Zaprešić () is a town in Zagreb County, in central Croatia. It has a population of 19,644 inhabitants in the town proper, with 25,223 in the administrative area. The town's metropolitan area, which encompasses the seven neighbouring municipalities, has a population of 54,640. Zaprešić is the third-largest, and most densely populated town of the county.This is calculated on the basis of second-level administrative divisions (towns, and municipalities), not the census-designated settlements (naselja). When calculated on the basis of settlements, Zaprešić is the second-largest one, after Velika Gorica with 31,553 inhabitants (2011 census). It is located northwest of the Croatian capital Zagreb, and near the Slovenian border. It is centered on plains north of the Sava River, and is bordered by Medvednica Mountain to the east, and the Marija Gorica Hills to the west.
The first human settlement in, and near Zaprešić dates from the Neolithic, and several Roman roads were constructed in the area. Vicinity to transport corridors is also reflected in the meaning of the name (za, 'near or behind', prešće 'crossing'). The first records of the settlement date from 1474, although, some authors claim that the church of Saint Peter in Zaprešić could have been mentioned in a document supposedly written in 1334. In the late medieval and early modern times, the village history includes being a part of a feudal estate Susedgrad, as well of being a part of Brdovec parish.
During the 19th century the town was operating the first meat packaging plant in Croatia. However, it was not formally established as a town until 1995. The town is governed by a mayor, a town government of seven members (upper house), and a town council of twenty-one (lower house). Zaprešić has its own fire department, but police coverage is provided by the City of Zagreb. Komunalno poduzeće Zaprešić manages all utilities except electricity. Tap water in Zaprešić is of high quality.
Due to its many rail, and road transport corridors, Zaprešić has been dubbed the "northwestern gate to Zagreb County". It lies directly next to the A2 highway connecting Zagreb to Central Europe. It also is adjacent to the main railway leading northwest out of Zagreb. Centered on the tertiary sector, the town's economy is booming due to a large population influx.
Zaprešić's educational facilities range from kindergartens to centers of higher education. The town is home to four elementary schools, one high school, and two universities. The Zaprešić metropolitan area contains six castles that together make up what is known as the "palace path." The town also has a museum and an art gallery. The most popular sport in the region is football, and the local team was NK Inter Zaprešić, that used to be a member of the First Football League of Croatia. Other sports are also present in Zaprešić, and the town is home to a golf resort.
History The first records of human inhabitants in area of what is today Zaprešić can be traced back to the Neolithic, which can be seen by stone axes found in nearby Brdovec, and axes from the Copper Age found in Marija Gorica. Hallstatt culture traces were also uncovered in the area of Sveti Križ. The Romans left their imprints on nearby in the form of the Siscia–Neviodunum–Emona road, which followed Sava River on its left bank through area of what is today Zaprešić, passing near modern settlements.
After a lack of records from the first millennium, Zaprešić was mentioned in written sources in the late 11th century. In 1094, following the formation of the Zagreb Diocese, magnate called Aka, an advisor of the Hungarian-Croatian King Ladislav I, was granted land west and east of the Medvednica Mountain in order to protect the newly formed diocese.
Susedgrad-Stubica Seigniory
In the 14th century, the area between rivers Krapina and Sutla (where today Zaprešić is located) was under control of ban of Slavonia. Multiple historical sources refer to this part of land as Zakrapina (probably due to it being behind Krapina river in relation to Susedgrad Castle). Zaprešić became part of the Susedgrad–Stubica Seigniory, centered around Susedgrad Castle westernmost banks of Medvednica. The seigniory was at a time a second-largest estate in the Zagreb County. In 1334, the parish church of St. Peter was founded in Zaprešić, marking the first evidence of the modern settlement of Zaprešić. The settlement developed rapidly, which is attributed to its position on trade and transit routes.
During the 15th and 16th centuries, refugees from Lika came to Zaprešić while fleeng the Croatian-Ottoman Wars. Some of these refugees were the so-called Brdovec Franciscans, for whom Lord Zylagy of Susedgrad built an abbey in Marija Gorica. The refugees brought along their Ikavian accent, which was preserved for a long time in some small Zaprešić communities, although the Zaprešić area has historically been Ekavian Kajkavian (yat being or rather than ). The area of Zaprešić and nearby vicinity in the 16th century was known for its vineyards and wine production. The area serfs from Zaprešić and nearby villages took part in famous Peasant revolt of 1573, led by Ambroz Gubec, with some of the serf leaders being from Zaprešić area. Ivan Kukuljević Sakcinski, for one thinks that Ambroz Gubec himself managed the estate of Jablanovec, part of modern Zaprešić. Another revolt leader was Ilija Gregorić, a resident of Marija Gorica. Another serf captain was Ivan Turković from Zaprešić.
Two years later, the large Susedgrad-Stubica Seigniory started to disintegrate into many small estates owned by members of lower nobility. Dozens of simple diocesan curia houses remained as a consequence of this.
Contemporary history In 1862, one of the first railway lines in Croatia: Zidani Most-Zagreb-Sisak - was constructed, and it passed through Zaprešić on its way to Zagreb.
