View source for Vukovar-Srijem County

{{Short description|County in eastern Croatia}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Vukovar-Srijem County
| native_name        = {{native name|hr|Vukovarsko-srijemska županija}}
| native_name_lang   = hr
| settlement_type    = [[Counties of Croatia|County]]
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = [[Croatia]]
| image_skyline      = {{Photomontage|position=center
|photo1a =Ilocki vinogradi - panoramio.jpg
|photo1b =Ilok.jpg
|photo1c =Train Station Vinkovci 01.jpg
|photo2a =Church in Ilok.JPG
|photo2b =Vukovar-watertower-after-war.jpg
|photo2c =Markušica, Crkva silaska duha svetoga na apostole, kod Z-1155, DSC 0012.jpg
|photo2d =Gradiste - panoramio (1).jpg
|photo3a =Čakovci 1-Чаковци1.JPG
|photo3b =Danube port of Vukovar, Croatia (by de.user.Perun).jpg
|photo4a =Винковци-Vinkovci 6.JPG
|photo4b =Винковци-Vinkovci 8.JPG
|photo5a =Dvorac Eltz 09.jpg
|size = 270
|spacing = 1
|color = #FFFFFF
|border = 1
}}
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = Vukovar-Srijem County photos
| image_flag         = Flag of Vukovar-Syrmia County.svg
| flag_alt           = 
| image_shield       = Coat of Arms of Vukovar-Syrmia County.svg
| shield_alt         = 
| image_map          = Vukovarsko-srijemska županija in Croatia.svg
| map_alt            = 
| map_caption        = Vukovar-Srijem County within Croatia
| seat_type          = [[County seat]]<br><br>[[List of cities and towns in Croatia|Largest City]]
| seat               = '''[[Vukovar]]'''<br><br>[[Vinkovci]]
| blank_name_sec1    = Assembly and Executive Headquarters
| blank_info_sec1    = [[Palace of Syrmia County]]
| leader_title       = [[List of prefects of Vukovar-Srijem County|Župan (Prefect)]]
| leader_name        = [[Ivan Bosančić]] 
| leader_party       = [[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ]]
| area_total_km2     = 2454
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="DZS">{{Croatia Yearbook 2015|page=62}}</ref>
| elevation_m        = 78-224
| elevation_ft       = 255-734
| population_as_of   = 2021
| population_total   = 144438
| population_footnotes = 
| population_density_km2 = auto
| coordinates        = {{coord|45|13|43|N|18|55|00|E|display=title,inline|region:HR-16_type:adm1st_source:dewiki}}
| postal_code_type   = Postal code
| postal_code        = 32xxx
| area_code          = [[Telephone numbers in Croatia|32]]
| registration_plate = [[Vehicle registration plates of Croatia|VK, VU, ŽU]]
| iso_code           = [[ISO 3166-2:HR|HR-16]]
| blank_name_sec2    = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2022)
| blank_info_sec2    = 0.828<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{Cite web|url=https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/|title=Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab|website=hdi.globaldatalab.org|language=en|access-date=2024-10-10}}</ref><br/>{{color|#090|very high}} · [[List of Croatian counties by Human Development Index|18th]]
| website            = [http://vusz.hr/ Official site]
}}

'''Vukovar-Srijem County''' ({{langx|hr|Vukovarsko-srijemska [[županija]]}}), '''Vukovar-Sirmium County''' or '''Vukovar-Syrmia County''', named after the eponymous town of [[Vukovar]] and the region of [[Syrmia]], is the easternmost [[Croatia]]n [[Counties of Croatia|county]]. It includes the eastern parts of the region of [[Slavonia]] and the western parts of the region of Syrmia, as well as the lower [[Sava]] river basin, [[Posavina]] and [[Danube]] river basin [[Podunavlje]]. Due to the overlapping definitions of geographic regions, division on Slavonia and Syrmia approximately divides the county vertically into north-west and south-east half, while division on Posavina and Podunavlje divides it horizontally on north-east and south-west half.

The county's seat is in [[Vukovar]], a town on the [[Danube]] river while its biggest town and economic and transportation center is in [[Vinkovci]], town with 33,328 inhabitants. Vinkovci served as a temporary ''[[de facto]]'' seat of the county during the [[Croatian War of Independence]] with some institutions still remaining in the town as of 2020.<ref name="Županijski adresar">{{Cite web|url=http://www.vusz.hr/info/zupanijski-adresar|title=Županijski adresar|website=www.vusz.hr|language=hr|access-date=2 July 2020}}</ref> In 2011 the entire population of the county was 180,117. Other than Vukovar and Vinkovci, settlements with town status are [[Ilok]], [[Otok, Vukovar-Srijem County|Otok]] and [[Županja]]. Vukovar-Srijem County is ethnically most diverse county in Croatia with Croat majority and significant [[Serbs of Croatia|Serb]], [[Hungarians of Croatia|Hungarian]], [[Pannonian Rusyns]], [[Bosniaks of Croatia|Bosniak]], [[Ukrainians of Croatia|Ukrainian]] and [[Slovaks of Croatia|Slovak]] communities.

