History
Population
From long history ago to today
Today area of Zvornik, according to a lot of historical studies, a lot of years ago
had settlements with original population bosniaks.
The oldest well known inhabitants of zvornik area were Skordiscs- people of kelts root. After
arrival of Romans an the Balkan Skordisc people had accept romans authority or command.
It´s supposition slaves clans has comme an this territory in the second half of VI century.
But never was find some relics or buildings of some slav settlement or colony.
Zvornik allways had unconommly big density of population 162 inhabitants/km.kv.
Numerous nekropoles or gravestone in commune are proofs this town, like several another bosnian-hercegovina´s towns, was settled by bogumils.
The firs inventory inhabitants was made in turkish time and at then time was noted mojority of Muslim´s-
Bosnian people.
Zvornik´s inhabitant master of architecture Himzo Tulic in his book “Zvornik´s bridge” cites:” The Turks had many times
changed ethnic picture on these areas moved ortodoxes poeple from Hercegovina, from area
Stari Vlah.
Settled people from Old Vlah executed at the side frontier toward Austriá-Hungary (today Semberija) and in the valley of the river Drina,
by the most important way Srebrenica- Zvornik - Raca.
As the keepers communications and frontier, settlers, greater number cattle-breeders, had ortodoxes formed colony
who figure today on areas of zvornik´s commune (Zelinje, Drinjaca, Colopek, Trsic, Tabanci, Jasenica
Rocevic, Pilica, Lokanj i Rastosnica. Today in this town live only ortodoxes."
ETHNIC COMPOSITION PEOPLE ACCORDING INVENTORIES 1910-1991
| | Year | Bosnians | Ortodox | Catholics | Evangelists | Yugoslavs | Rest | Total |
| 1910 | 2092 | 754 | 185 | --- | --- | 657 | 3688 |
| % | 57 | 20 | 5 | --- | --- | 18,0 | 100 |
| 1931 | 2304 | 886 | 177 | 7 | --- | 113 | 3487 |
| % | 66,1 | 24,4 | 5,1 | 0,20 | --- | 3,20 | 100 |
| 1981 | 40801 | 30064 | -- | --- | 1970 | 1010 | 73842 |
| % | 55,3 | 40,7 | -- | --- | 2,60 | 1,40 | 100 |
| 1991 | 48208 | 30839 | 120 | --- | 1225 | 719 | 81111 |
| % | 59,4 | 38 | 0,20 | --- | 1,50 | 9,00 | 100 |
CONTENTS
"Zvornik mentios in history first time in 1410 with name Zvonik but in the year 1519 below
name Zvornik.
Zvornik´s old stronghold (castle) rised more earlier possibly after found frontier of Bosnia
towards Serbia in the second half XIII or in the beginning XIV century. Today exist suppositions castle has been builded by bosnian´s feudals or
the Hungarians. Castle has been rised on suitable position where river Drina is going in fertile level country where through all ages were the important
communications especially was important communication from Dubrovnik as trade center towards “Sirmiumu” or
Sremska Mitrovica. Don`t existing safe facts about this who exactly has builded zvornik`s castel “Kula grad”.
As development city`s area Zvornik was attractive for The Dubrovnik´s traders and artificiers. In this period 1415-1435
existed dubrovnik´s settlement and franjevac´s (catholic) church in Zvornik. But Turcs have changed it in mosque on
Fetija (a quart of city 15 m more heght above ses level).
As several medieval cities, Zvornik had city, where was center the landed proprietors of city. Center of
city had plaza where had happend business and public live. City´s Plaza was encircled with houses of the tradesmen and the artificiers.
In these houses were theirs manual occupations place. City had hotels for travellers and traveling salesmen, custom-house, and restaurant.
Also has city arranged city´s administration and therefore the Turks decided in Zvornik to establish one´s own administrative center.
CONTENTS
Evlija Celebija about Zvornik´s inhabitants
Well known Turkish travel writer Evlija Celebija has been in Zvornik in 1664 and then
has recorded ”Inhabitants are The Bosnians, speaking bosnian language, clothing cloth dolams, tight kraina´s trousers
with buckles and dress up. Exsist several gardens and wineyards. From this area are well known the plums
, the apples, the cherries, the oaken planks (timber), the pines, the wines, sheep wool and
cowhide. Ferry well navigates. The Inhabitants are wery well traders”. According his particularities in
Zvornik were then 6 mosques, 8 tekija, public bathhouse, 3 quarters for the night, 7 islamic primary school,
3 medres (islamic secundary school) and 8 mesjids.
CONTENTS
Russian consul about Zvornik
1874
According to reports russian consul year 1874 on Zvornik area were 28 megteb (primari islamic school) 1354 pupils
and 4 Christian schools with 147 pupils.
Year 1878 turkish authority has changed Austria-Hungary authority. During Austrian occupation (1878-1918) Zvornik
falls down in the developed cities in Bosnia. Still further was commun center with developed handicraft and trade.