In 1903, Zaprešić railway station was a hotspot of two anti-Hungarian riots caused by Khuen Hedervary's magyarization policy and breaking of Croatian–Hungarian Settlement of 1868 by installing Hungarian national symbols on railway objects across Croatia. These demonstrations were part of a wider national movement that swept the country at a time. In both occasions the demonstrations turned into a scuffle with local gendarmes which ended up with several peasants killed and dozens of locals arrested. Peasants that were killed or injured by the gendarmes are traditionally celebrated as a heroes and national martyrs. In their honour, two separate memorial boards were placed on the building of Zaprešić railway station in 1928. and 2003., p. 40 After the First World War, the oldest meat industry in Croatia, the Industrija mesnih proizvoda, was founded.
Zaprešić was formally established for the first time in 1952, when the Municipality of Zaprešić () was formed. The municipality operated as part of the Zagreb kotar and later City of Zagreb. The Town of Zaprešić (Grad Zaprešić) was incorporated on 30 November 1995. On that day, parts of the surrounding municipalities of Pušća, and Hruševec Kupljenski (which was disbanded, leaving only a namesake settlement) and the City of Zagreb were incorporated into a new Town of Zaprešić.Namely, Pojatno was taken from Pušća, and the settlements of Hruševec Kupljenski, and Kupljenovo from the Municipality of Hruševec Kupljenski. Settlements taken from the City of Zagreb were Ivanec Bistranski, Jablanovec, Lužnica, Šibice, and Zaprešić. Merenje was assigned to the Luka municipality. Compare NN 69/95: Act of Zagreb County with NN 90/92: Act of coverage of counties, cities and municipalities in the Republic of Croatia (1992) , and NN 90/92: Act of the City of Zagreb for a full list of Zagreb County settlements by municipality or town in 1995. The settlement of Merenje came under the jurisdiction of Zaprešić on 17 January 1997. (settlements are listed in the form of a semi-ordered list)
Geography Zaprešić is a part of the metropolitan area of Croatia's capital and largest city, Zagreb. It is located northwest of Zagreb, lying near the confluence of the Krapina River, and the Sava River. The small Lužnica River marks the western border of Zaprešić. The Zaprešić metropolitan area consists of Zaprešić and seven surrounding municipalities: Bistra, Brdovec, Dubravica, Jakovlje, Luka, Marija Gorica, and Pušća. It is located in the northwestern part of Zagreb County, bordered on the south by the Sava River, on the east by Zagreb and the Medvednica Mountain, and on the west by the Sutla River and the Slovenian border. According to the official website, three distinct geographic areas make up the Zaprešić area: the western part of the Medvednica Mountain, the Marija Gorica Hills and the plains that lie between. The western part of the Medvednica Mountain is fairly lightly inhabited, with no settlements except at the base of the mountain. These include the Bistra municipality and the Zaprešić settlement of Jablanovec. The Marija Gorica Hills are located mainly in the Marija Gorica municipality between the rivers of Krapina, and Sutla. The third area, the plains, is the area where the Zaprešić itself is located. Zaprešić has a lake, Lake Zajarki, situated between the town and the river Sava in the south. It is colloquially known as Bager (Croatian word for excavator). The lake is currently still used as a gravel pit, although it is a known destination for Zaprešić swimmers and beach goers, as well as local people and foreign tourists who do recreational fishing. Fishing activities on lake Zajarki are regulated by Šrd Šaran, Zaprešić. In 2017. the picnic zone was built on eastern side of a big lake which includes barbecue houses and beach volleyball, handball and football fields.
Demographics According to the 2021 census, the town of Zaprešić has 24,132 inhabitants, a decrease from 2011, 96.82% being Croats, the 2nd largest ethnic group is Serbs at 0.76% followed by Bosniaks at 0.48%.
Religious affiliation in Zaprešić is 81.39% Catholic, followed by 0.87% Orthodox and 5.15% "Other Christians".
The town is administratively divided into nine settlements, the largest of which is Zaprešić, covering a third of the town's area.
+Population development by settlement Settlement 1948 1953 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 2011 Hruševec Kupljenski 627 609 608 488 552 450 453 432 Ivanec Bistranski 590 597 584 593 716 823 932 937 Jablanovec 865 851 861 843 868 1,042 1,342 1,378 Kupljenovo 559 628 644 618 682 722 705 704 Lužnica 96 67 91 89 65 64 62 40 Merenje 252 235 227 175 113 186 158 129 Pojatno 689 719 818 837 958 1,013 1,157 1,213 Šibice 312 297 340 466 385 742 777 746 Zaprešić 2,294 2,537 3,311 4,992 8,201 15,678 17,538 19,644 Total 6,284 6,540 7,484 9,101 12,540 20,720 23,125 25,223
Austro-Hungarian 1910 census According to the 1910 census in Croatia, town of Zaprešić had 5,056 inhabitants,Book: "Ethnic and religious composition of population of Croatia, 1880-1991: by settlements", author: Jakov Gelo, publisher: Zagreb, Croatian bureau of statistics, 1998., , ; which were linguistically and religiously declared to be:
+Town of Zaprešić Language Religion
Economy
Due to its accessible location with favorable conditions for expansion, and a very high net migration, and population growth rates (estimated to be 29 persons per 1,000 per year),Calculated on the basis of 2001 Croatian census and Zagreb Police Department data from 2006 Zaprešić is expecting an economic boom. Despite the 2008 financial crisis that affected many cities in Croatia, including the capital, the town operates without loans and expects a yearly budget increase in the range of 20 to 30 percent. The tertiary sector is dominant with mainly retailing, and hospitality, and a smaller presence of tourism, as well as souvenir manufacturing and financial and business services.