The county was one of the most affected regions by the Croatian War of Independence and today belongs to the group of the least developed counties in Croatia with significant part of it being classified as an [[Areas of Special State Concern (Croatia)|Areas of Special State Concern]].

==Name==
The name of the Vukovar-Srijem County is derived from the name of its seat town of Vukovar and the standard Croatian name of the region of [[Syrmia]]. The name is formed out of the [[possessive adjective]] for the two [[eponymous]] with [[literal translation|literal]] English translation being the Vukovarian-Syrmian County. The larger historical [[Syrmia County]] also covered large parts of modern Serbia and the easternmost part of [[Brod-Posavina County]] (see [[#Habsburg Empire and Austria-Hungary|§ Habsburg Empire and Austria-Hungary]]).

=== Name in other languages ===
{{see also|Minority languages of Croatia}}
In other [[minority languages]] used officially in certain towns, municipalities or villages of the Vukovar-Srijem County the entity is known as: {{lang-sr-cyrl|Вуковарско-сријемска жупанија / Вуковарско-сремска жупанија}}, {{langx|hu|Vukovár-Szerém megye}}, {{langx|sk|Vukovarsko-sriemska župa}}, {{langx|rue|Жупа Вуковар-Срѣм}} and {{langx|uk|Вуковарсько-Сремська жупанія}}.

In historically relevant languages the county is known as {{langx|de|Gespanschaft Vukovar-Syrmien}}, {{langx|la|Cornacensis-Sirmiensis}}, {{langx|he|מחוז ווקובאר-סריימיה}} and {{langx|cu|Вльковарьскосрємьскꙑ жоупаниѩ}}.

==History==
===Pre-Roman history===
The area of the county has been inhabited since [[Neolithic]] times famous for its [[Vučedol culture]] and [[La Tène culture]] sites. It includes exceptionally rich archaeological sites, listed among the most important sites of southern Europe many of which are preserved today at the [[Vučedol Culture Museum]].

===Roman Sirmium===
During the classical times, the Danube river was a part of the [[Danubian Limes]]. It was a birthplace of Roman emperors [[Valentinian I]] and [[Valens]] while the entire region was oriented towards the nearby [[Sirmium]], a city declared one of four capitals of the Roman Empire in 294.

===Middle Ages===

===Ottoman period===
During the [[Ottoman Hungary]] period the region was a part of the [[Sanjak of Syrmia]] with seat in contemporary town of [[Ilok]].

===Habsburg Empire and Austria-Hungary===
{{multiple image|align=left|direction=vertical
|image1=Map of Voivodeship of Serbia and Banat of Temeschwar (1849-1860).png|caption1=The Voivodeship of Serbia and Banat of Temeschwar (yellow) and the eastern part of Essek county (grey) in the 1850s. The Military Frontier is shown in pale green.
|image2=Syrmia.png|caption2=The extent of the Habsburg Syrmia County from 1881 showing the modern border between Croatia (yellow) and Serbia (cyan)
}}
The Ottoman Empire retreated from the region after the signing of the 1699 [[Treaty of Karlowitz]]. The region became a part of the Habsburg [[Kingdom of Slavonia]] and [[Slavonian Military Frontier]] as part of the [[Habsburg Monarchy]] (until 1804), [[Austrian Empire]] (1804–1867) and [[Austria-Hungary]] (1867–1918).

The historical Slavonian [[Syrmia County]], with its seat also in Vukovar, existed for most of the period between 1745 and 1922.

During the [[revolutions of 1848 in the Austrian Empire]] the historical county and parts of the Military Frontier, including most of modern Vukovar-Srijem County, briefly became part of the short-lived self-declared [[Serbian Vojvodina]]. In the aftermath, from 1849, the Military Frontier was restored and the historical county was split: the eastern part became part of the Neusatz ([[Novi Sad]]) district of the [[Voivodeship of Serbia and Banat of Temeschwar]] crown land; the western part, which broadly corresponded to the northern part of modern Vukovar-Srijem County, including Vukovar, was merged into the Essek ([[Osijek]]) county of Slavonia. The border between the two was broadly similar, but not identical, to the modern Croatia-Serbia border; notably, Ilok lay just to the east of the border, and it ran through what is today [[Bapska]], dividing Bapska-proper (in Neusatz) and Novak (in Essek).

In 1860 the pre-1848 divisions, including the historical Syrmia County, were restored.

