations
|type =
|1948|36795 |1953|41432 |1961|46651 |1971|52598 |1981|55634 |1991|55268 |2003|50284 |2011|46051 |2023|38662
|}}
= Ethnicity =
The ethnic composition of the municipality in the 2023 census was as follows: 43.13% Serbs, 31.85% Bosniaks, 14.88% Montenegrins, 7.54 ethnic Muslims. A total of 2.6% of the population are part of other ethnic groups.{{Cite web |title=Popis stanovništva, domaćinstava i stanova, 2023. godine |url=https://monstat.org/uploads/files/popis%202021/saopstenja/SAOPSTENJE_Popis%20stanovnistva%202023%20II_cg.pdf}}
= Religion =
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religion in Bijelo Polje (2023){{Cite web |title=Popis stanovništva, domaćinstava i stanova, 2023. godine |url=https://monstat.org/uploads/files/popis%202021/saopstenja/SAOPSTENJE_Popis%20stanovnistva%202023%20II_cg.pdf}}
|label1 = Eastern Orthodoxy
|value1 = 54.20
|color1 = Orchid
|label2 = Islam
|value2 = 44.49
|color2 = Green
|label3 = Other religions
|value3 = 1.39
|color3 = Grey
}}
Bijelo Polje is religiously diverse, with the majority of the population adhering to Islam and Eastern Orthodoxy. The Islamic community primarily consists of Bosniaks and ethnic Muslims, while Orthodox Christianity is predominantly practiced by Serbs and Montenegrins. Religious institutions, such as mosques and Orthodox churches, are an integral part of the town’s cultural and social fabric, reflecting its multi-ethnic and multi-religious character. Despite historical challenges, Bijelo Polje is known for its peaceful coexistence and tolerance between different religious communities.
Culture and sights
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2023}}
Bijelo Polje was the birthplace of the oral poet Avdo Međedović and of many prominent writers such as Ćamil Sijarić, Miodrag Bulatović, Risto Ratković and Dragomir Brajković as well as basketball player Nikola Peković and Swedish footballing brothers Ajsel and Emir Kujović.
Sports
Transport
Bijelo Polje is connected to the rest of Montenegro by two major roads. It is situated on the main road connecting Montenegro's coast and Podgorica with northern Montenegro and Serbia (E65, E80).
Bijelo Polje is also a station on Belgrade–Bar railway, the last station in Montenegro for trains leaving for Belgrade, and it serves as a regional train station. Podgorica Airport is {{convert|130|km|mi|abbr=on}} away, and has regular flights to major European destinations.
Climate
Bijelo Polje has a humid continental climate (Köppen: Dfb) with warm summers, cold winters, and abundant precipitation year round.
{{Weather box
| width = auto
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| location = Bijelo Polje (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1950–present)
|Jan record high C = 18.0
|Feb record high C = 27.0
|Mar record high C = 26.5
|Apr record high C = 30.8
|May record high C = 33.5
|Jun record high C = 35.5
|Jul record high C = 39.0
|Aug record high C = 39.8
|Sep record high C = 36.5
|Oct record high C = 32.0
|Nov record high C = 25.5
|Dec record high C = 20.1
|year record high C = 39.8
| Jan high C = 5.0
| Feb high C = 8.4
| Mar high C = 13.1
| Apr high C = 17.7
| May high C = 22.4
| Jun high C = 26.3
| Jul high C = 28.4
| Aug high C = 29.1
| Sep high C = 24.0
| Oct high C = 18.1
| Nov high C = 11.6
| Dec high C = 5.0
| year high C = 17.4
| Jan low C = -3.8
| Feb low C = -2.7
| Mar low C = 0.3
| Apr low C = 4.3
| May low C = 8.7
| Jun low C = 12.3
| Jul low C = 13.8
| Aug low C = 13.7
| Sep low C = 10.4
| Oct low C = 6.4
| Nov low C = 1.9
| Dec low C = -2.2
| year low C = 5.3
|Jan record low C = −27.6
|Feb record low C = −24.5
|Mar record low C = −18.2
|Apr record low C = -8.6
|May record low C = -4.0
|Jun record low C = -0.8
|Jul record low C = 1.2
|Aug record low C = 2.6
|Sep record low C = -4.0
|Oct record low C = -7.2
|Nov record low C = −15.4
|Dec record low C = −21.7
|year record low C = −27.6
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 63.6
| Feb precipitation mm = 77.3
| Mar precipitation mm = 69.0
| Apr precipitation mm = 70.9
| May precipitation mm = 80.8
