Jelšava

Jelšava
Jolsva
Municipality
Protestant church
Protestant church
Flag of Jelšava
Flag
Coat of arms of Jelšava
Coat of arms
Jelšava is located in Banská Bystrica Region
Jelšava
Jelšava
Location of Jelšava in the Banská Bystrica Region
Jelšava is located in Slovakia
Jelšava
Jelšava
Location of Jelšava in Slovakia
Coordinates: 48°38′N 20°14′E / 48.63°N 20.24°E / 48.63; 20.24
Country Slovakia
Region Banská Bystrica Region
DistrictRevúca District
First mentioned1243
Government
 • MayorMilan Kolesár
Area
[1]
 • Total
46.79 km2 (18.07 sq mi)
Elevation
[3]
258 m (846 ft)
Population
 (2025)[2]
 • Total
3,178
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
491 6[3]
Area code+421 58[3]
Vehicle registration plate (until 2022)RA
Websitewww.jelsava.sk

Jelšava (German: Eltsch or Jelschau; Hungarian: Jolsva) is a town and municipality in Revúca District in the Banská Bystrica Region of Slovakia.

Etymology

The name is derived from Slovak jelša (alder). Jelšava means "a place overgrown with alders" or "a forest with alders".[4]

Geography

The municipality lies at an altitude of 258 metres (846 ft)[3] and covers an area of 46.79 km2 (18.07 sq mi) (2025).[5]

The town lies in the Revúcka vrchovina highlands at the border of the Slovak Ore Mountains and Slovak Karst, in the valley of the Muráň river, at an altitude of around 258 m. It is located by road around 10 km (6.21 mi) from Revúca, 100 km (62.14 mi) from Banská Bystrica and 105 km (65.24 mi) away from Košice.

Along to the main settlement, it also has "part" Teplá Voda, bit north-west of the town.

History

In historical records, the town was first mentioned in 1243 (1243 Illswa, 1271 Elswa, 1344 Ilsua, 1564 Jelssawa, 1573 Jolssowa, 1582 Ölch alias Ilschwa, 1594 Oltcz, 1592 Jelsowa, Josuach) as an important town and hammer, hosting German and Hungarian colonists. In the time it was ruled by Desiderius of the Ratoldy family, who was the founder of a new family, the Ilsvay (meaning "from Jelšava"). In 1556, Jelšava was besieged by Turks, to whom it had to pay tributes. In this period Protestantism arrived in the town. It was ruled by Ottoman Empire as part of Filek sanjak (Its centre was Rima Sonbot) during periods of 1554-1593 and 1596–1686. It was known as "Yoşva" during Ottoman period.[6] In the 17th century, Jelšava passed to the Bocskay family. The first magnesite furnace in present-day Slovakia was built in 1894. After breakup of Austria-Hungary in 1918, the town passed to Czechoslovakia, which controlled the town lied until 1993, with exception of years 1938–1945, when it was occupied by Hungary (see First Vienna Award). In 1993, the town became a part of Slovakia.

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±%
19703,538—    
19802,959−16.4%
19912,508−15.2%
20013,287+31.1%
20113,229−1.8%
20213,209−0.6%
Source: Censuses[7][8]
Population statistic (10 years)[9]
Year1995200520152025
Count2955314731913178
Difference +6.49% +1.39% −0.40%
Population statistic[9]
Year20242025
Count31773178
Difference+0.03%

It has a population of 3178 people (31 December 2025).[10]

Ethnicity

Census 2021 (1+ %)[11][12]
EthnicityNumberFraction
Slovak265182.61%
Not found out38211.9%
Romani3129.72%
Hungarian421.3%
Total3209

In year 2021 was 3209 people by ethnicity 2651 as Slovak, 382 as Not found out, 312 as Romani, 42 as Hungarian, 17 as Czech, 4 as Ukrainian, 4 as Other, 2 as Polish, 1 as Vietnamese, 1 as Italian, 1 as Rusyn, 1 as Russian, 1 as Romanian, 1 as Austrian and 1 as German.

Note on population: The difference values of population numbers in the table "Population statistic" and in the sections "Ethnicity" & "Religion" is caused by the use of various statistical methods.

Religion

Census 2021 (1+ %)[13]
ReligionNumberFraction
None142544.41%
Roman Catholic Church77524.15%
Not found out52416.33%
Evangelical Church33410.41%
Greek Catholic Church682.12%
Jehovah's Witnesses441.37%
Total3209

In year 2021 was 3209 people by religion 1425 from None, 775 from Roman Catholic Church, 524 from Not found out, 334 from Evangelical Church, 68 from Greek Catholic Church, 44 from Jehovah's Witnesses, 18 from Baptists Church, 5 from Calvinist Church, 4 from Christian Congregations in Slovakia, 3 from Other, 3 from Apostolic Church, 2 from Eastern Orthodox Church, 2 from United Methodist Church, 1 from Islam and 1 from Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Twin towns — sister cities

Jelšava is twinned with:[14]

Famous people

  • Ludwig Greiner, forester

See also

  • List of municipalities and towns in Slovakia

References

  1. ^ "Hustota obyvateľstva - obce [om7014rr_obc=AREAS_SK, v_om7014rr_ukaz=Rozloha (Štvorcový meter)]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2026-03-31. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  2. ^ "Počet obyvateľov podľa pohlavia - obce (ročne) [om7101rr_obce=AREAS_SK]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2026-03-31. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  3. ^ a b c d "Základná charakteristika". www.statistics.sk (in Slovak). Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2015-04-17. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  4. ^ Krajčovič, Rudolf (2010). "Z lexiky stredovekej slovenčiny s výkladmi názvov obcí a miest (19)". Kultúra slova (in Slovak) (1). Martin: Vydavateľstvo Matice slovenskej: 22.
  5. ^ "Hustota obyvateľstva - obce [om7014rr_obc=AREAS_SK, v_om7014rr_ukaz=Rozloha (Štvorcový meter)]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2026-03-31. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  6. ^ "Osmanlılar Hakimiyeti Devrinde Slovakya'daki Vergi Sistemi Hakkında, Jozef Blaskovics". Archived from the original on 2016-08-07. Retrieved 2016-08-23.
  7. ^ "Statistical lexikon of municipalities 1970-2011" (PDF) (in Slovak).
  8. ^ "Census 2021 - Population - Basic results". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2021-01-01.
  9. ^ a b "Počet obyvateľov podľa pohlavia - obce (ročne) [om7101rr_obce=AREAS_SK]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2026-03-31. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  10. ^ "Počet obyvateľov podľa pohlavia - obce (ročne) [om7101rr_obce=AREAS_SK]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2026-03-31. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  11. ^ "Population - Basic results". www.scitanie.sk. Statistical Office of the Slovak republic. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  12. ^ "Population - Basic results". www.scitanie.sk. Statistical Office of the Slovak republic. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  13. ^ "Population - Basic results". www.scitanie.sk. Statistical Office of the Slovak republic. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  14. ^ "Partnerské mestá". jelsava.sk (in Slovak). Jelšava. Retrieved 2019-09-09.

Genealogical resources

The records for genealogical research are available at the state archive "Statny Archiv in Banska Bystrica, Kosice, Slovakia"

  • Roman Catholic Church records (births/marriages/deaths): 1674-1895 (parish A)
  • Greek Catholic Church records (births/marriages/deaths): 1775-1928 (parish B)
  • Lutheran Church records (births/marriages/deaths): 1783-1895 (parish A)
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