Perušić

The Municipality of Perušić is located in the southeastern part of Lika, at an altitude of {{convert|575|-|600|m}}, in a valley of the Lika River watershed. It lies in a field, Perušićko polje, bounded by the hills west of Klis and the railway line east of the Old Town of Perušić (Stari grad Perušić {{a.k.a.}} Gradina).

Perušić connects to major roadways including the D50 state road, and the Zagreb–Split motorway (A1). The main railway line M604 also connects to Zagreb and Split, with daily passenger and freight service.

File:Plitvice Lakes, Barrier between Gavanovac and Kaluderovac.JPG.]]

{{main|History of Croatia}}

The region has been inhabited since the ancient times. Stone Age artifacts have been found on the road to Otočac, while more finds come from the Bronze Age including grave sites from the 8th or 9th century BC. In the woods of Begovača near Kosinje there is a Roman monolith engraved with the verdict of a water dispute between Illyrian tribes.

Perušić became an organized settlement in the 16th century, when it was on the border between the Ottoman Empire and European states. It was first called Perušić in 1487. It was founded by brothers Dominik and Gašpar Perušić, from a noble family who came from the hinterland. The family built a hill fortress, known by various names in writings of that time, including Stari grad Perušić (Old Town of Perušić), Gradina (fortified town), and most often Perušićka kula (Perušić tower).

When the Turks conquered Lika and Krbava, {{circa}}1527, the fort became the main stronghold of Turkish Lika. This borderland between three empires – the Habsburg monarchy including the remains of the Croatian-Hungarian Empire, the Venetian Republic and the Ottoman Empire – was the scene of constant warfare. Liberation from the Turkish authorities in Lika began in 1685.

File:Perušić 1900 10filler.jpg

Until 1918, Perušić was part of the Austrian monarchy (Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia after the Compromise of 1867),Die Poststempel auf der Freimarken-Ausgabe 1867 von Österreich und Ungarn, Edwin Mueller, 1930 in the Croatian Military Frontier, administered by the Kommando Ottotschaner Regiment {{abbr|No.|number}}2.Map in the Corinphila-Auktionen 2003. From the late 19th century to the early 20th century, Perušić was part of the Lika-Krbava County of the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia.

During World War II, the town was occupied by Axis troops and was included into the Pavelić's Independent State of Croatia (NDH). On 6 August 1941, the Ustashe killed and burned more than 280 Serbs in Mlakva near Perušić, including 191 children.{{cite book|last=Zatezalo|first=Đuro |title="Radio sam svoj seljački i kovački posao": svjedočanstva genocida |year=2005|publisher=SKD Prosvijeta |location=Zagreb|isbn= 953-6627-79-5|page=286}}

After 1945, the forests became general state assets, administered by the District Councils. The Forestry Building in Perušić was erected in 1970.

During the Croatian War of Independence (1991–1995), Perušić was near the front lines. It was not safe even after the stabilization of the battlefield and the international recognition of Croatia as part of the European Community. In addition to artillery attacks, Serbia launched an infantry attack on 19 January 1992 which was repulsed by Croatian troops.{{cite web|url=http://www.centardomovinskograta.hr/1992.html|title=Hrvatski memorijalno-dokumentacijski centar Domovinskog rata|work=centardomovinskograta.hr|access-date=13 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304024347/http://www.centardomovinskograta.hr/1992.html|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}

In 2021, the municipality had 1,973 residents in the following 19 settlements:

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• Bakovac Kosinjski, population 69
• Bukovac Perušićki, population 66
• Donji Kosinj, population 318
• Gornji Kosinj, population 92
• Kaluđerovac, population 13
• Klenovac, population 30
• Konjsko Brdo, population 92
• Kosa Janjačka, population 69
• Krš, population 23
• Kvarte, population 90
• Lipovo Polje, population 60
• Malo Polje, population 53
• Mezinovac, population 23
• Mlakva, population 31
• Perušić, population 752
• Prvan Selo, population 70
• Selo Sveti Marko, population 20
• Studenci, population 26
• Varoš, population 76

{{div col end}}

{{Croatian population data graph |censuses=HRV |entered=2022-09-24 |entity=Perušić |p1857=12087 |p1869=13311 |p1880=12463 |p1890=14363 |p1900=15507 |p1910=15409 |p1921=14359 |p1931=14372 |p1948=11674 |p1953=10958 |p1961=9952 |p1971=8607 |p1981=6379 |p1991=5648 |p2001=3494 |p2011=2638 |p2021=1973}}

According to the 2011 census, the municipality was primarily Croat (90.22%) and Serb (8.49%).

