Librazhd#history
{{Infobox settlement (Albanian)
| type = m
| name = Librazhd
| flag = Flag of Librazhd.gif
| emblem = Stema e Bashkisë Librazhd.svg
| skyline = Librazhd, Albania 2018 01.jpg
| caption =
| county = Elbasan
| mayor = Mariglen Disha
| party = PS
| coordinates = {{coord|41|11|N|20|19|E|display=inline}}
| elevation = 249
| area munic = 793.99
| population as of = 2023{{cite web|title=Main Results of the Population and Housing Census 2023|url=https://www.instat.gov.al/en/themes/censuses/census-of-population-and-housing/publications/2023/main-results-of-the-population-and-housing-census-2023/|publisher=INSTAT}}
| population munic = 23312
| population unit = 6787
| postal code = 3401-3413
| area code = (0)514
| website = {{URL|https://bashkialibrazhd.gov.al/}}
}}
Librazhd ({{lang-sq-definite|Librazhdi}}) is a town and a municipality in Elbasan County, southeast Albania. The municipality was reformed at the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities Hotolisht, Librazhd, Lunik, Orenjë, Polis, Qendër Librazhd and Stëblevë, that became municipal units. The seat of the municipality is the town Librazhd.{{cite web |url=https://www.vendime.al/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/137-2014.pdf |title=Law nr. 115/2014 |language=sq |pages=6368–6369|access-date=25 February 2022 }} The total population is 23,312, in a total area of {{cvt|793.99|sqkm}}.{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/345175/501971/EU-28-LAU-2019-NUTS-2016.xlsx |title=Correspondence table LAU – NUTS 2016, EU-28 and EFTA / available Candidate Countries |access-date=2019-09-25 |publisher=Eurostat|format=XLS }} The population of the municipal unit as of the 2023 census is 6,787.
{{historical populations|1955|801|1960|961|1969|2700|1979|3200|1989|5018|2001|7216|2011|6937|2023|6787|align=right|cols=1|source={{cite web |title=Cities of Albania|url=http://pop-stat.mashke.org/albania-cities.htm}}{{cite web |title=Albania: All places/communes|url=http://pop-stat.mashke.org/albania-census1989.htm}}{{cite web |title=Census of Population and Housing|url=https://www.instat.gov.al/en/themes/censuses/census-of-population-and-housing/|publisher=Institute of Statistics Albania}}}}
Librazhd is the nearest town to the Shebenik National Park.
History
File:Vilson Blloshmi Genc Leka Memorial.JPG
Librazhd (Liburazhda) is attested in the Ottoman defter of 1467 as a village belonging to the timar of Karagöz in the vilayet of Çermeniça. The settlement had a total of 33 households, represented by the following household heads: Ilia Berishi, Pop Mihali, Gjergj Vaskuqi, Ivo Stajo, Nikolla Todini, Miho Gjirgashi, Todor Sqavi, Mihal Arassi (Arrasi), Gjurko Papa Sedani (possibly, Papasdani), Gjergj Arassi, Gjergj Gjonjo (possibly, Gjonevi), Miladin Simko, Dimitri Gjinko, Todor Kalini, Petër Simko, Ivo Nikoto, Pop Nikolla, Todorec Nikoto, Stan Mali, Dimitri Kozmo, Petko Stajko, Stajo son of Semini, Gjin Franku, Bogdo Kalini, Frank Radoslani, Gjon Prokopi, Petër Rado, Gjon Birko, Simo Birko, Stan Kaliqi, Pejko Stajo, Miho Makini (possibly, Magjini), Gjergj Budisha, Manec Berishi, Dimitri Kostovi, Gjoni son of Rado, Dimitri son of Miho, Dimitri son of Aleko, and Nenada son of Niko.{{cite book |last1=Caka |first1=Eduart |title=Defteri i hollësishëm për zonat e dibrës i vitit 1467 |date=2019 |publisher=Akademia e studimeve albanologjike instituti historisë |location=Tiranë |pages=136–7}}
Librazhd was one of the newest cities in Albania and was proclaimed as such on 18 February 1960.{{Cite web|url=http://telegraf.al/aktualitet/historiani-shaban-gjuralibrazhdi-me-historine-e-tij-50-vjecare/|title=Historiani, Shaban Gjura:Librazhdi me historinë e tij 50-vjeçare}} Librazhd is also famous for being connected to the Via Egnatia road that stretched from Istanbul all the way on to Durrës. The people of Librazhd also participated in the Albanian Declaration of Independence in the 28 of November 1912. During World War II, two battalions of the National Liberation Movement ambushed defeated Nazi Germany troops near Librazhd, killing over 200 German soldiers.{{cite book|last=Pearson|first=Owen|title=Albania in Occupation and War: From Fascism to Communism 1940-1945|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P3knunC7z_oC&pg=PA271|access-date=14 January 2011|date=2006-07-11|publisher=I.B.Tauris|isbn=978-1-84511-104-5|page=271}}
Transportation
=Trains=
There is no train line that can go to or from Librazhd. Elbasan-Pogradec extension has been closed.
=Highways=
Sports
The football club KF Sopoti, a team founded in 1948, is based in Librazhd. The team plays its home matches at Sopoti Stadium, built in 1964 and capable of accommodating 3,000 spectators. While participating in the Albanian Second Division group A, the team faced challenges with the outdated stadium during the 2017-18 season. However, the stadium has undergone renovations since then.
Notable residents
- Taulant Balla (born 1979), politician
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Wikivoyage|Librazhd}}
- [http://www.bashkialibrazhd.gov.al/ Municipality of Librazhd Official Website]
- [https://tourisminalbania.com/things-to-do-and-see-in-librazhd/ Librazhd tourist guide]
{{Municipalities of Albania}}
{{Elbasan County}}
{{Librazhd div}}
Category:Municipalities in Elbasan County