Of the time zvornik administrative district belonged area then commun Kalesija, the parts of communs Ugljevik, Lopare, and Bijeljina
(glavicice). With purpose to make sure have leteracy workmen and foremen, and education children theirs
employees, Austria had in Zvornik 1886 founded public elementary school. It had been builded macadam roads
and roads to Sarajevo, Srebrenica, i Bijeljina who were long time in used till today. Especially was
important ifluence austrian architecture on Zvornick´s architecture. To day exist many buildings: Commune building,
“Kasina” Foregone Oficer house” Military hospital on Fetija, Former building elementary school in Beksuja, House of poste
and in this time building of “Agroproma”.
In Zvornik Austria had big military garrison who 1910 had 651 soldiers and oficers.
During austrian government were many culture-educational and sporting instutitions and organisations were
in Zvornik two elementary school, Sporting society “Serbian falcon”, Serbian public reading-room, medres (moslem elementary school) and ruzdija (high
degree moslem´s religious school), and several mektebs for elementary relgious lesson the moslem´s children.
It were several religious objekts, two churchs (catolsk and ortodox), 7 mosques and a sinagog. Existed a
moslem´s public reading-room “Kerethana”.
CONTENTS
1918-1944
Zvornik was in this time center of administrative district with same the frontiers
from occupation of Austria- Hungary 1929 and bewlonged Drina´s
banovina (regional unit ruled by ban) with center in Sarajevo. Zvornik was into composition tuzla´s district and had 10 communs. In this period Zvornik is
important trade city with many old shops bat several shops who were arranged like shops in Europe.
In this period Zvornik is cross-way and was builded iron bridge over Drina and hospital on
Fetija.
In this time, were Board of Health after creation Kingdom Serbs -Croats and Slovenes in Zvornik (moslems
were leave out who constitution poeple of state) one clinic for out-patients, a pharmacy, a district´s
doctor and pharmacist. In this time were often epidemics plague and siphilis and derfor established especialy clinic for out-patients for cure
these ilness.
Zvornik during Second world war
1941-1945
In Second world war Zvornik je was bombed by Germany´s aviation.
Durin Second world war Zvornik was into composition Independent Croat state.
On that account maybe and today some croats think and consider Zvornik have come into composition “ Big Croatia”.
Instantly after founded quisling dictation Zvornik has become “kotar” city and city center ustas camp,
and administrative included in Byg zupa Usora and soli, (When we know it, it is not difictul understand why
some croats and today fight for identical purpose to formed Usore an Soli.). This is cause Zvornik was instantly and withaut difficulty
occupied by by Germany´s and ustas armed forces. Zvornik has become support ustas and quisling´s dictation where was formed
gendarmeries in Zvorniku, Kozluk, Palator, Tavna, Drinjaca, and Sapna.
Directly after establish occupation´s andtraitorousy authority and control in Zvorni´s area has begin Ustas teror on Serbs and
Jews. On that account same serbs has escaped into Serbia.
Ustask and cetnik´s movements had not big support in zvornik´s
inhabitants. Few inhabitants has conected the movements.
Zvornik was spared fratricidal war and inhabitants has mutual helped and protected some frends and neighbours.
At this time was well known only one cetnik´s crime but on area Sopotnik. Crime was done by cetniks from Kravica.
During War Zvornik has been many times liberated by partizans arme but final liberated
on february 1945.
CONTENTS
Zvornik after Second world war
1945-1992
After second World war Zvornik was wery lagging behind area who was necessery make new and enligheten. In Zvornik
formed all social and political organisations.
With introduction new communal system 1955 year revoked districts in Srebrenica and Vlasenica and anexated
to Zvornik´s district. Already 1958 revoked Zvornik´s district and anexed to tuzla´s district.
Inhabitants occpied like as before war with handicraft and agriculture but in the city with trade,
handicraft and restaurants so these activity were ground to zvornik´s public economy.
Public economy
Year 1956 was builded “Novi izvor” who produced building materials : tiles, bricks, concrete
elements, marble blocks, stone limestone, quartz sand, stone gravel, calcium carbonate, serpentine and so on.
At this time comes to form many industrial capacity and business in Zvornik like: carpenter business “Mladost”,
restaurang business “Majevica”, foodbusiness “Zitopromet” transport “Autotransport”,
business for xksploitation forests “Jelica”, building business “Graditelj”, tailor´s business “Ukus” , trade business
“Zadruzni magazin”, the publik buiness “Duhan”, “Prvi maj”; “Uzor” , “Tehnometal” and
“Shoemaker and barber´s co-operative society”.
1957 in composition business “Novi izvor” was builded “CIGLANA”-who produce the briks and tile, with first modern chimney and 1962
began with production “Fabrika sperploce” and in the years who come complete series industrials objects who
were placed in industrial zone in Karakaj. One of the bigest industrial business is “Tvornica glinice -Birac” - who is component parts
"Energoinvest" -Sarajevo, but who was the bigest pollutant surroundings especialy river Drina.
Non production capacities
In Zvornik was center Public economy bank- Sarajevo, The beanch public book-keeping
and "ZOIL"-insurance company for five communes same Posten and “Tuzlaputevi” building company who worked on
severeal communes.
Medical center “Peti juli” had regions characteristic with recently 900 occupied -140 doctors and
stomatologistes from which was 45 specijalists.
Education
On department Zvornik worked nine elementary schools a especialy school for the mentally retardeds and 28 regional´s elementary schools
with over 12000 pupils and 400 teachers.
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Copyright © JANUARY 1999
Izet Karaosmanovic. All rights reserved.