The population of the Municipality has fallen by more than a third between 1991 and 2011. Reasons for this include the emigration of population to more developed areas, attacks during the War of Independence, the aging population, and frequent flooding.

Directly elected minority councils and representatives are tasked with consulting tasks for the local or regional authorities in which they are advocating for minority rights and interests, integration into public life and participation in the management of local affairs.{{Cite web |url=https://www.tportal.hr/vijesti/clanak/manjinski-izbori-prve-nedjelje-u-svibnju-krecu-i-edukacije-20230313 |title=Manjinski izbori prve nedjelje u svibnju, kreću i edukacije |date= 13 March 2023 |author= |publisher=T-portal |access-date=10 June 2023}} At the 2023 Croatian national minorities councils and representatives elections Serbs of Croatia fulfilled legal requirements to elect 10 members minority council of the Municipality of Perušić but the elections were not held due to the absence of candidatures.{{cite web|url=https://www.izbori.hr/site/UserDocsImages/2023/Manjinski%20izbori%202023/Rezultati/Z9_LICKO_SENJSKA_ZUPANIJA.pdf | title=Informacija o konačnim rezultatima izbora članova vijeća i izbora predstavnika nacionalnih manjina 2023. IX. LIČKO-SENJSKA ŽUPANIJA | date=2023 | author= | publisher=Državno izborno povjerenstvo Republike Hrvatske | page=9 | language=hr | format=PDF | access-date=13 June 2023}}

{{Weather box

|location = Perušić

|metric first = Y

|single line = Y

|collapsed =

|Jan high C = 11

|Feb high C = 11

|Mar high C = 15

|Apr high C = 18

|May high C = 24

|Jun high C = 28

|Jul high C = 31

|Aug high C = 31

|Sep high C = 25

|Oct high C = 21

|Nov high C = 15

|Dec high C = 11

|year high C = 20.1

|Jan mean C = 6.5

|Feb mean C = 6

|Mar mean C = 9.5

|Apr mean C = 13

|May mean C = 18

|Jun mean C = 22

|Jul mean C = 24.5

|Aug mean C = 24.5

|Sep mean C = 19

|Oct mean C = 15.5

|Nov mean C = 10.5

|Dec mean C = 7

|year mean C = 15.5

|Jan low C = 2

|Feb low C = 1

|Mar low C = 4

|Apr low C = 8

|May low C = 12

|Jun low C = 16

|Jul low C = 18

|Aug low C = 18

|Sep low C = 13

|Oct low C = 10

|Nov low C = 6

|Dec low C = 3

|year low C = 9.3

|Jan precipitation mm = 50

|Feb precipitation mm = 43

|Mar precipitation mm = 58

|Apr precipitation mm = 61

|May precipitation mm = 49

|Jun precipitation mm = 31

|Jul precipitation mm = 23

|Aug precipitation mm = 42

|Sep precipitation mm = 76

|Oct precipitation mm = 91

|Nov precipitation mm = 92

|Dec precipitation mm = 92

|year precipitation mm = 708

|Jan rain days = 11

|Feb rain days = 8

|Mar rain days = 9

|Apr rain days = 11

|May rain days = 8

|Jun rain days = 7

|Jul rain days = 5

|Aug rain days = 6

|Sep rain days = 9

|Oct rain days = 10

|Nov rain days = 13

|Dec rain days = 13

|source 1 = World Weather Online{{cite web

| title = Perusic Benkovacki Climate Data

| publisher = World Weather Online

| date =

| url = http://www.worldweatheronline.com/weather-averages.aspx?q=Perusic%20Benkovacki,%20Croatia

| access-date = 2012-03-16

}}{{Dead link|date=May 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

|date=August 2010

}}

The Lika region has a temperate oceanic climate with Köppen climate classification Cfb, moderately humid with a warm summer. The Velebit mountain range restricts the thermal influence of the Adriatic Sea, but allows moist air to reach the interior resulting in high precipitation (particularly in winter and autumn). The growing season is 210–250 days, and there are 140–180 days with temperatures above {{convert|10|C}}.

