Shijak

Municipality

Seal

Shijak

Coordinates: 41°20′44″N 19°34′2″E / 41.34556°N 19.56722°ECoordinates: 41°20′44″N 19°34′2″E / 41.34556°N 19.56722°E

Country

Albania

County

Durrës

Government

• Mayor

Ardian Kokomani (SP)

Area

• Municipality

92.19 km² (35.59 sq mi)

Elevation

51 m (167 ft)

Population (2011)

• Municipality

34,513

• Municipality density

370/km² (970/sq mi)

• Administrative Unit

7,568

Time zone

CET (UTC+1)

• Summer (DST)

CEST (UTC+2)

Postal Code

2013-2014

Area Code

(0)571

Vehicle registration

Shijak is a town and a municipality in Durrës County, west-central Albania. The municipality was formed at the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities Gjepalaj, Maminas, Shijak and Xhafzotaj, that became municipal units. The seat of the municipality is the town Shijak. The total population is 34,513 (2011 census), in a total area of 92.19 km². The population of the former municipality at the 2011 census was 7,568.

Shijak is located 11 km away from the city of Durrës, and 31 km from the city of Tirana. The former municipality had a surface area of about 5 km², and a reported population of around 12,853 people as of 2007. In reality the population is smaller as many people who claim residency in Shijak actually reside permanently elsewhere. With this taken into account the actual population size is estimated to be around 6,000–7,000 people. Population size has grown at a rate of around 1% per year despite birth rate decreasing at a rate of around 60% from 2003 to 2007. Inward migration of families accounts for this increase. Three neighborhoods comprise Shijak; “lagjia e re,” “lagjia e vjeter,” and “lagjia erzen.” In 2010-2011 the only female mayor in Albania ran Shijak.

Shijak has ancient roots, dating back to after the founding of Durrës in 637 B.C. Shijak developed as a satellite site for the Taulantii tribe although under a different name, with the tribe's hub located in Durrës. Later Shijak was named as Shen Jak, translated to “Saint Jacob.” Later Shijak would be known as Shenjak, Shejak, Shinjak, then Shijak. The settlement suffered some destruction during the Ottoman invasion including some destruction to the local church.

In 1880 Sali Bej Deliallisi founded Shijak as a village. The population of Shijak grew when Bosnian settlers (from Bosnia and Herzegovina) immigrated into two neighboring villages which later became known as Koxhas and Borake. Shijak later developed into a town as natural growth occurred and around 1908 people from the cities of Tirana, Kruja, and Shengjergj migrated into Shijak and built residences and shops. Shijak became an official town with a French reconstruction process in 1930.

The Erzen river runs through Shijak, and the spring of Gjyshi, spring of Dshku, and Erzin lake are all in the nearby vicinity. Shijak is centered on a flower park, one of two public squares in the municipality. The flower park is bordered by roads with parking. Around the flower park are a variety of shops including tourism agencies, ice cream shops, bars, cafes, restaurants, and small food shops. There are many paved roads in Shijak, but more unpaved. Low one or two story houses with low walls with gates in front are characteristic of Shijak.

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Wikipedia