Gradiška, Bosnia and Herzegovina


Gradiška is a city and municipality located in the northwestern region of Republika Srpska, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As of 2013, it has a population of 51,727 inhabitants, while the city of Gradiška has a population of 14,368 inhabitants.
It is geographically located in eastern Krajina region, and the town is situated on the Lijevče plain, on the right bank of the Sava river across from Stara Gradiška, Croatia, and about north of Banja Luka.

History

In the Roman period this town was of strategic importance; a port of the Roman fleet was situated here. Among notable archaeological findings are a viaduct.
Gradiški Brod is mentioned for the first time as a town in 1330. It had a major importance as the location where the Sava river used to be crossed. By 1537, the town and its surroundings came under Ottoman rule.
The Ottoman built a fortress, which served as the Bosnia Eyalet's northern defense line. The town was also called Berbir because of the fortress.
Following the outbreak of the First Serbian Uprising, in the Sanjak of Smederevo, the Jančić's Revolt broke out in the Gradiška region against the Ottoman government in the Bosnia Eyalet, following the erosion of the economic, national and religious rights of Serbs. Hajduks also arrived from Serbia, and were especially active on the Kozara. Jovan Jančić Sarajlija organized the uprising with help from Metropolitan Benedikt Kraljević. The peasants took up arms on 23 September 1809, in the region of Gradiška, beginning from Mašići. The fighting began on 25 September, and on the same night, the Ottomans captured and executed Jančić. The rebels retreated to their villages, except those in Kozara and Motajica who continued, and offered strong resistance until their defeat in mid-October, after extensive looting and burning of villages by the Ottomans. Another revolt broke out in 1834, in Mašići.
Ottoman rule ended with the Austro-Hungarian occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, following the Herzegovina Uprising. Austro-Hungarian rule in Bosnia and Herzegovina ended in 1918, when the South Slavic Austro-Hungarian territories proclaimed the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs, which subsequently joined the Kingdom of Serbia into the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
From 1929 to 1941 Gradiška was part of the Vrbas Banovina of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
During Yugoslavia, the town was known as Bosanska Gradiška. During the Bosnian War, the town was incorporated into Republika Srpska. After the war, the RS National Assembly changed the name, omitting bosanska, as was done with many other towns.

Settlements

Aside from the town of Gradiška, the municipality includes total of 74 other settlements:

Population

Ethnic composition

Culture

The town has a Serbian Orthodox cathedral dedicated to the Mother of God.

Economy

The following table gives a preview of total number of registered people employed in legal entities per their core activity :
ActivityTotal
Agriculture, forestry and fishing320
Mining and quarrying4
Manufacturing2,916
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply171
Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities234
Construction267
Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles1,956
Transportation and storage452
Accommodation and food services543
Information and communication71
Financial and insurance activities114
Real estate activities24
Professional, scientific and technical activities323
Administrative and support service activities77
Public administration and defense; compulsory social security581
Education840
Human health and social work activities661
Arts, entertainment and recreation62
Other service activities222
Total9,838

Notable residents