Veľké Kapušany Nagykapos | |
|---|---|
 Town hall in Veľké Kapušany | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
| Coordinates:48°33′N22°05′E / 48.55°N 22.08°E /48.55; 22.08 | |
| Country |  Slovakia |
| Region |  Košice Region |
| District | Michalovce District |
| First mentioned | 1211 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Péter Petrikán |
| Area | |
• Total | 29.62 km2 (11.44 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 109 m (358 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | 8,527 |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 790 1[2] |
| Area code | +421 56[2] |
| Car plate | MI |
| Website | www |
Veľké Kapušany (Slovak pronunciation:[ˈʋeʎkeːˈkapuʂani];Hungarian:Nagykapos) is a smalltown on the eastern plains ofSlovakia, not far from theUkrainian border.
The name "Kapušany" is probably derived from the Hungarian wordkapu, meaning "gate".
The territory of the town has been settled since time immemorial (findings from theNeolithic period). From the second half of the 10th century until 1918, it was part of theKingdom of Hungary. The first written references to the settlement stems from 1211 ("Kapos") and 1214 ("Copus"). The settlement was awarded town status in 1430. The town was the second largest settlement (afterUzhhorod) of theUng County and frequently served as a temporary or permanent station for migrants (Germans, Rusyns, Poles, Hungarians etc.) from the east to the west.
In the town square there is a garden with a plaque commemorating the day the Germans marched into Veľké Kapušany in 1944. This is significant as bothJews and Romas were persecuted and murdered by theNazis during World War II. At that time, Veľké Kapušany was part of Hungary (based on theFirst Vienna Award).
The following villages were merged with the town: Malé Kapušany (after 1913), Veškovce (1964).
Wood processing, food and building materials industries and Slovak and Hungarian high schools are located there as is a railroad transfer facility for goods on thebroad gauge railroad toUkraine.
Many Communist remnants remain, notably the apartment buildings of the Communist era, where mainly poor Roma people now live. The rest of the population lives in mostly comfortable-looking homes and farms outside of the main thoroughfare but still within the town's borders.
There are several churches, but no synagogue in Veľké Kapušany. On the outskirts of the town there is a heavily damaged Jewish cemetery.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 5,047 | — |
| 1980 | 8,459 | +67.6% |
| 1991 | 9,421 | +11.4% |
| 2001 | 9,760 | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 9,406 | −3.6% |
| 2021 | 8,799 | −6.5% |
| Source: Censuses[4][5] | ||
According to the 2001 census, the population include 56.98% Hungarians, 35.92% Slovaks, and 4.32% Roma.[6]
In 1910, 33.8% of the population was Jewish.
Veľké Kapušany istwinned with:[7]
Vásárosnamény, Hungary
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