Benkovac
Encyclopedia : B : BE : BEN : Benkovac
| Benkovac | |
| County | Zadar |
| Area | 514 km² |
| Population (2001) | 9.786/2.622 |
| Mayor | Branko Kutija |
Geography
Benkovac is located where the plain of Ravni kotari and the karstic plateau of Bukovica meet, 20km from the town of Biograd na Moru and 30km from Zadar. The Zagreb-Split motorway and Zadar-Knin railway pass through the town. It borders the municipalities of Novigrad, Posedarje, Obrovac, Lišane Ostrovičke, Kistanje and Stankovci.
Demography
According to the census of 2001 the municipality has 9,786 inhabitants of which 90.4% are Croats and 7.5% Serbs. Before the war Serbs made up about 53% of the population and Croats about 47%. During the war almost all of the Serbs were expelled or left and after the war many Bosnian Croat colonizers settled the area, having suffered the same fate in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Due to the return of some Serbs in recent years today it is estimated that the municipality's population is currently around 12,500.
The population of Benkovac itself is 2,622 (census 2001), the rest is distributed in 38 villages surrounding it.
History
The first traces of human life in the Benkovac area were found around the village of Smilčić that belonged to the Danilo culture. Before Roman conquest the area was inhabited by the Illyrian tribe of Liburnians. During the Roman Civil war the Liburnians sided Caesar. The Romans mention the following Liburnian settlements Nedinum (Nadin), Carinium (Karin), Varvaria (Brbir) and Asseria (Podgrađe). In 7th century the area was settled by Croats. The area of Benkovac was at the crossroads of four Croatian župa's - Novljanska, Šidaška, Bribirska and Karinska. Near the village of Šopot an inscription from the 9th century was found and mentions Branimir as a Croatian Duke.
In 1409 King Ladislas of Naples sold his rights of Dalmatia to Venice and the Benkovac area became a border region. New fortresses around the border were built - Korlat, Kličevica, Polača, and behind them Benković i Perušić. The fortress of Benković was named after the family of nobles that built it and the city of Benkovac was established. In 1527 Benkovac became part of the Ottoman Empire. It was soon settled by Shtokavian speaking population - Catholic Bunjevci and Orthodox Serbs but also with Morlachs, who were rapidly assimilated. In 1683 Benkovac became part of the Venice Republic.
Economy
Economy is based on agriculture especially viticulture and exploitation of wider known Benkovac building stone. Benkovac has also annual cattle fare and vinary.
Towns and villages in municipality
{| |- valign="top" | * Benkovačko Selo
- Bjelina
- Brgud
- Bruška
- Buković
- Dobra Voda
- Donje Biljane
- Donje Ceranje
- Donji Karin
- Islam Grčki
- Kašić
- Kolarina
- Korlat
- Kula Atlagić
- Lepuri
- Lisičić
- Lišane Tinjske
- Miranje
- Nadin
- Perušić Benkovački
- Podgrađe
- Popovići
- Pristeg
- Prović
- Radašinovci
- Rodaljice
- Smilčić
- Šopot
- Tinj
- Zapužane
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