In 1881 the Slavonian Military Frontier was abolished and large parts of it were merged into Syrmia County. Between 1881 and 1922 it covered the contemporary county and the area of modern-day [[Srem District]] (except [[Mačvanska Mitrovica]]), [[Zemun]], [[Surčin]] and [[New Belgrade]] [[subdivisions of Belgrade]], easternmost parts of [[Brod-Posavina County]] and [[Petrovaradin]], [[Beočin]], [[Neštin]], [[Vizić]] and [[Sremski Karlovci]].

===World War I===

===Kingdom of Yugoslavia===
Some of the villages in the region were settled by [[Macedonian front|Salonica front]] Serbian soldiers and families as a reward for their contribution to war efforts.

The old Habsburg Syrmia County remained a subdivision of the [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia|Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Yugoslavia from 1929)]] until 1922; it then became an oblast (with the same borders) until 1929. From 1929 it was split between the [[Sava Banovina|Sava]] and [[Danube Banovina|Danube]] [[Subdivisions of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia#Banates (banovinas; 1929–1941)|Banovina]]s until 1939; the modern Vukovar-Srijem County was mostly contained with Sava Banovina. In 1939 Sava Banovina was merged into the [[Banovina of Croatia]] and its borders extended, encompassing all of the modern county.

===World War II===
[[File:Dudik Memorial Park - Спомен парк Дудик 03.jpg|thumb|left|[[Dudik Memorial Park]]]]

During World War II the region was part of the Nazi puppet [[Independent State of Croatia]], mostly within [[Counties of the Independent State of Croatia|Vuka County]], with southern parts falling within [[Posavje District (Independent State of Croatia)|Posavje County]]. The puppet state and Nazi forces conducted criminal policy of [[The Holocaust in the Independent State of Croatia|Holocaust]], [[Genocide of Serbs in the Independent State of Croatia]] and [[Romani genocide]] by destruction of [[Vinkovci Synagogue]], devastation of [[Vukovar Synagogue]], [[Dudik Memorial Park|Dudik Killings]], [[Ivanci massacre]] and other crimes in the region. [[Yugoslav Partisans]], Europe's most effective anti-[[Axis powers|Axis]] [[Resistance during World War II|resistance movement]], was active at the [[Fruška Gora]] mountain and in villages alongside [[Zagreb–Belgrade railway]] (today [[M105 railway (Croatia)|M105 railway]]). The region was liberated after the [[Syrmian Front]] was broken.

===Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia===
In the period of the [[Socialist Republic of Croatia]] Vukovar became an important industrial center. For a long period during the existence of the Socialist Republic of Croatia the area of the modern day county was organized in three municipalities of Vinkovci, Vukovar and Županja. At the time Croatian municipalities were on average significantly larger units (both in territory and population) than contemporary [[municipalities of Croatia]].

===Croatian War of Independence===
[[File:Vukovar-watertower-after-war.jpg|thumb|[[Vukovar water tower]]]]

The [[Battle of Vukovar]] was an 87-day siege of Vukovar by the [[Yugoslav People's Army]] (JNA), supported by various paramilitary forces from Serbia, between August and November 1991. Before the Croatian War of Independence the Baroque town was a prosperous, mixed community of Croats, Serbs and other ethnic groups. As Yugoslavia began to break up, Serbia's President [[Slobodan Milošević]] and Croatia's President [[Franjo Tuđman]] began pursuing nationalist politics. In 1990, an [[Log Revolution|armed insurrection]] was started by Croatian Serb militias, supported by the Serbian government and paramilitary groups, who seized control of Serb-populated areas of Croatia. [[Battle of Borovo Selo]] was one of the first armed clashes which led to the War. Despite the battle the events in Eastern Slavonia developed slower than in Krajina and were under much stronger and more direct influence from the central government in [[Belgrade]].<ref name="Hayball">{{cite thesis |last=Hayball |first=Harry Jack |date=April 2015 |title=Serbia and the Serbian Rebellion in Croatia (1990–1991) |url=https://research.gold.ac.uk/12301/1/HIS_thesis_HayballH_2015.pdf |type=Doctor of Philosophy |publisher=[[Goldsmiths College]] |access-date= 2 July 2020}}</ref> They however led to the establishment of self-proclaimed [[SAO Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia]] which subsequently joined the as well self-declared [[Republic of Serbian Krajina]]. The region was ethnically cleansed of its Croat and some other non-Serb population leading to some of the most serious violation of human rights including [[Erdut killings]], [[Lovas killings]], [[Dalj massacre]], [[Tovarnik massacre]], [[Vukovar massacre]] and [[List of massacres in the Croatian War of Independence|other crimes]]. Within the Republic of Serbian Krajina there was no direct physical connection between the Krajina and Eastern Slavonia, and no later than 1994 there was effective detachment and schism between [[Pale, Bosnia and Herzegovina|Pale]]-aligned and more hardline [[Knin]] administration and more compromising and Belgrade aligned Vukovar administration. Complete military defeat of Krajina during the [[Operation Storm]] and perception that similar or more devastating fate may follow up in Eastern Slavonia increased willingness to compromise and commitment on all sides to pursue peaceful resolution of the conflict. As the result of the War Vukovar became known in majority Croat community as the ''Hero City'' and is today a common emotional patriotic or nationalist reference commemorated officially as a Remembrance Day [[Public holidays in Croatia|public holiday]] on November 18.

