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Counties of Estonia
The counties of Estonia (maakond) are the state administrative subdivisions of Estonia. Estonian territory is composed of 15 counties, including 13 on the mainland and 2 on islands. County governments (maavalitsus) were abolished at the end of 2017, with their duties split between state authorities and local governments, and nowadays counties have no noteworthy independent competences. Counties are composed of municipalities of two types: urban municipalities or towns (linn), and rural municipalities or parishes (vald), which are by law required to cooperate in development of their county.
As of 2023, the sum total of the figures in the table below is 42,644 km2, of which the land area is 42,388 km2, so that 256 km2 of water is included in the figures.
In the first centuries AD,[citation needed] political and administrative subdivisions began to emerge in Estonia. Two larger subdivisions appeared: the parish (kihelkond) and the county (maakond). The parish consisted of several villages. Nearly all parishes had at least one fortress. The defence of the local area was directed by the highest official, the parish elder. The county was composed of several parishes, also headed by an elder. By the 13th century the following major counties had developed in Estonia: Saaremaa (Osilia), Läänemaa (Rotalia or Maritima), Harjumaa (Harria), Rävala (Revalia), Virumaa (Vironia), Järvamaa (Jervia), Sakala (Saccala), and Ugandi (Ugaunia). Additionally there were several smaller elderships in central Estonia where danger of war was smaller – Vaiga, Mõhu, Nurmekund and Alempois. The exact number and borders of some elderships are disputed.
The first documented mentioning of Estonian political and administrative subdivisions comes from the Chronicle of Henry of Livonia, written in the 13th century during the Northern Crusades.
The autonomy of the pre-Christian Estonian counties and parishes ended during the Livonian Crusade, as by mid-13th century all Estonian lands were divided as a result of the Catholic conquest between the Kingdom of Denmark, and three subdivisions of the Holy Roman Empire: the State of the Teutonic Order, the Bishopric of Dorpat, and the Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek.
In the 1580s, after the Livonian war as Sweden had conquered northern Estonia, Harju, Järva, Lääne and Viru counties were officially formed there. Southern Estonia, which belonged to Poland 1582–1625, was divided into voivodships of Pärnu and Tartu; the island of Saaremaa belonged to Denmark until 1645. All these territories became counties as they became part of the Kingdom of Sweden.
This administrative system remained mostly unchanged when Estonia was ceded by Sweden, and became part of the Russian Empire as a result of the Great Northern War (1700-1721). In 1793, the new Võru County was formed in the south of Tartumaa, Viljandi County between Tartu and Pärnu counties, and Paldiski County in the west of Harjumaa. In 1796, the Paldiski County was joined with Harjumaa again. Until 1888 Võrumaa and Viljandimaa were not wholly independent from Tartumaa and Pärnumaa, respectively.
Several changes were made to the borders of counties after Estonia became independent in 1918; e.g. the formation of Valga County (from parts of Võru, Tartu and Viljandi counties) and Petseri County (area acquired from Russia with the 1920 Tartu peace treaty).
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Counties of Estonia AI simulator
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Counties of Estonia
The counties of Estonia (maakond) are the state administrative subdivisions of Estonia. Estonian territory is composed of 15 counties, including 13 on the mainland and 2 on islands. County governments (maavalitsus) were abolished at the end of 2017, with their duties split between state authorities and local governments, and nowadays counties have no noteworthy independent competences. Counties are composed of municipalities of two types: urban municipalities or towns (linn), and rural municipalities or parishes (vald), which are by law required to cooperate in development of their county.
As of 2023, the sum total of the figures in the table below is 42,644 km2, of which the land area is 42,388 km2, so that 256 km2 of water is included in the figures.
In the first centuries AD,[citation needed] political and administrative subdivisions began to emerge in Estonia. Two larger subdivisions appeared: the parish (kihelkond) and the county (maakond). The parish consisted of several villages. Nearly all parishes had at least one fortress. The defence of the local area was directed by the highest official, the parish elder. The county was composed of several parishes, also headed by an elder. By the 13th century the following major counties had developed in Estonia: Saaremaa (Osilia), Läänemaa (Rotalia or Maritima), Harjumaa (Harria), Rävala (Revalia), Virumaa (Vironia), Järvamaa (Jervia), Sakala (Saccala), and Ugandi (Ugaunia). Additionally there were several smaller elderships in central Estonia where danger of war was smaller – Vaiga, Mõhu, Nurmekund and Alempois. The exact number and borders of some elderships are disputed.
The first documented mentioning of Estonian political and administrative subdivisions comes from the Chronicle of Henry of Livonia, written in the 13th century during the Northern Crusades.
The autonomy of the pre-Christian Estonian counties and parishes ended during the Livonian Crusade, as by mid-13th century all Estonian lands were divided as a result of the Catholic conquest between the Kingdom of Denmark, and three subdivisions of the Holy Roman Empire: the State of the Teutonic Order, the Bishopric of Dorpat, and the Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek.
In the 1580s, after the Livonian war as Sweden had conquered northern Estonia, Harju, Järva, Lääne and Viru counties were officially formed there. Southern Estonia, which belonged to Poland 1582–1625, was divided into voivodships of Pärnu and Tartu; the island of Saaremaa belonged to Denmark until 1645. All these territories became counties as they became part of the Kingdom of Sweden.
This administrative system remained mostly unchanged when Estonia was ceded by Sweden, and became part of the Russian Empire as a result of the Great Northern War (1700-1721). In 1793, the new Võru County was formed in the south of Tartumaa, Viljandi County between Tartu and Pärnu counties, and Paldiski County in the west of Harjumaa. In 1796, the Paldiski County was joined with Harjumaa again. Until 1888 Võrumaa and Viljandimaa were not wholly independent from Tartumaa and Pärnumaa, respectively.
Several changes were made to the borders of counties after Estonia became independent in 1918; e.g. the formation of Valga County (from parts of Võru, Tartu and Viljandi counties) and Petseri County (area acquired from Russia with the 1920 Tartu peace treaty).