| Jun precipitation mm = 73.9
| Jul precipitation mm = 69.8
| Aug precipitation mm = 51.3
| Sep precipitation mm = 87.2
| Oct precipitation mm = 85.3
| Nov precipitation mm = 100.0
| Dec precipitation mm = 88.3
| year precipitation mm = 917.4
| unit precipitation days = 1 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 8.2
| Feb precipitation days = 8.7
| Mar precipitation days = 7.9
| Apr precipitation days = 9.2
| May precipitation days = 10.3
| Jun precipitation days = 8.5
| Jul precipitation days = 7.5
| Aug precipitation days = 6.4
| Sep precipitation days = 8.1
| Oct precipitation days = 8.2
| Nov precipitation days = 8.9
| Dec precipitation days = 9.1
| year precipitation days = 101.0
|Jan humidity = 82
|Feb humidity = 76
|Mar humidity = 71
|Apr humidity = 69
|May humidity = 72
|Jun humidity = 75
|Jul humidity = 74
|Aug humidity = 74
|Sep humidity = 78
|Oct humidity = 79
|Nov humidity = 82
|Dec humidity = 85
| source 1 = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/oceans/archive/arc0216/0253808/5.5/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Montenegro/CSV/BijeloPolje_13230.csv
|title = Bijelo Polje Climate Normals for 1991-2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|format = CSV
|access-date = 15 September 2024}}
|source 2 = Hydrological and Meteorological Service of Montenegro (humidity 1961–1990){{cite web
|url = http://www.meteo.co.me/page.php?id=40
|title = Climate: Bijelo Polje
|publisher = Hydrological and Meteorological Service of Montenegro
|access-date = 7 March 2021
|language = Montenegrin}}{{cite web
|url = http://www.meteo.co.me/page.php?id=41
|title = Dnevni prosjeci i ekstremi
|publisher = Hydrological and Meteorological Service of Montenegro
|access-date = 7 March 2021
|language = Montenegrin}}
}}
Notable people
{{main|Category:People from Bijelo Polje}}
- Avdo Međedović, guslar
- Miodrag Bulatović, writer
- Ćamil Sijarić, writer
- Ćazim Sijarić, Albanian commander
- Dragomir Brajković, writer
- Risto Ratković, writer
- Nastasja Vojinović, musician
- Milutin Karadžić, actor
- Ajsel Kujović, footballer
- Emir Kujović, footballer
- Duško Ivanović, basketball coach
- Nikola Peković, basketball player
- Predrag Drobnjak, basketball player
- Suad Šehović, basketball player
- Sead Šehović, basketball player
International relations
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Montenegro}}
=Twin towns — sister cities=
Bijelo Polje is twinned with:{{cite web |title=Gradovi i Opštine pobratimi sa Opštinom Bijelo Polje|url=https://bijelopolje.co.me/index.php/izbori?id=364:gradovi-i-optine-pobratimi|website=bijelopolje.co.me|publisher=Bijelo Polje|language=cnr|access-date=2019-12-28}}{{cite web |title=Bratimljenje|url=http://www.uom.co.me/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/bratimljenje-m2-3.pdf|website=database.uom.me|publisher=Zajednica opština Crne Gore|page=29|language=cnr|date=January 2013|access-date=2019-12-29}}
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
- {{flagicon|UKR}} Bila Tserkva, Ukraine{{cite web |title=Міста-побратими|url=https://bc-rada.gov.ua/node/1918|website=bc-rada.gov.ua|publisher=Bila Tserkva|language=uk|access-date=2020-03-29}}
- {{flagicon|TUR}} Burhaniye, Turkey
- {{flagicon|POL}} Hrubieszów, Poland{{cite web |title=Bijelo Polje (Czarnogóra)|url=https://www.miasto.hrubieszow.pl/page/bijelo-polje-czarnog%C3%B3ra|website=miasto.hrubieszow.pl|publisher=Hrubieszów|language=pl|access-date=2020-03-31}}
- {{flagicon|EST}} Maardu, Estonia{{cite web |title=Maardu partner cooperations|url=http://maardu.kovtp.ee/web/eng/international-cooperation|website=maardu.kovtp.ee|publisher=Maardu linn|access-date=2019-12-28}}
- {{flagicon|MKD}} Strumica, North Macedonia
- {{flagicon|BUL}} Svishtov, Bulgaria
{{div col end}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Bijelo Polje}}
- {{Official|www.bijelopolje.co.me}}
- [http://www.visit-montenegro.com/ Visit-Montenegro.com]
- [http://www.njegos.org/census/index.htm Census info], njegos.org; accessed 12 August 2015.
{{MontenegroCities}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bijelo Polje}}