===United Nations administration===
On 12 November 1995 [[Erdut Agreement]] between the authorities of the [[Republic of Croatia]] and the local Serb authorities of the [[Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia (1995–1998)|Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia]] was reached enabling peaceful resolution to the Croatian War of Independence in eastern Croatia. The agreement was acknowledged by the [[United Nations Security Council]] in its [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1023|Resolution 1023]] and subsequent resolutions dealing with the newly established [[United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium]]. The mission successfully demilitarized the region and returned it to government's control over the two year period. It enabled the return of Croat refugees and provided inter-communal power-sharing mechanisms in police and other institutions as well as the establishment of minority institutions such as the [[Serb National Council]] and regional [[Joint Council of Municipalities (Croatia)|Joint Council of Municipalities]].

===Contemporary period===
In the aftermath of the direct United Nations Administration [[OSCE Mission to Croatia]] was present in the region.

==Geography==
Vukovar-Srijem County lies in the far northeastern part of [[Croatia]], in the regions of eastern [[Slavonia]] and west [[Syrmia]]. Total area of the county is 2,454&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>. Two major rivers run through the county, the [[Danube]] and the [[Sava]], and two smaller rivers, the [[Bosut (river)|Bosut]] and the [[Vuka (river)|Vuka]]. The Bosut is a tributary of the Sava river, while the Vuka is a tributary of the Danube. Small Bosut tributaries within the water-land [[Spačva basin]] are [[Spačva (river)|Spačva]] and [[Studva]].  The county's highest point is Čukala, on the [[Fruška Gora]], at 294 meters (965&nbsp;ft), and its lowest point is on the Spačva River at 78 meters (256&nbsp;ft) within the Spačva basin. Vukovar-Srijem County has a moderate [[continental climate]], with a yearly average of 11&nbsp;°C (52&nbsp;°F). The county has an average annual rainfall of {{convert|650|mm|0|abbr=on}} in the east, up to {{convert|800|mm|0|abbr=on}} in western parts (25.6 to 31.5 in).

The Vukovar-Srijem County borders the [[Osijek-Baranja County]] to the north and west, [[Brod-Posavina County]] to the west, [[Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnian and Herzegovinian]] entity of [[Republika Srpska]] to the south and south-west and [[Brčko District]] to south, [[Posavina Canton]] to south-west and [[Serbia]]n [[Srem District]] to south-east and [[South Bačka District]] to north-east. The [[Croatian Government]] has claims on the [[Island of Šarengrad|islands of Šarengrad]] and [[Island of Vukovar|Vukovar]] on the Danube river, which are under Serbian control.

==Demographics==
[[File:Vukovar-Sirmium County Population Pyramid Census 2011 ENG.png|thumb|300px|[[Population pyramid]] of Vukovar-Srijem county per the 2011 Census]]
{{Historical populations
|title  = Historical populations of Vukovar-Srijem County
|shading     = off
| align = none
| cols = 2
|1857 |86678
|1869 |101029
|1880 |104801
|1890 |117918
|1900 |125569
|1910 |129754
|1921 |127417
|1931 |139340
|1948 |152472
|1953 |166956
|1961 |193224
|1971 |217115
|1981 |223919
|1991 |231241
|2001 |204768
|2011 |179521
|2021 |144438

|footnote=
|source = ''Naselja i stanovništvo Republike Hrvatske 1857–2001'', [[Croatian Bureau of Statistics]], Zagreb, 2005
}}

The population of Vukovar-Srijem County at the time of the 2021 Census was 143,113, making it the 7th most populous [[Counties of Croatia|county of Croatia]]. Historically, the population was highest in 1991 when it peaked at a little over 230 thousand inhabitants.<ref>[http://www.vukovarsko-srijemska-zupanija.com/vsz.php?stranica=2 Basic information about the county] {{in lang|hr}}</ref>

{{Croatian population data graph |popisi=HRV |upisano=2022-06-04 |područje=Vukovar-Srijem County |p1857=86768 |p1869=101029 |p1880=104801 |p1890=117918 |p1900=125569 |p1910=129754 |p1921=127417 |p1931=139340 |p1948=152472 |p1953=166956 |p1961=193224 |p1971=217115 |p1981=223919 |p1991=231241 |p2001=204768 |p2011=179521 |p2021=144438}}

According to the 2021 census, [[Croats]] with 116,847 individuals constitute 81.65% of the county's entire population. Ethnic [[Serbs]] are the largest ethnic minority, making up 13.49% or 19,309 individuals. Other ethnic groups are [[Hungarians]] 1,180 (0.82%), [[Bosniaks]] 1,110 (0.78%), [[Pannonian Rusyns|Rusyns]] 965 (0.67%), [[Slovaks]] 842 (0.59%).<ref>[https://dzs.gov.hr/vijesti/objavljeni-konacni-rezultati-popisa-2021/1270 Objavljeni konačni rezultati Popisa 2021.]  {{in lang|hr}}</ref> The largest Hungarian community is in [[Tordinci]] (18.65% of total population in the municipality), for Rusyns is [[Bogdanovci]] (19.48%), and for Bosniaks is [[Gunja, Croatia|Gunja]] (28.92%); while 78% of total Slovak population in the county live in [[Ilok]].

