Jasenovac, Sisak-Moslavina County


Jasenovac is a village and a municipality in Croatia, in the southern part of the Sisak-Moslavina County at the confluence of the river Una into Sava. The name means "ash tree" or "ash forest" in Croatian, the area being ringed by such a forest.
During the Second World War, it was the site of the Jasenovac concentration camp.

Demographics

In 1991, the total population was 3,599, Croats made up 2,419, while Serbs were noticeable population with 911.
In 2001, the municipality's population was 2,391, composed of 2,179 Croats and 141 Serbs.
In 2011, the total population was 1,997, with 1,807 Croats and 152 Serbs.
The municipality of Jasenovac consists of 10 villages:
According to the last Austro-Hungarian 1910 census, municipality of Jasenovac had 8,773 inhabitants which were ethnically and religiously declared as follows:
Population by ethnicityTotalCroatsSerbsGermansCzechsHungariansItaliansRutheniansSlovenesNote
Drenov Bok9229193000000It was consisted of two hamlets: Bumbekovača and Drenov Bok.
Jasenovac2,3651,3389753388021It was consisted of two hamlets: Jasenovac and Lončarice.
Košutarica8028010001000
Krapje1,0801,0723120101
Mlaka1,176371,138100000It was consisted of two independent settlements: Mlaka and Jablanac Jasenovački with two hamlets: Jablanac Jasenovački and Jasenovački Strug.
Puska83279729000600Together with a settlement of Trebež.
Tanac1821739000000At the time of Census it was hamlet of the settlement of Uštica. Independent settlement from 1948.
Trebež000000000It was a hamlet of the settlement of Puska from 1948 as Trebež Krapjanski, and from 1953-1981 as Trebež Puščanski. Independent settlement from 1981. For Census data see: Puska.
Uštica1,194492702000000It was consisted of three hamlets: Klenov Bok, Uštica and Uštička Gradina.
Višnjica1801800000000At the time of Census it was hamlet of the settlement of Uštica as Višnjica Uštička. Independent settlement from 1948.
Total8,7335,809 2,859 35 10 9 7 2 2

Population by religionTotalRoman CatholicsEastern OrthodoxJewsEastern Catholics
Drenov Bok922919300
Jasenovac2,3651,38097942
Košutarica802801001
Krapje1,0801,074330
Mlaka1,176381,13800
Puska8328032900
Tanac182173900
Trebež00000
Uštica1,19448970230
Višnjica180180000
Total8,7335,857 2,863 10 3

Note: 1910 census was based on language and religion, without question about ethnicity. Croatian and Serbian language were presented as one language: Croatian or Serbian. Croat and Serb ethnicity here is based on religion. Roman Catholics and Eastern Catholics which language was Croatian or Serbian are presented as Croats, and Eastern Orthodox which language was Croatian or Serbian are presented as Serbs. Other ethnic groups are presented based on their language. That time Ruthenians presented together modern days ethnicities of Ukrainians and Rusyns. Jews were presented only as religious group.

History

In the late 19th and early 20th century, Jasenovac was part of the Požega County of the Kingdom of Croatia and Slavonia.
Jasenovac attained tragic notoriety during the Holocaust through the Jasenovac concentration camp giving its name to the Ustaša complex of WWII concentration camps.
During the Croatian War of Independence, in 1991, Serb forces destroyed the local three-way bridge over the Una and the Sava linking the town to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The area was subsequently mined. The town was taken over by Croatian forces as part of Operation Flash on 1 May 1995.
In 2005, a new three-way bridge was opened with financing from Croatia and the European Commission. Demining operations in the area were ongoing in 2009.
Jasenovac is underdeveloped municipality which is statistically classified as the First Category Area of Special State Concern by the Government of Croatia.

Culture

Jasenovac is home to a library with over 10,000 items. Jasenovac celebrates May 1, the day of its liberation as part of Operation Flash, as its municipal holiday.
The village of Krapje in the Jasenovac municipality houses the headquarters of the Lonjsko Polje Nature Park: the largest protected wetland in Croatia.

Sport

The municipality is home to the football club NK Jasenovac.