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Lääne County

Lääne County
County of Estonia
Skyline of Lääne County
Flag of Lääne County
Flag
Coat of arms of Lääne County
Coat of arms
Location of Lääne County
Country Estonia
Capital Haapsalu
Government
 • Governor Innar Mäesalu
Area
 • Total 2,383 km2 (920 sq mi)
Population (January 2016)
 • Total 24,580
 • Density 10.3/km2 (27/sq mi)
Ethnicity
 • Estonians 89.2%
 • Russians 8%
 • other 1.8%
ISO 3166 code EE-57
Vehicle registration S
Website www.laanemaa.ee
Rotalia
Läänemaa
Viking Age–1224
Ancient Estonia in 1214.
Capital Lihula
Languages Proto Estonian
Religion Estonian paganism, Thor cult
Government Council of Elders
History
 •  Established Viking Age
 •  Disestablished 1224
Succeeded by
Monastic state of the Teutonic Knights
Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek

Lääne County (Estonian: Lääne maakond), or Läänemaa (literally "Western land"; German: Wiek, Latin: Rotalia), is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It is located in western Estonia and borders the Baltic Sea to the north, Harju County to the north-east, Rapla County to the east, Pärnu County to the south, and the island counties of Saare and Hiiu to the west. In January 2009 Lääne County had a population of 23,810 – constituting 2.0% of the total population in Estonia.

The County Government (Estonian: Maavalitsus) is led by a Governor (Estonian: maavanem), who is appointed by the Government of Estonia for a term of five years. Since 15 December 2011, the governorship has been held by Innar Mäesalu.

The county is subdivided into municipalities. There are one urban municipality, Haapsalu (Estonian: linn – town) and nine rural municipalities (Estonian: vallad – parishes) in Lääne County.

Urban municipality:

Rural municipalities:

In the first centuries AD political and administrative subdivisions began to emerge in Estonia. Two larger subdivisions appeared: the parish (Estonian: kihelkond) and the county (Estonian: maakond). A parish consisted of several villages. Nearly all parishes had at least one fortress. The defense of the local area was directed by the highest official, the parish elder. A county was composed of several parishes, also headed by an elder. By the 13th century the following major districts had developed in Estonia: Saaremaa (Osilia), Läänemaa (Rotalia or Maritima), Harjumaa (Harria), Rävala (Revalia), Virumaa (Vironia), Järvamaa (Jervia), Sakala (Saccala), and Ugandi (Ugaunia).


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Wikipedia

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