Vukovar-Srijem County is, according to the census data, the county with the highest percentage of ethnic non-Croats in the entire country. Serbs are the largest minority community followed by Hungarians, Rusyns, Slovaks and Bosniaks. Historically large [[Yugoslavs|Yugoslav]], [[Danube Swabians]], [[History of the Jews in Croatia|Jewish]], [[Vlachs]], [[Turks in Croatia|Turkish]] and other communities lived in the region. Census data on [[Roma in Croatia]] may not always be reliable due to [[wikt:stigma|stigma]] associated with free expression of ethnic identity in this community.

Area of modern-day Vukovar-Srijem County experienced number of spontaneous or state organized voluntary and involuntary waves of violent and peaceful [[emigration]], [[immigration]] and politically motivated population persecution. Members of the same ethnic group in addition to [[social class]] may often distinguish themselves according to the time spent in the region (autochthonous or new and relatively new communities) and place of origin. Many of villages in the county are result of colonization. Among other, [[Austria-Hungary]] supported colonization of [[Mikluševci]] and [[Petrovci, Croatia|Petrovci]], Protestant Germans settled in [[Banovci, Vukovar-Srijem County|Banovci]], [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]] supporting colonization of [[Karadžićevo]], World War II puppet [[Independent State of Croatia]] established the village of [[Bokšić, Vukovar-Srijem County|Bokšić]], [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] supported resettlement of the World War II persecuted Serb communities from [[Bosnia-Herzegovina]] and [[Dalmatia]] in the region.

The [[Croatian War of Independence]] represents one of the last major demographic developments in the region. Croat communities were initially expelled from the self-proclaimed [[SAO Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia]]. After the [[Operation Flash]], Serbian refugees from western Slavonia settled in the region, yet the majority of them, together with some of the locals, emigrated during and after the reintegration process. After the war, the Croatian state organised the return of expelled Croats. It provided housing for a significant number of ethnic Croat refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina [[Posavina]], which became part of the [[Republika Srpska]].

After the [[2013 enlargement of the European Union]], all communities in the county were affected by significantly increased levels of emigration to Western Europe ([[Germany]], [[Ireland]], [[Austria]], [[United Kingdom]]). Vukovar-Srijem County was one of the Croatian counties most directly exposed to the [[European migrant crisis]], yet it served almost exclusively as a transit point. As a response to this development, a new permanent immigration centre was opened in the village of [[Tovarnik]].

===Minority populations===
{{multiple image
 | width = 120
 | image1 = Православна црква у Вуковару 02.jpg
 | alt1 = [[Church of St. Nicholas, Vukovar]]
 | image2 = Gunja Mosque Interior-Džamija u gunji unutrašnjost-Џамија у Гуњи унутрашњост 01.jpg
 | alt2 = Gunja Mosque Interior
 | footer = [[Church of St. Nicholas, Vukovar|Serbian Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas in Vukovar]] and [[Gunja Mosque]]
}}
[[File:Srpski dom Vukovar 04.jpg|thumb|right|''Serb home'' is a cultural institution of [[Serbs of Vukovar]]]]
Serbs form majority population in municipalities of [[Negoslavci]] (97.19%), [[Markušica]] (90.10%) ([[Gaboš]], [[Karadžićevo]], [[Ostrovo, Croatia|Ostrovo]], [[Podrinje, Croatia|Podrinje]]), [[Trpinja]] (89.75%) ([[Bobota, Croatia|Bobota]], [[Bršadin]], [[Pačetin]], [[Vera, Croatia|Vera]], [[Ludvinci]]) and [[Borovo, Croatia|Borovo]] (89.73%). Outside of these municipalities Serbs form majority in villages [[Banovci, Vukovar-Srijem County|Banovci]], [[Vinkovački Banovci]], [[Orolik]], [[Srijemske Laze]] and [[Mlaka Antinska]]. Serbian minority communities live in [[Serbs of Vukovar|Vukovar]], [[Mirkovci, Croatia|Mirkovci]], [[Tovarnik]], [[Stari Jankovci]], [[Novi Jankovci]], [[Ilok]], [[Bogdanovci]], [[Tompojevci]] and [[Vinkovci]].

