Zelva

For the town in Lithuania, see Želva.

Urban-type settlement in Grodno Region, Belarus

Zelva

Зэльва (Belarusian)
Зельва (Russian)

Urban-type settlement

Flag

Seal

Zelva

Coordinates: 53°09′N 24°49′E﻿ / ﻿53.150°N 24.817°E﻿ / 53.150; 24.817
Country| Belarus
Region| Grodno Region
District| Zelva District
First mentioned| 1258
Area

• Total

| 15 km2 (6 sq mi)
Elevation

| 138 m (453 ft)
Population

(2024)[1]

• Total

| 6,296
Time zone| UTC+3 (MSK)
Area code| +375-1564

Zelva (Belarusian: Зэльва; Russian: Зельва; Polish: Zelwa; Yiddish: זעלווא) is an urban-type settlement in Grodno Region, in western Belarus.[1] It serves as the administrative center of Zelva District.[1][2] It is situated by the Zelvyanka River. As of 2024, it has a population of 6,296.[1]

## History

[edit]

Panorama from the 1910s

Initially Zelwa was a private possession of various nobles, by the mid-16th century it became a possession of the Polish Crown, and in the 17th century it became again a private possession of nobility, including the Sapieha, Połubiński, Radziwiłł, Jarmołowicz and Konarzewski families.[3] In 1720 weekly markets and annual fairs were established.[3] In 1739 a Piarist monastery was founded.[3]

In the interbellum, it was administratively located in the Wołkowysk County in the Białystok Voivodeship of Poland. According to the 1921 census, the population was 63.4% Jewish, 31.1% Polish and 5.3% Belarusian.[4]

Following the joint German-Soviet invasion of Poland in September 1939, it was first occupied by the Soviet Union until 1 July 1941, and then by Nazi Germany until 12 July 1944 and administered as a part of Bezirk Bialystok. When the Germans entered the town, they killed 40 to 50 Jewish men and kept the Jews of the town imprisoned in a ghetto in very harsh conditions. In November 1942, the Jews were deported and murdered at the Treblinka extermination camp.[5]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d "Численность населения на 1 января 2024 г. и среднегодовая численность населения за 2023 год по Республике Беларусь в разрезе областей, районов, городов, поселков городского типа". belsat.gov.by. Archived from the original on 2 April 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
2. ^ Gaponenko, Irina Olegovna (2004). Назвы населеных пунктаў Рэспублікі Беларусь: Гродзенская вобласць. Minsk: Тэхналогія. p. 205\. ISBN 985-458-098-9.
3. ^ a b c Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i innych krajów słowiańskich, Tom XIV (in Polish). Warszawa. 1895. pp. 566–567.566-567&rft.date=1895&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Zelva" class="Z3988">`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
4. ^ Skorowidz miejscowości Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej. Tom V (in Polish). Warszawa: Główny Urząd Statystyczny. 1924.
5. ^ "History - Jewish community before 1989 - Zelwa - Virtual Shtetl". www.sztetl.org.pl. Archived from the original on 2016-06-02.

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Subdivisions of Grodno Region, Belarus

Districts
(raiony)|

* Ashmyany
* Astravyets
* Byerastavitsa
* Dzyatlava
* Grodno
* Iwye
* Karelichy
* Lida
* Masty
* Novogrudok
* Shchuchyn
* Slonim
* Smarhon
* Svislach
* Vawkavysk
* Voranava
* Zelva

District
centres|

* Grodno
* Astravyets
* Ashmyany
* Dzyatlava
* Iwye
* Karelichy
* Lida
* Masty
* Novogrudok
* Slonim
* Smarhon
* Shchuchyn
* Svislach
* Vawkavysk
* Vyalikaya Byerastavitsa
* Voranava
* Zelva

Cities and towns|

* Grodno
* Astravyets
* Ashmyany
* Bruzgi
* Byarozawka
* Dzyatlava
* Iwye
* Karelichy
* Lida
* Masty
* Novogrudok
* Skidzyel'
* Slonim
* Smarhon
* Shchuchyn
* Svislach
* Vawkavysk
* Vyalikaya Byerastavitsa

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
* FAST

National|

* Germany
* United States
* Israel

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