The South Bačka District is one of seven administrative districts of the autonomous province of Vojvodina, Serbia. Geographically it lies in the southern part of Bačka and northern part of Syrmia. According to the 2011 census results, it has a population of 615,371 inhabitants. The administrative center of the district is the city ofNovi Sad, which is also the capital and the largest city of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina.
Administrative history
In the 9th century, the area was ruled by the Bulgarian-Slavic duke Salan. From 11th to 16th century, during the administration of the medieval Kingdom of Hungary, the area was mostly part of the Bacsensis County, with small northern parts of it in the Bodrogiensis County and Csongradiensis County. In 1526-27, the area was ruled by the independent Serb ruler, emperor Jovan Nenad, while during Ottoman administration, it was part of the Sanjak of Segedin. During Habsburg administration, the area was divided between the Bodrog County, Batsch County and the Military Frontier. The two counties were joined into single Batsch-Bodrog County in the 18th century. Since the abolishment of the Theiß-Marosch section of the Military Frontier in 1751, part of that territory was also included into Batsch-Bodrog County. The only part of the area that remained within Military Frontier was Šajkaška region. From 1751 to 1848, northeastern part of the area belonged to the autonomous District of Potisje. In the 1850s, the area was mostly part of the Novi Sad District, with some northern parts in the Sombor District. After 1860, the area was again included into Batsch-Bodrog County. In 1873, the Military Frontier in Šajkaška region was abolished and that area was also included into Bács-Bodrog County. During the royal Serb-Croat-Slovene administration, the area was initially a part of the Novi Sad County. Between 1922-29, it was divided between Bačka Oblast and Belgrade Oblast, while from 1929-41 it was part of the Danube Banovina. During the Hungarian-German Axis occupation, the area was included into Bács-Bodrog County. Since 1944, the area was part of autonomous Yugoslav Vojvodina. The present-day districts of Serbia were defined by the Government of Serbia's Enactment of 29 January 1992.
According to the last official census done in 2011, the South Bačka District has 615,371 inhabitants.
Ethnic groups
There are 9 municipal areas with Serbian ethnic majority: City of Novi Sad, Sremski Karlovci, Titel, Žabalj, Beočin, Srbobran, Bačka Palanka, Temerin and Vrbas. One municipality in the district has a Slovak majority: Bački Petrovac or Báčsky Petrovec in Slovak, and 2 are mixed: Bač, with relative Serb majority and Bečej or Óbecse in Hungarian, with relative Hungarian majority.
Culture
The first Serbian primary school was founded in Bečej and Zmajevo in 1703, while the first grammar school was established in Sremski Karlovci in 1791. Novi Sad is home to the oldest cultural and scientific institution of the Serbian people - the Matica Srpska, which was founded in 1826 in Budapest, and transferred to Novi Sad in 1864. The Serbian National Theatre was founded in Novi Sad in 1861.
Economy
Within the district the following industries prevail: chemical, oil, machines, tools and electrical porcelain, textile, food, and construction industry.
Administration
By the Serbian government's 2006 Regulation of the administrative districts the names of all districts were changed from okrug to upravni okrug. District is governed by the prefect who is appointed by the central government. Prefects of the South Bačka District were:
