Somogy County

Somogy (Hungarian: Somogy vármegye, pronounced [ˈʃomoɟ]; Croatian: Šomođska županija; Slovene: Šomodska županija, German: Komitat Schomodei) is an administrative county (comitatus or vármegye) in present Hungary, and also in the former Kingdom of Hungary.

For the historical county, see Somogy County (former).
Somogy County
Somogy vármegye
Counties of Hungary
Sunset in Lake Balaton
Somogyvár Abbey
Pedestrian Street, Kaposvár
Descending, from top: Sunset in Lake Balaton, Somogyvár Abbey, and Downtown of Kaposvár
Flag of Somogy County
Flag
Coat of arms of Somogy County
Coat of arms
Somogy County within Hungary
Somogy County within Hungary
Coordinates: 46°25′N 17°35′E
CountryHungary
RegionSouthern Transdanubia
County seatKaposvár
Districts
8 districts
Government
 • BodySomogy County Council
 • President of the General AssemblyNorbert Bíró (Fidesz-KDNP)
Area
 • Total6,065.07 km2 (2,341.74 sq mi)
 • Rank5th in Hungary
Population
 (2018)
 • Total303,802[1]
 • Rank13th in Hungary
Postal code
7253 – 729x, 74xx – 75xx, 7918, 7977 – 7979, 86xx – 873x, 884x – 885x
Area code(s)(+36) 82, 84, 85
ISO 3166 codeHU-SO
Websitewww.som-onkorm.hu

Somogy County lies in south-western Hungary, on the border with Croatia (Koprivnica-Križevci County and Virovitica-Podravina County). It stretches between the river Dráva and the southern shore of Lake Balaton. It shares borders with the Hungarian counties of Zala, Veszprém, Fejér, Tolna, and Baranya. It is the most sparsely populated county in Hungary. The capital of Somogy County is Kaposvár. Its area is 6,036 km2.

History
Main article: Somogy County (former)

Somogy was also the name of a historic administrative county (comitatus) of the Kingdom of Hungary. Its territory, which was slightly larger than that of present Somogy County, is now in south-western Hungary. The capital of the county was and still is Kaposvár.

Aerial photograph of Kaposvár.

Demographics

Religion in Somogy County (2011 census)

  Catholic Church (53.1%)
  Greek Catholicism (0.2%)
  Calvinism (6.7%)
  Lutheranism (1.8%)
  Other religions (1.2%)
  Non-religious (11.2%)
  Atheists (1.0%)
  Undeclared (24.8%)
See also: Demographics of Hungary

In 2015, it had a population of 312,084 and the population density was 52/km2.

Year County population[2] Change
1949 361,213 n/a
1960 Increase 368,183 (record) 1.93%
1970 Decrease 357,009 -3.03%
1980 Increase 360,270 0.91%
1990 Decrease 344,708 -4.32%
2001 Decrease 335,237 -2.75%
2011 Decrease 316,137 -5.70%
2015 Decrease 312,084 -1.29%
2018 Decrease 303,802 -2.72%

Ethnicity

Besides the Hungarian majority, the main minorities are the Roma (approx. 16,000), Germans (3,000) and Croats (1,500).

Total population (2011 census): 316,137
Ethnic groups (2011 census):[3] Identified themselves: 287,692 persons:

Approx. 46,000 persons in Somogy County did not declare their ethnic group at the 2011 census.

Religion
See also: Religion in Hungary

Religious adherence in the county according to 2011 census:[4]

Regional structure
Districts of Somogy County
No. English and
Hungarian names		 Area
(km2)		 Population
(2011)		 Density
(pop./km2)		 Seat No. of
municipalities
1 Barcs District
Barcsi járás		 696.47 23,793 34 Barcs 26
2 Csurgó District
Csurgói járás		 496.19 16,862 34 Csurgó 18
3 Fonyód District
Fonyódi járás		 645.44 33,785 52 Fonyód 21
4 Kaposvár District
Kaposvári járás		 1,591.36 118,496 74 Kaposvár 78
5 Marcali District
Marcali járás		 904.24 34,472 38 Marcali 37
6 Nagyatád District
Nagyatádi járás		 647.07 26,003 40 Nagyatád 18
7 Siófok District
Siófoki járás		 657.05 51,099 78 Siófok 24
8 Tab District
Tabi járás		 427.24 12,797 30 Tab 24
Somogy County 6,065.07 312,084 52 Kaposvár 245

Politics
Somogy County Hall

The Somogy County Council, elected at the 2019 local government elections, is made up of 15 counselors, with the following party composition:[5]

    Party Seats Current County Assembly
  Fidesz-KDNP 9                  
  Movement for a Better Hungary (Jobbik) 3                  
  Association for Somogy (Somogyért) 2                  
  Momentum Movement (MM) 1                  
  Democratic Coalition (DK) 1                  

Presidents of the General Assembly
List of presidents since 1990[6]
István Gyenesei (Independent)1990–1994
István Kolber (MSZP)1994–1998
István Gyenesei (Somogyért)1998–2006
Attila Gelencsér (Fidesz-KDNP)2006–2014
Norbert Bíró (Fidesz-KDNP)2014–

Municipalities

Somogy County has 1 urban county, 15 towns, 2 large villages and 227 villages.

City with county rights

(ordered by population, as of 2011 census)

Towns
Villages

municipalities are large villages.

See also

International relations

Somogy County has a partnership relationship with:

References
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Somogy County.
  1. nepesseg.com, population data of Hungarian settlements
  2. népesség.com, "Somogy megye népessége 1870-2015"
  3. 1.1.6. A népesség anyanyelv, nemzetiség és nemek szerint – Frissítve: 2013.04.17.; Hungarian Central Statistical Office (in Hungarian)
  4. 2011. ÉVI NÉPSZÁMLÁLÁS, 3. Területi adatok, 3.15 Somogy megye, (in Hungarian)
  5. Közgyűlés, (in Hungarian)
  6. Önkormányzati választások eredményei (in Hungarian)
  7. kaposvarmost.hu - TOVÁBBI LEHETŐSÉGEKET KERES SOMOGY ÉS GANSU - July 2, 2016
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