Žilina

Žilina
City
Andrej Hlinka Square
Flag Coat of arms
Country	Slovakia
Region	Žilina
District	Žilina
Tourism region	Horné Považie
Rivers	Váh, Rajčanka, Kysuca
Center	Andrej Hlinka Square
- elevation	342 m (1,122 ft)
- coordinates	49°13′22″N 18°44′24″E / 49.22278°N 18.74000°E / 49.22278; 18.74000Coordinates: 49°13′22″N 18°44′24″E / 49.22278°N 18.74000°E / 49.22278; 18.74000
Area	80.028 km2 (30.90 sq mi)
Population	81,155 (2014-12-31)
- urban	108,114
- metro	154,000
Density	1,014/km2 (2,626/sq mi)
First mentioned	1208
Mayor	Igor Choma
Timezone	CET (UTC+1)
- summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	010 01
Area code	+421-41
Car plate	ZA
Location in Slovakia
Location in the Žilina Region
Statistics: MOŠ/MIS
Website: www.zilina.sk

Žilina (Slovak pronunciation: [ˈʒilina]; German: Sillein, [ziˈlaɪ̯n] or [ˈzɪlaɪ̯n]; Hungarian: Zsolna; Polish: Żylina, names in other languages) is a city in north-western Slovakia, around 200 kilometres (120 mi) from the capital Bratislava, close to both the Czech and Polish borders. It is the fourth largest city of Slovakia with a population of approximately 85,000, an important industrial center, the largest city on the Váh river, and the seat of a kraj (Žilina Region) and of an okres (Žilina District). It belongs to the Upper Váh region of tourism.

The name is derived from Slavic/Slovak word žila - a "(river) vein". Žilina means "a place with many watercourses". Alternatively, it is a secondary name derived from Žilinka river or from the name of the local people, Žilín/Žiliňane.

The area around today's Žilina was inhabited in the late Stone Age (about 20,000 BC). In the 5th century Slavs started to move into the area. However, the first written reference to Žilina was in 1208 as terra de Selinan. From the second half of the 10th century until 1918, it was part of the Kingdom of Hungary.