Kavarskas
{{More citations needed|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name = Kavarskas
|image_skyline = Kavarskas001.JPG
|nickname =
|settlement_type = City
|pushpin_map =Lithuania
|pushpin_label_position =
|pushpin_map_caption =Location of Kavarskas
|image_shield = Kavarskas COA.svg
|coordinates = {{coord|55|26|0|N|24|55|0|E|type:city(707)_region:LT|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = {{LTU}}
|subdivision_type1 = Ethnographic region
|subdivision_name1 = Aukštaitija
|subdivision_type2 = County
|subdivision_name2 = 17px Utena County
|subdivision_type3 = Municipality
|subdivision_name3 = Anykščiai district municipality
|subdivision_type4 = Eldership
|subdivision_name4 = Kavarskas eldership
|subdivision_type6 = Capital of
|subdivision_name6 = Kavarskas eldership
|established_date = 1538
|established_title = First mentioned
|established_date2 =
|population_total = 486
|population_as_of = 2021
|timezone=EET
|utc_offset=+2
|timezone_DST=EEST
|utc_offset_DST=+3
}}
Kavarskas ({{Pronunciation|Kavarskas.ogg}}), with a population of only 700, is the fourth smallest city in Lithuania. The Šventoji River flows through the town. In 1956 near Kavarskas a water lifting station was built and part of the Šventoji River's water was channeled to the Nevėžis River. Nowadays there is a water-power plant operating there.
Etymology
The name of Kavarskas comes from the surname of Stanisław Kowarski, who owned the Manor of Mažyų Pienionių (manorial place name).Alexander Hawk. "Lithuanian city names" (second edition). – Vilnius, Science and Encyclopedia Publishing Institute, 2004. // p. 87 Although there are not many place names in Lithuania that are based on the singular of the surname, there are some (Sudargas, Musteika, perhaps Birštonas). In other languages, the town is known as: {{langx|pl|Kowarsk}}.
Coat of arms
The town flag or coat of arms shows a sword creating two streams of water. The coat of arms is painted on a blue field background. It shows a golden sword stabbed into a green hill and silver water springing from the hole.
According to a local legend, a spring of mineral water in Kavarskas was the site of a significant event in the history of the town. The legend recounts that, at a certain moment in time, a senior army chief was tasked with the selection of his successor. The chief plunged his sword into the earth to its hilt and declared that the warrior who would succeed him would be the one to extract the sword from its position. Numerous warriors attempted this feat, but only one of them was successful. Upon extracting the sword, a spring of pure water gushed forth from the ground.{{cite web | url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/lt-utaka.html | title=Kavarskas (Utena, Lithuania) }} The Spring of Saint John the Baptist is located in Kavarskas.{{cite web | url=https://www.visitanyksciai.lt/sightseeing-places/the-spring-of-st-john-the-baptist-in-kavarskas/ | title=The Spring of St John the Baptist in Kavarskas }}
History
Where the modern town is today located, in the 15th century there was the Mažieji Pienionys (Little Pienionys) estate. At the end of the 15th century, the Grand Duke of Lithuania Alexander Jagiellon transferred the estate to Stanislovas Kovarskis, the treasurer of the king. As he had no successors, the estate was inherited by his brother, Andrius Kovarskis, the canon of the Vilnius Cathedral. Thus, the name of the Little Pienionys estate was changed to Kavarskas.
In written sources, Kavarskas was first mentioned in 1538. In that year, a church was built. In the 16th century, Kavarskas and the surrounding area belonged to noble families of Astikai, later – Ogiński (Oginskiai), Tyszkiewicz (Tiškevičiai), and Siesickiai. The Šventoji river that runs near the town was used for drinking water, crops, and to power a flour mill.The Shtetl that was by Ralph Jaffe, photo section, First Edition, 1997 ISBN 0-533-12061-6
The National Resurrection Cross was built in Kaltinėnai (Šilalė district).
During the summer of 1941, the Jewish population was murdered in a mass execution perpetrated by German soldiers and three Lithuanian white armbanders.{{Cite web |title=Holocaust Atlas of Lithuania |url=http://www.holocaustatlas.lt/EN/#a_atlas/search//page/1/item/27/ |access-date=2023-09-21 |website=holocaustatlas.lt}}
An 1892 taxpayers' list shows Kavarskas population to be 1,505 people.{{Cite web |title=JewishGen |url=https://www.jewishgen.org/databases/jgform.php |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=www.jewishgen.org}}{{cite web | url=https://www.litvaksig.org/information-and-tools/archives-and-repositories/tax-lists | title=LitvakSIG | Tax Lists }} A 1892-1894 Lithuania Revision List included 844 names.{{cite web | url=https://www.litvaksig.org/information-and-tools/archives-and-repositories/revision-lists-and-other-census-lists | title=LitvakSIG | Revision Lists and Other Census Lists }} This represents approximately 55% of the town's population in 1897, when 1546 persons were counted.{{Cite web|url=http://www.demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/rus_lan_97.php?reg=1|title=Демоскоп Weekly - Приложение. Справочник статистических показателей.|website=www.demoscope.ru}}The Shtetl that was by Ralph Jaffe, First Edition, 1997 ISBN 0-533-12061-6 In 1956, Kavarskas was granted town rights. In 2021, the town had 2,361 residents."[https://www.anyksciai.lt/struktura-ir-kontaktai/2 Struktūra ir kontaktai | Anykščiai". Struktūra ir kontaktai | Anykščiai (in Lithuanian)]. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Commons category|Kavarskas}}
{{Utena County}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Cities in Utena County