Sliven district is one of the 28 districts of Bulgaria. It is located in South-Eastern Bulgaria. It covers an area of 3,544 km² and has a population of 172,690 people. The postal codes of the settlements in the Sliven region are from 8800 (for the city of Sliven) to 8999. Its vehicle code is SN.
Municipality of Kotel
Mokren, Borintsi, Bratan, Gradets, Dabova,
Zheravna, Katunishte, Kipilovo, Kotel, Malko selo, Medven, Neykovo,
Orlovo, Ostra mogila, Padarevo, Sedlarevo, Sokolartsi, Streltsi, Ticha,
Topuzevo, Filaretovo, Yablanovo
Municipality of Nova Zagora
Asenovets, Banya, Bogdanovo, Bryastovo, Byal Kladenets, Dyadovo, Ezero,
Elenovo, Zagortsi, Kamenovo, Karanovo, Konyovo, Korten, Kriva Krusha,
Ljubenets, Ljubenova Mahala, Mlekarevo, Nauchene, Nova Zagora,
Novoselets, Omarchevo, Pet Mogili, Pitovo , Polsko Padarevo, Prokhorovo,
Radevo, Radetsky, Sokol, Stoil Voivode, Collected, Sadievo, Sadiepole,
Tsenino
Municipality of Sliven
Bykovo, Binkos, Blatets,
Bozhevtsi, Bozadjii, Byala, Uganlen, Gavrailovo, Gergevets, Glufishevo,
Glushnik, Golyamo Chochoveni, Gorno Aleksandrovo, Gradsko, Dragodanovo,
Zhelyu Voivoda, Zaichari, Zlati Voivoda, Izgrev, Ichera, Kaloyanovo,
Kamen, Kermen, Kovachite, Krushare, Malko Chochoveni, Mechkarevo,
Mladovo, Nikolaevo, Novachevo, Panaretovtsi, Rakovo, Samuilovo,
Seliminovo, Skobelevo, Sliven, Sotirya, Sredorek, Stara reka, Staro
selo, Strupets, Topolchane, Trapoklovo, Chintulovo, Chokoba
Municipality of Tvarditsa
Bliznets, Borov Dol, White Palanka, Yellow
Beach, Orizari, Sborishte, Srtsevo, Tvarditsa, Chervenakovo, Shivachevo
The population of Sliven region lives in 117 settlements. Traditionally for Bulgaria, most of it lives in the cities. As a result of the absolute decrease of the population in the district, a tendency to decrease the population density indicator was established and at the end of 2006, it was estimated to be 59 people/km². The regional center is the city of Sliven. The second largest city on the territory of the district is Nova Zagora, followed by the city of Kotel and the city of Tvarditsa. According to NSI observations, the economically active population in the district is 51.0% of the population aged 15 and over. For cities, this coefficient of economic activity is 56.3%, and for villages 40.5%.
The households in which the population of Sliven region lives as of
February 1, 2011 number 73,605. Almost two-thirds (67.4%) of all
households are in cities. Before the period 2001 - 2011, the number of
households in the district decreased by 2664, with the most noticeable
decrease in the municipality of Nova Zagora - by 1441 households. The
average size of a household decreased from 3 persons in 1992 to 2.6
persons in 2011. In cities, this size in 2011 was 2.6, and in villages –
2.7.
This dynamic is determined by a number of demographic and
socio-economic factors. In 2011, more than half of the households in the
Sliven district were one- or two-person (55.5%). The number of the
former changed from 15,137 (2001) to 19,899 (2011). The relative share
of single-member households is the largest in the municipalities of Nova
Zagora (28.8%) and Sliven (26.8%), and the smallest in the municipality
of Kotel (25.1%).
The distribution of the households by ethnic
groups was made depending on the indicated answer of the head of the
household - 55,718 identified themselves as belonging to the Bulgarian
ethnic group (83.3%), 5347 to the Turkish (8%), and 4871 to the Gypsy
(7.3 %). For 9.2% of households, the head did not answer the question
about ethnicity.
The district of Sliven is located in Southeastern Bulgaria, south of
Stara planina. With its 3544.066 km², it covers 3.19% of the country's
territory, which places it in 15th place among 28 regions in Bulgaria.
The region borders to the north with Shumen region, Targovishte region
and Veliko Tarnovo region, to the south and west with Stara Zagora
region, to the east with Burgas region and to the southeast with Yambol
region.
The district of Sliven is located 108 km from Burgas -
the largest commercial port in Bulgaria, where the nearest airport is,
and 195 km from Varna - the second largest port. It is 288 km away from
the capital Sofia. The territory of the district is distributed as
follows: agricultural lands - 52%, forest territories - 40%, settlements
-3.5%.
The territory of the district is characterized by a diverse relief.
This determines the presence of two regions in terms of relief: in the
north - semi-mountainous and mountainous, and in the south - plain.
The southern part of the territory of the district includes part of
the Tundzhan hilly and low-mountainous region, Novozagorsk, Kermensko
and Sliven fields. The average altitude of the Sliven field is 150 m,
and the Kermensko and Novozagorsk fields - about 130 m. The fertile
fields located in the southern part of the district are surrounded from
the north by Stara Planina and the easternmost slopes of Sredna Gora.
The highest peaks in the mountainous part are Chumerna (1536 m),
Bulgarka (1181 m) and Razboyna (1128 m).
The district of Sliven covers territories that belong to the areas with a moderate continental and transitional continental climate, due to the Mediterranean influence. It is characterized by short, relatively warm winters with no snow and hot, dry, rainless summers.
Hydrological reserves in the district are not large. The main water
resource is the Tundzha River, with a catchment area of about 7,800 km².
With its 398 km, it ranks fourth in length among the rivers in Bulgaria.
Its waters are used for drinking purposes and irrigation. One of the
largest dams in the country - Zhrebchevo, with a volume of over 400
million m³, was built on the Tundzha River. Its main purpose is for
irrigation.
An important hydrological resource for the region are
the mineral springs near Sliven and Nova Zagora - the village of Banya,
around which spa resorts have developed. The Sliven mineral baths are a
resort of national importance, and the mineral baths in the village of
Banya have local importance.
On the territory of the Sliven region, two types of transport are
developed - road and rail. There is an airport built near Sliven, under
the management of the Ministry of Defense, which was also used for
civilian needs in the past. The runway is about 2.5 km long, with
parameters that allow the landing of certain types of transport and
passenger aircraft. An air terminal and a control tower were built. The
airport is not in use.
Sliven district has a built and
well-developed railway infrastructure. All municipal centers, with the
exception of Kotel, are connected to the country's railway network.
The diverse sectoral and sub-sectoral structure, the good location of
the industrial facilities, the fully developed infrastructure in the
industrial zones are characteristic of the Sliven region, which creates
favorable conditions for attracting local and foreign investors and
developing the economy of the region.
As an old industrial
center, the city of Sliven has traditions in the production of textiles
and knitwear, food and beverages, machinery and equipment. The favorable
climate is a prerequisite for establishing the Sliven region as an
important supplier of agricultural products. The conditions are
extremely suitable for the development of fruit growing (especially the
production of peaches and cherries), viticulture, vegetable production,
sunflower and cereal production, and also for the development of animal
husbandry.
The more important for the regional economy sectoral
sectors (sectors) of the processing industry are production of textiles
and textile products, production of clothing; food and beverage
production; machinery and equipment manufacturing.
The traditions
in textile production are predetermined by a remarkable event - the
construction in 1843 in the town of Sliven of the first textile factory
on the Balkan Peninsula (with Dobri Zhelyazkov as its head). With its
creation, the Bulgarian industry also developed. To this day, Sliven is
one of the textile centers of Bulgaria. Some of the largest textile
enterprises in the country are located here. A significant place is
occupied by numerous small companies producing terry fabrics and
products, men's and women's socks, clothing, etc. The region is also
known for the hand-made production of carpets woven with folk motifs,
traditional for the city of Kotel and the surrounding villages.
Food and beverage production is the second most important industry in
Sliven region. It has strong positions in wine production, in milk
processing, in the production of meat and meat products, fruit and
vegetable preserves. A key place in the development of the industry is
also the production of fruit and vegetable preserves, which are sold on
the markets of Europe, the USA and the CIS. Sliven is also home to one
of the largest nut processing and packaging enterprises.
The
production of machines and equipment is a traditional industry for the
Sliven region. It is represented by several large companies in Sliven
and Nova Zagora, which manufacture universal lathes, column drilling
machines, woodworking machines, metal cutting machines, agricultural
machinery.
The conclusion of the IPI study "Regional Profiles: Development
Indicators" is that the Sliven region emerges as one of the least
developed in Bulgaria. IPI categorizes it as an area with "very poor
socio-economic status and negative development trends" - this is the
lowest assessment in the study. Razgrad and Silistra districts also fall
into the same category. For comparison, Yambol and Stara Zagora regions
have "good development trends", Burgas region has "good socio-economic
development", Veliko Tarnovo region has "poor socio-economic
development", Shumen region has "average socio-economic development ",
and Targovishte region with "contrasts in socio-economic development".