In the town of Vukovar and municipalities of Negoslavci, Markušica, Trpinja and Borovo, as well as in the villages of Banovci and Vinkovački Banovci, [[Serbian language]] and [[Serbian Cyrillic script]] is introduced in official use alongside Croatian.<ref>Izvješće o provođenju ustavnog zakona o pravima nacionalnih manjina i o utošku sredstava osiguranih u državnom proračunu Republike Hrvatske za 2008. godinu za potrebe nacionalnih manjina, Zagreb, 2009.</ref><ref name="Minority names">{{cite web|url=http://www.nipp.hr/UserDocsImages/Registar%20geografska%20imena%20nacionalnih%20manjina%20RH.pdf|title=Registar Geografskih Imena Nacionalnih Manjina Republike Hrvatske|format=PDF|access-date=2013-06-29|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029211333/http://www.nipp.hr/UserDocsImages/Registar%20geografska%20imena%20nacionalnih%20manjina%20RH.pdf|archive-date=2013-10-29}}</ref>

There are in total 12 elementary schools with eight additional local schools and four [[secondary school]]s offering education in [[Serbian language|Serbian]].<ref name="A 2011">''Popis osnovnih i srednjih škola s nastavom na jeziku i pismu nacionalnih manjina  po modelu A'', školska godina 2011./2012., Ministarstvo znanosti obrazovanja i sporta</ref> A number of Serb minority organizations are centered in the county, including the [[Joint Council of Municipalities]], the [[Independent Democratic Serb Party]], and [[Radio Borovo]].

There is one elementary school in [[Korođ]] offering education in [[Hungarian language]].<ref name="A 2011"/>

The oldest [[mosque]] in Croatia in continuous use is [[Gunja Mosque]] located in the village of [[Gunja, Croatia|Gunja]].

== Politics ==
[[File:Županijska palača Vukovar - Жупанијска палата Вуковар.jpg|thumb|[[Palace of Syrmia County]] serves as the administrative and assembly headquarters of the county.]]

Following the [[2021 Croatian local elections]] the Assembly of the Vukovar-Srijem County is composed of 37 elected representatives.<ref name="Lokalni izbori 2021">{{cite web |title=Rezultati izbora članova Županijske skupštine Vukovarsko-srijemske županije provedenih 16. svibnja 2021. |url=http://www.vusz.hr/Cms_Data/Contents/VSZ/Folders/dokumenti/izbori/lokalni21/~contents/QM82HB5JY2QMGYSM/ovjereno-rj--up.-skup-tina-vs-.pdf |format=PDF |language=hr |access-date=21 August 2021}}</ref> Out of a total of 145,082 eligible voters 72,587 (50.03%) participated in the elections and 72,558 (50.01%) submitted their ballots.<ref name="Lokalni izbori 2021"/> There were 68,401 (94.27%) valid and 4,157 (5.73%) invalid ballots.<ref name="Lokalni izbori 2021"/> The [[Croatian Democratic Union]] got 27,460 (40.14%) ballots and 16 elected representatives, the [[Homeland Movement (Croatia)|Homeland Movement]] got 16,072 ballots (23.49%) and nine elected representatives, the [[The Bridge (Croatia)|Bridge of Independent Lists]] with Croatian Sovereignists 8,755 ballots (12.79%) and five elected representatives, the [[Social Democratic Party of Croatia]] got 5,113 ballots (7.47%) and three elected representatives, the [[Independent Democratic Serb Party]] got 4,943 ballots (7.22%) and two elected representatives, and [[independent politician]] Tomislav Panenić's list got 3,664 ballots (5,35%) and two elected representatives.<ref name="Lokalni izbori 2021"/> Ethnic Serb [[independent politician]] [[Dragan Crnogorac (politician)|Dragan Crnogorac]]'s list got 2,394 ballots (3.49%), which is below the 5% required to be assigned any seats in the Assembly.<ref name="Lokalni izbori 2021"/>

{{election table|title=Summary of the [[2021 Croatian local elections]]}}
|- style="background-color:#E9E9E9" align=center
!colspan=2|Party
!Votes
!%
!Seats
|-
| bgcolor=#4D4DFF|
|align=left valign=top|[[Croatian Democratic Union]]||27,460||40.14||16 
|-
| width=5px bgcolor=#555555|
|align=left valign=top|[[Homeland Movement (Croatia)|Homeland Movement]]||16,072 ||23.49||9
|-
| bgcolor=#D44500|
|align=left valign=top|[[The Bridge (Croatia)|Bridge of Independent Lists]] & Croatian Sovereignists||8,755||12.79||5
|-
| bgcolor=#E60026|
|align=left valign=top|[[Social Democratic Party of Croatia]]||5,113||7.47||3
|-
| bgcolor=#89CFF0|
|align=left valign=top|[[Independent Democratic Serb Party]]||4,943||7.22||2
|-
| bgcolor=#74C365|
|align=left valign=top|[[Independent politician]] Tomislav Panenić's list||3,664||5.35||2
|-
| bgcolor=#C3B091|
|align=left valign=top|[[Independent politician]] [[Dragan Crnogorac (politician)|Dragan Crnogorac]]'s list||2,394||3.49||0
|-
|align=left colspan=2|Invalid/blank votes||4,157|| 5.73||—
|-
|align=left colspan=2|'''Total'''||'''72,558'''||'''100'''||—
|-
|align=left colspan=2|Registered voters/turnout||145,082||50.01||—
|-
|align=left colspan=8|
[[File:Assembly of the Vukovar-Syrmia County (2021 local elections).png|250 px|center]]
|-
|align=left colspan=8|Source:<ref name="Lokalni izbori 2021"/> {{in lang|hr}}
|}

