Mezei István: Urban development in Slovakia (Pécs-Somorja, 2010)

3. The settlement structure of Slovakia

The settlement structure of Slovakia

Table 15. Changes in the number and population of towns between 1910 and 2001

1910

1930

1950*1980

1991

2001

Number of towns

39

77

91

84

136

136

Population of towns

481,184

902,953

1,048,219

2,205,711

2,933,088

3,010,162

Rate of population increase, %-187.6

116.1

210.4

133.0

102.6

Average population of towns

12,713

13,506

13,464

25,671

22,008

21,987

Source: Štatisticky úrad SR, Bratislava

The dramatic changes made in the number and population of towns reflected the state-creating aims of the new political power. The new state intended to set up new central places based on its own ideas rather than on traditions.

Figure 5. Towns in Slovakia in 1930

o

c . .Nové Mesto rue v un*

Senica . n V . *

• Myjava ' Bánovce n. B. 0

/Malacky Pieäťany -Toporíany

• m Zlaté Moravce 0

' o ° Hlohovec * °

APezinok o

Svätý Jur ^ Vráble ° Modrý Kameňa

I Galanta * '

S^Šamorín Želiezovce

v • ° r

\ Dunajská Streda 1

\ • Hurbanovo V,

K

A

Dobšiná

A

Jelšava Tomaľa# .

o

Jesenské

Moldava n. 1

1 - a town in 1910, too; 2-a town in 1930; 3 - no longer a town in 1930 Source: Statistisches Handbuch (1932)

Edited by István Mezei, drawn by Máté Mády

The economic changes which modified the urban structure that had developed for long centuries in historical Felvidék took place as early as in the 19th century. With the depletion of silver and gold ore, former min-48