According to the "GDP per capita" indicator, it is in the
penultimate place with BGN 4,601 in 2010. However, for the period 2000 -
2010, this indicator is constantly growing (in 2000 it was BGN 2,307)
and in ten years it has doubled but remains relatively low. In addition
to the economy, the Sliven region also recorded poor results in
education, health care and the social environment.
The fertile soils and the mild climate in the Sliven region offer
wide opportunities for the development of agriculture in the region.
Agricultural lands occupy 1,827 thousand decares - 51.5% of the
territory of the district, of which 257 thousand decares are available
for irrigation. For the development of agriculture, the branch of crop
production is of strategic importance. It ensures the production of
products necessary for feeding the population and basic raw materials
for processing enterprises and productive animal husbandry. More than
half of the arable land in the district, mainly in the municipalities of
Sliven and Nova Zagora, is used for growing cereals. The soil-climatic
conditions in the valley of the Tundzha River on the territory of the
Sliven region are the most favorable in the country for the cultivation
of the peach culture, which is why it occupies the largest areas. A
priority sector for the district is the development of viticulture.
Animal husbandry is the second main subsector of agriculture in the
district. The good fodder production in the Polish part of the district
- the municipalities of Nova Zagora and Sliven - creates favorable
conditions for the development of cattle breeding and pig breeding, and
the presence of meadows and pastures in the mountainous and
semi-mountainous part - the municipalities of Kotel and Tvarditsa -
favors the development of sheep breeding and beef cattle breeding . Good
traditions also exist in the field of beekeeping.
The Sliven region has wonderful opportunities for tourism, determined
by its geographical position, the presence of natural resources and a
rich historical heritage.
The proximity of the Sliven region to
the Southern Black Sea coast is a very favorable opportunity for the
formation of an attractive regional tourist product. The Sliven region
is one of the regions most benefited by nature in the country. The
picturesque slopes of the Eastern Stara Planina with its many natural
attractions and the presence of a large protected area - the "Blue
Stones" nature park - are an exceptional wealth and a prerequisite for
the successful development of ecotourism.
The Blue Stones Nature
Park is located in the immediate vicinity of Sliven. It is characterized
by a pronounced mountainous relief. Its altitude varies from 290 to 1181
m (Mount Bulgarka – the highest in the Eastern Stara Planina). This
makes it suitable for the development of almost all types of mountain
sports - skiing, mountaineering, rock climbing, cycling, mountain
biking, hang gliding, parachuting, flying without a motor, as well as
for hiking and cognitive tourism.
In the municipality of Sliven
and the municipality of Nova Zagora there are conditions for
balneotherapy and SPA tourism, given the presence of natural mineral
springs. With great potential for development are the Sliven mineral
baths, which have been a resort of national importance since 1967.
The developed network for education, qualification and retraining makes it possible to maintain a good educational level of the population of the district. In the city of Sliven is located the Faculty of Engineering and Pedagogy at the Technical University in Sofia, which has a very good material base for training and scientific activity. The technical college at the same institute, a private professional management college and a private professional commercial college complete the post-secondary education options. The professional training of students for the entire spectrum of professions from the economy of the region is provided by the technical schools in the cities of Sliven, Nova Zagora and Tvarditsa. The high schools in the city of Sliven - for foreign language education, Natural Mathematics and Humanities - create the future expert, scientific and management personnel of the area.
The Sliven region has rich cultural traditions that have withstood
the test of the years and have been carried over to the present day. The
following have the status of state cultural institutions: Drama Theater
"Stefan Kirov", State Puppet Theatre, National Museum of the Textile
Industry.
On the territory of Sliven region, there are: museums -
17, theaters - 2, libraries - 109, art galleries - 4, symphony orchestra
- 1, folk song and dance ensemble - 1, art schools - 2, community
centers - 112, printed publications - 11, electronic media - 11,
associations and foundations working in the field of culture - 17.
Cultural - historical monuments are 1255, of which 23 are of national
importance (Sliven municipality - 20, Nova Zagora municipality - 3),
architectural historical reserves are 5 In terms of the number of
cultural monuments, the Sliven region ranks third among the other
regions.
A total of over 120 prehistoric settlement mounds have
been registered on the territory of the district, and over 300 are the
preserved Thracian burial mounds. The most remarkable are those near the
villages of Karanovo and Dyadovo, with traces of settlement life from
the Neolithic era.