===Minority councils and representatives===
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.<ref name="T-Portal">{{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=2 May 2023}}</ref> At the [[2023 Croatian national minorities councils and representatives elections]] [[Bosniaks of Croatia|Bosniaks]], [[Hungarians of Croatia|Hungarians]], [[Pannonian Rusyns]], [[Slovaks of Croatia|Slovaks]] and [[Serbs of Croatia]] each fulfilled legal requirements to elect 25 members minority councils of the Vukovar-Srijem County while [[Albanians of Croatia|Albanians]], [[Germans of Croatia|Germans]] and [[Ukrainians of Croatia]] electing individual representatives with [[Romani people in Croatia|Roma]] representative remaining unelected due to the lack of candidates.<ref name="VSŽ-Manjine-2023">{{cite web | url=https://www.izbori.hr/site/UserDocsImages/2023/Manjinski%20izbori%202023/Rezultati/Z16_VUKOVARSKO_SRIJEMSKA_ZUPANIJA.pdf | title=Informacija o konačnim rezultatima izbora članova vijeća i izbora predstavnika nacionalnih manjina 2023. XVI. VUKOVARSKO-SRIJEMSKA ŽUPANIJA | date=2023 | author= | publisher=Državno izborno povjerenstvo Republike Hrvatske | page=3-6 | language=hr | format=PDF | access-date=3 June 2023 | archive-date=3 June 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603112238/https://www.izbori.hr/site/UserDocsImages/2023/Manjinski%20izbori%202023/Rezultati/Z16_VUKOVARSKO_SRIJEMSKA_ZUPANIJA.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref> Numerous municipalities, towns or cities in the county elected their own local minority councils as well.<ref name="VSŽ-Manjine-2023"/>

==Towns and municipalities==
Vukovar-Srijem County has 85 settlements, and is divided into five towns and 26 municipalities.

<gallery>
Image:Vukovar-Srijem-County.png|County map with municipalities
</gallery>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%" border="1"  width="65%"
|-
! width="70" | Town <small>(bold)</small> / Municipality
! width="40" | Area <small>(km<sup>2</sup>)</small>
! width="40" | Population <br><small>(2001 census)</small>
! width="40" | Population <br><small>(2011 census)</small>
! width="90" | Settlements (beside the seat of town/municipality)<ref>[http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/dodatni/129137.htm List of towns and municipalities in the county] published by Narodne Novine</ref>
|-
| '''[[Vukovar]]'''
| align="right"| {{Nts|98.78}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|31670}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|28016}}
| [[Lipovača, Vukovar-Srijem County|Lipovača]], [[Sotin]], [[Grabovo, Croatia|Grabovo]]
|-
| '''[[Vinkovci]]'''
| align="right"| {{Nts|94.21}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|35921}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|35375}}
| [[Mirkovci, Croatia|Mirkovci]]
|-
| '''[[Županja]]'''
| align="right"| {{Nts|90.14}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|13774}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|12185}}
|
|-
| '''[[Ilok]]'''
| align="right"| {{Nts|128.92}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|8351}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|6750}}
| [[Bapska]], [[Mohovo]], [[Šarengrad]]
|-
| '''[[Otok, Vukovar-Syrmia County|Otok]]'''
| align="right"| {{Nts|136.15}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|7755}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|6366}}
| [[Komletinci]]
|-
| [[Andrijaševci]]
| align="right"| {{Nts|39.62}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|4249}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|4122}}
| [[Rokovci]]
|-
| [[Babina Greda]]
| align="right"| {{Nts|79.51}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|4262}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|3585}}
|
|-
| [[Bogdanovci]]
| align="right"| {{Nts|51.76}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|2366}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|1957}}
| [[Petrovci, Croatia|Petrovci]], [[Svinjarevci]]
|-
| [[Borovo, Croatia|Borovo]]
| align="right"| {{Nts|28.13}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|5360}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|5133}}
|
|-
| [[Bošnjaci]]
| align="right"| {{Nts|94.96}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|4653}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|3869}}
|
|-
| [[Cerna, Croatia|Cerna]]
| align="right"| {{Nts|69.26}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|4990}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|4616}}
| [[Šiškovci]]
|-
| [[Drenovci]]
| align="right"| {{Nts|200.02}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|7424}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|5109}}
| [[Đurići]], [[Posavski Podgajci]], [[Račinovci]], [[Rajevo Selo]]
|-
| [[Gradište, Croatia|Gradište]]
| align="right"| {{Nts|57.56}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|3382}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|2769}}
|
|-
| [[Gunja (Croatia)|Gunja]]
| align="right"| {{Nts|31.06}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|5033}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|3707}}
|
|-
| [[Ivankovo, Croatia|Ivankovo]]
| align="right"| {{Nts|103.43}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|8676}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|7977}}
| [[Prkovci]], [[Retkovci]]
|-
| [[Jarmina]]
| align="right"| {{Nts|12.94}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|2627}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|2435}}
| [[Borinci]]
|-
| [[Lovas, Croatia|Lovas]]
| align="right"| {{Nts|42.52}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|1579}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|1217}}
| [[Opatovac, Vukovar-Syrmia County|Opatovac]]
|-
| [[Markušica]]
| align="right"| {{Nts|73.44}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|3053}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|2576}}
| [[Gaboš]], [[Karadžićevo]], [[Ostrovo, Croatia|Ostrovo]], [[Podrinje]]
|-
| [[Negoslavci]]
| align="right"| {{Nts|21.21}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|1466}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|1472}}
|
|-
| [[Nijemci]]
| align="right"| {{Nts|224.68}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|5998}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|4715}}
| [[Apševci]], [[Banovci, Vukovar-Syrmia County|Banovci]], [[Donje Novo Selo, Croatia|Donje Novo Selo]], [[Đeletovci]], [[Lipovac, Croatia|Lipovac]], [[Podgrađe, Vukovar-Srijem County|Podgrađe]], [[Vinkovački Banovci]]
|-
| [[Nuštar]]
| align="right"| {{Nts|43.33}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|5862}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|5772}}
| [[Cerić, Croatia|Cerić]], [[Marinci, Croatia|Marinci]]
|-
| [[Privlaka, Vukovar-Syrmia County|Privlaka]]
| align="right"| {{Nts|52.41}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|3776}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|2962}}
|
|-
| [[Stari Jankovci]]
| align="right"| {{Nts|95.16}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|5216}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|4404}}
| [[Novi Jankovci]], [[Orolik]], [[Slakovci]], [[Srijemske Laze]]
|-
| [[Stari Mikanovci]]
| align="right"| {{Nts|54.50}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|3387}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|2945}}
| [[Novi Mikanovci]]
|-
| [[Štitar, Croatia|Štitar]]
| align="right"| {{Nts|40.12}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|2608}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|2108}}
|
|-
| [[Tompojevci]]
| align="right"| {{Nts|72.81}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|1999}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|1561}}
| [[Berak]], [[Bokšić, Vukovar-Srijem County|Bokšić]], [[Čakovci]], [[Grabovo, Croatia|Grabovo]], [[Mikluševci]]
|-
| [[Tordinci]]
| align="right"| {{Nts|50.17}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|2251}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|2047}}
| [[Antin, Croatia|Antin]], [[Korođ]], [[Mlaka Antinska]]
|-
| [[Tovarnik]]
| align="right"| {{Nts|64.56}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|3335}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|2792}}
| [[Ilača]]
|-
| [[Trpinja]]
| align="right"| {{Nts|123.87}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|6466}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|5680}}
| [[Bobota, Croatia|Bobota]], [[Bršadin]], [[Ćelija]], [[Ludvinci]], [[Pačetin]], [[Vera, Croatia|Vera]]
|-
| [[Vođinci]]
| align="right"| {{Nts|21.26}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|2113}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|1957}}
|
|-
| [[Vrbanja, Croatia|Vrbanja]]
| align="right"| {{Nts|191.00}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|5174}}
| align="right"| {{Nts|3938}}
| [[Soljani]], [[Strošinci]]
|- style="background:#dfd;"
| '''Total''' ('''5'''+26)
| align="right"| '''{{Nts|2448.00}}'''
| align="right"| '''{{Nts|204768}}'''
| align="right"| '''{{Nts|180,117}}'''
| '''54 settlements'''
|}

==See also==
*[[Syrmia County]] of the [[Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Vukovar-Syrmia County}}
* [http://www.vusz.hr/ Vukovar-Syrmia County]
* {{Official Facebook page|vukovar.srijem.county}}
* [https://visitvukovar-srijem.com/ Vukovar-Srijem County tourist organization]

{{Subdivisions of Vukovar-Srijem County}}
{{Counties of Croatia}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Vukovar-Syrmia County| ]]
[[Category:Counties of Croatia]]