Thecounties of Estonia (maakond) are the state administrative subdivisions ofEstonia. Estonian territory is composed of 15 counties, including 13 on the mainland and 2 on islands. County governments (maavalitsus) were abolished at the end of 2017, with their duties split between state authorities and local governments, and nowadays counties have no noteworthy independent competences. Counties are composed ofmunicipalities of two types: urban municipalities or towns (linn), and rural municipalities or parishes (vald), which are by law required to cooperate in development of their county.
As of 2023,[1][2] the sum total of the figures in the table below is 42,644 km2, of which the land area is 42,388 km2, so that 256 km2 of water is included in the figures.
Pre-Christian independent Estonian counties (maakond),c. 1200
In the first centuries AD,[citation needed] political and administrative subdivisions began to emerge in Estonia. Two larger subdivisions appeared: the parish (kihelkond) and the county (maakond). The parish consisted of several villages. Nearly all parishes had at least one fortress. The defence of the local area was directed by the highest official, the parish elder. The county was composed of several parishes, also headed by an elder. By the 13th century the following major counties had developed in Estonia:Saaremaa (Osilia),Läänemaa (Rotalia or Maritima),Harjumaa (Harria),Rävala (Revalia),Virumaa (Vironia),Järvamaa (Jervia),Sakala (Saccala), andUgandi (Ugaunia).[4] Additionally there were several smaller elderships in central Estonia where danger of war was smaller – Vaiga,Mõhu,Nurmekund andAlempois. The exact number and borders of some elderships are disputed.
The first documented mentioning of Estonian political and administrative subdivisions comes from theChronicle of Henry of Livonia, written in the 13th century during theNorthern Crusades.
In the 1580s, after theLivonian war asSweden had conquered northern Estonia, Harju, Järva, Lääne and Viru counties were officially formed there. Southern Estonia, which belonged toPoland 1582–1625, was divided intovoivodships of Pärnu and Tartu; the island of Saaremaa belonged to Denmark until 1645. All these territories became counties as they became part of the Kingdom of Sweden.
This administrative system remained mostly unchanged when Estonia was ceded by Sweden, and became part of theRussian Empire as a result of theGreat Northern War (1700-1721). In 1793, the newVõru County was formed in the south of Tartumaa,Viljandi County between Tartu and Pärnu counties, andPaldiski County in the west of Harjumaa. In 1796, the Paldiski County was joined with Harjumaa again. Until 1888 Võrumaa and Viljandimaa were not wholly independent from Tartumaa and Pärnumaa, respectively.
Several changes were made to the borders of counties after Estonia became independent in 1918; e.g. the formation ofValga County (from parts of Võru, Tartu and Viljandi counties) andPetseri County (area acquired from Russia with the 1920 Tartu peace treaty).
During the 1944-1991 Soviet occupation of Estonia, multiple changes were made in administrative boundaries. Petseri County was ceded to Russia in 1945. Hiiumaa was separated from Läänemaa in 1946, Jõgevamaa from Tartumaa in 1949, and Jõhvimaa (modernIda-Virumaa) from Virumaa in 1949. Counties were completely dissolved in 1950 as theSoviet Estonia was divided intoraions (rajoon) and (until 1953)oblasts. Until the 1960s, the borders of raions often changed until 15 of them were left. Out of them,Põlva andRapla raions became separate, whereas other raions roughly corresponded to the pre-1950 counties.
Counties were re-established on 1 January 1990 in the borders of the Soviet-era raions. Due to the numerous differences between the current and historical (pre-1940) layouts, the historical borders are still used in ethnology, better representing cultural and linguistic differences.
County governments were abolished at the end of 2017, with their duties split between state authorities and local governments. Nowadays counties have no noteworthy independent competences, but local governments are required by law to work together in developing their county.[5]