Farming and agricultural industries are the main occupation. The nearby highway brought rapid economic development, though Perušić remains one of the poorest inhabited municipalities in Croatia.

According to historical documents, Perušić can be called the cradle of Croatian literacy. Shortly after a printing machine was invented in the nearby village of Kosinj, Missale Romanum Glagolitice (Croatian: Misal po zakonu rimskoga dvora) was printed, one of the oldest printed books in Croatia and Europe, with numerous illustrations and ornaments. It was printed in 1483, just 28 years after the Gutenberg Bible.{{cite web|title=Kosinj-Raj na Zemlji|url=http://demo.ctk-rijeka.hr/Kosinj/Povijest.htm|access-date=24 August 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070622101423/http://demo.ctk-rijeka.hr/Kosinj/Povijest.htm|archive-date=22 June 2007}}

The local football team is NK Perušić.

Grabovača is a cave park situated between the Lika karstic plains and fields, {{convert|2|km}} from the center of Perušić. It is {{convert|770|m}} above sea level at the mid-elevations of the Velebit mountains, near the karst basin of the river Lika. In an area of {{convert|1.5|km2|abbr=on}} there are an abundance of underground karst forms, complex calcite formations. The park represents one-quarter of the protected caves in Croatia. The caves are closed to the public in winter.{{cite web|url=http://www.pp-grabovaca.hr/|title=Pećinski park Grabovača - Pećinski park Grabovača pruža priliku posjetiteljima da se vrate u prošlost, tisućama godina unatrag.|work=pp-grabovaca.hr|access-date=13 July 2015}}

It covers the area of 5620,72 ha. Its unique geological feature is Velebit breccia rock. There are 118 species of plants (16 strictly protected, 6 endemic), 19 species of cave fauna (Typhlotrechus bilimekii kiesenwetteri, endemic beetle), 15 species of butterflies (8 strictly protected), 81 bird species (24 strictly prohibited), 10 strictly prohibited species of bats and more than 20 species of mammals. Golden eagle is critically endangered.Pećinski park Grabovača cave park, JU Pećinski park Grabovača: Perušić. (In Croatian and English).

Kosinj Bridge is a {{convert|70|m|adj=on}} stone bridge crossing the river Lika, connecting Upper and Lower Kosinj. It was designed in the 19th century by architect Milivoj Frković, built using an early Croatian bridge-building technique known as uklinjenje kamena (clipping stone).

Lake Krušćica is an artificial lake and reservoir created in 1966 to help control flooding of the Lika. Behind a dam {{convert|80|m}} high, the reservoir contains a flooded village with the church of St. Ilya.

Old town, known as "Gradina" or "Turkish tower" ({{langx|hr|Turska kula}}) on the locality Vrhovina was first mentioned in 1071. It was ruled by Frankopan family. Town was renamed in 1487 and bestowed to the brothers Perušić. During Ottoman occupation (until 1696) Perušić became Turkish stronghold due to its position and proximity to the Venetian Republic and Habsburg monarchy. After the liberation of Lika and Krbava by the Catholic priest Marko Mesić, remaining Turkish population were baptised. Perušić was first part of Croatian Military Frontier, then in 19th century part of Banate of Croatia.

• Ana Karić actress
• Mirko Lulić football player
• Mike Uremovich, indoor soccer player

{{reflist}}

• {{official|http://www.perusic.hr/}} {{in lang|hr}}

{{Subdivisions of Lika-Senj County}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Perusic}}

Category:Municipalities of Croatia

Category:Populated places in Lika-Senj County