Gramsh
Municipality
Sotira Waterfall from a distance
Sotira Waterfall from a distance
Flag of Gramsh
Flag
Official logo of Gramsh
Emblem
Gramsh is located in Albania
Gramsh
Gramsh
Coordinates: 40°52′N 20°11′E / 40.867°N 20.183°E / 40.867; 20.183
Country Albania
CountyElbasan
Government
 • MayorBesion Ajazi (PS)
Area
 • Municipality739.75 km2 (285.62 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Municipality
24,231
 • Municipality density33/km2 (85/sq mi)
 • Municipal unit
8,440
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal Code
3301
Area Code(0)513
Websitebashkiagramsh.gov.al
Gramsh from the air

Gramsh (Albanian definite form: Gramshi) is a town and a municipality in Elbasan County, central Albania. The municipality was formed at the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities Gramsh, Kodovjat, Kukur, Kushovë, Lenie, Pishaj, Poroçan, Skënderbegas, Sult and Tunjë, that became municipal units. The seat of the municipality is the town Gramsh.[1] The total population is 24,231 (2011 census),[2] in a total area of 739.75 km2.[3] The population of the former municipality at the 2011 census was 8,440.[2]

The town is connected with Elbasan, Korça, Pogradec, Skrapar, Librazhd and Berat. The town is crossed by the river Devoll.

Etymology

During the Ottoman period and before the Albanian Declaration of Independence in 1912, it was known as Grameç in Turkish.[4]

History

Gramsh has been inhabited since ancient times, as is confirmed by archaeological findings in the Tumulus of Cëruja.In the Middle Ages, the area was under the possession of Prince George Arianiti. During Ottoman rule, it was a kaza administrative division within the Sanjak of Elbasan of the Monastir Vilayet.[4]
In the 16th century it was reported as having 400 houses and 18 shops , the area also had around 500 active rebels who attacked the Ottomans from time to time.From 1912 until 1947, this was the center of Gramsh area. With the new administrative division, it became the center of Gramsh District, in which were placed various state institutions. Gramsh was declared a city on July 10, 1960. Since 1965, it has been a municipality.

Historically the southern part of the district was part of the ethnographic region of Tomorrica, and its population was primarily Bektashi, a Sufi order linked to Shiism, while the northern part of the district was more heavily Sunni,[5] but there is also a Bektashi tekke in the town of Dushk, in the Sult municipality. There are also Orthodox Christians in addition to Muslims in the southeastern region of Lenie, especially in historically Aromanian towns such as Grabovë.[5] There were ethnically Albanian Orthodox Christians from in the nearby Shpat region of the former Elbasan district, which borders Gramsh. Many of Gramsh's municipalities saw less than 50% of the population declare themselves for any religion, including Tunjë, Sult, Poroçan, Gramsh the city itself, and Kodovjat, as well as the neighboring Mollas region which is historically linked to Gramsh although it wasn't part of the municipality recently.[6]

On 20 August 2022, Gramsh’s weapons factory was attacked by two Russians and one Ukrainian. The Albanian Police arrested the three suspects after.[7]

Economy

The city was home of one of the main military weaponry factories during the communist era. Devolli Hydro Power started in 1980, but was left between work due to the death of communist leader Enver Hoxha, and the beginning of a Transitional period until the 1990s that culminated in the overthrow of that system.
In October 2013, it was reported that the municipality debt was high and the municipality was close to bankruptcy due to poor management of funds by former mayor, Dritan Bici.[8]

Sports

The football (soccer) club is KF Gramshi that is in the Albanian Second Division.

Notable people

Twin towns – sister cities

Gramsh is twinned with:

References

  1. ↑ "Law nr. 115/2014" (PDF) (in Albanian). pp. 6368–6369. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Population and housing census - Elbasan 2011" (PDF). INSTAT. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
  3. ↑ "Correspondence table LAU – NUTS 2016, EU-28 and EFTA / available Candidate Countries" (XLS). Eurostat. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
  4. 1 2 HÜSNÜ YAZICI – Yazdiği Konular
  5. 1 2 Çarçani, Leonard. Besimet Fetare në Prefekturën e Elbasanit. Page 24
  6. ↑ Albanian 2018 census data by municipality
  7. ↑ "Albania arrests two Russians, one Ukrainian trying to enter military plant". Reuters. 2022-08-20. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
  8. ↑ GRAMSH, BASHKIA 800 mln BORXHE [Gramsh, the municipality in debt of 800 mill LEK] (YouTube) (in Albanian). Skampa TV. 9 Oct 2013. Archived from the original on 2021-12-19. Retrieved 9 Nov 2013.
  9. ↑ Dekreti Presidentit te Republikes nr.7840, date 03.12.2012
  10. ↑ "PROKURORI I PËRGJITHSHËM/ Dje Presidenti Bujar Nishani dekretoi Adriatik Llallën si pasardhësin e Ina Ramës" [GENERAL PROSECUTOR / Yesterday President Bujar Nishani decreed Adriatik Llalla as Ina Rama's successor]. Gazeta Telegraf (in Albanian). 4 December 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  11. ↑ "Archives" [Press Release / HIDAACI]. ILDKPKI (in Albanian). 13 October 2008. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  12. ↑ "Comune di Plataci - Vivere Plataci - Gemellaggio". www.comune.plataci.cs.it. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
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