# Gračanica, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Gračanica (Cyrillic: Грачаница) is a city located in Tuzla Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located in northeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina, east of Doboj and west of Tuzla. As of 2013, it has a population of 45,220 inhabitants.

## Gračanica

Gračanica is located in the lower valley of the River Sokoluša along the main road from Tuzla to Doboj, about 50 km west of Tuzla.

## Settlements

* Babići
* Doborovci
* Donja Lohinja
* Džakule
* Gornja Lohinja
* Gračanica
* Lendići
* Lukavica
* Malešići
* Miričina
* Orahovica Donja
* Orahovica Gornja
* Piskavica
* Pribava
* Prijeko Brdo
* Rašljeva
* Skipovac Donji
* Skipovac Gornji
* Sočkovac
* Soko
* Stjepan Polje
* Škahovica
* Vranovići

## History

The earliest documented references to Gračanica date back to 1528 in Ottoman archives, where it was identified for its iron mine. Approximately 4 km (2.5 mi) from the town, a medieval fortress named Sokol existed. Gračanica attained town status in 1548. During the 17th century, it underwent expansion facilitated by Ahmed-paša Budimlija, who constructed the White Mosque, a public bath, and a clock tower. Under the Austrian Empire, Gračanica witnessed substantial economic, urban, and cultural advancements. From 1929 to 1941, Gračanica was part of the Vrbas Banovina within the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

## Climate

In January, the average temperature is 1.8 °C (35.2 °F), while in July, it rises to 23.3 °C (73.9 °F).
This region is known for its limited precipitation, with an annual average of 830mm/m2. The highest precipitation occurs in May (121mm) and June (101mm), while March records the lowest (41mm). Snowfall is most frequent in January, February, and March, with an average of 50 days per year. Gračanica exhibits a continental climate type.

## Demographics
### Population

Population of settlements – Gračanica municipality :
| | Settlement | 1961. | 1971. | 1981. | 1991. | 2013. |
| | Total | 30,203 | 46,950 | 54,311 | 59,134 | 45,220 |
| 1 | Babići | | | | 1,831 | 1,897 |
| 2 | Doborovci | | | | 1,999 | 1,854 |
| 3 | Donja Lohinja | | | | 1,091 | 1,149 |
| 4 | Džakule | | | | 2,306 | 1,929 |
| 5 | Gračanica | | 9,477 | 12,103 | 12,712 | 13,400 |
| 6 | Lendići | | | | 318 | 237 |
| 7 | Lukavica | | | | 3,231 | 2,762 |
| 8 | Malešići | | | | 2,964 | 2,853 |
| 9 | Miričina | | | | 2,517 | 2,266 |
| 10 | Orahovica Donja | | | | 4,304 | 3,966 |
| 11 | Orahovica Gornja | | | | 2,035 | 1,771 |
| 12 | Piskavica | | | | 808 | 720 |
| 13 | Pribava | | | | 1,682 | 2,096 |
| 14 | Prijeko Brdo | | | | 464 | 386 |
| 15 | Rašljeva | | | | 758 | 691 |
| 16 | Škahovica | | | | 1,423 | 1,400 |
| 17 | Soko | | | | 1,920 | 1,746 |
| 18 | Stjepan Polje | | | | 3,347 | 3,466 |
| 19 | Vranovići | | | | 1,074 | 1,001 |

### Ethnic composition

Ethnic composition – Gračanica city :
| | 2013. | 1991. | 1981. | 1971. |
| Total | 13,400 (100,0%) | 12,712 (100,0%) | 12,103 (100,0%) | 9,477 (100,0%) |
| Bosniaks | | 10,282 (80,88%) | 9,604 (79,35%) | 8,225 (86,79%) |
| Serbs | | 1,169 (9,196%) | 1,000 (8,262%) | 934 (9,855%) |
| Yugoslavs | | 900 (7,080%) | 1,284 (10,61%) | 98 (1,034%) |
| Others | | 314 (2,470%) | 104 (0,859%) | 71 (0,749%) |
| Croats | | 47 (0,370%) | 67 (0,554%) | 99 (1,045%) |
| Montenegrins | | | 31 (0,256%) | 34 (0,359%) |
| Macedonians | | | 6 (0,050%) | 6 (0,063%) |
| Albanians | | | 5 (0,041%) | 7 (0,074%) |
| Slovenes | | | 1 (0,008%) | 2 (0,021%) |
| Hungarians | | | 1 (0,008%) | 1 (0,011%) |
Ethnic composition – Gračanica municipality :
| | 2013. | 1991. | 1981. | 1971. | 1961. |
| Total | 45,220 (100,0%) | 59,134 (100,0%) | 54,311 (100,0%) | 46,950 (100,0%) | 30,203 (100,0%) |
| Bosniaks | 43,857 (96,99%) | 42,599 (72,04%) | 38,189 (70,32%) | 33,135 (70,58%) | 20,726 (68,62%) |
| Others | 1,134 (2,508%) | 1,315 (2,224%) | 288 (0,530%) | 219 (0,466%) | 77 (0,250%) |
| Serbs | 157 (0,347%) | 13,558 (22,93%) | 13,226 (24,35%) | 13 135 (27,98%) | 8,543 (28,29%) |
| Croats | 72 (0,159%) | 132 (0,223%) | 135 (0,249%) | 199 (0,424%) | 171 (0,570%) |
| Yugoslavs | | 1,530 (2,587%) | 2,359 (4,344%) | 184 (0,392%) | 686 (2,270%) |
| Montenegrins | | | 50 (0,092%) | 45 (0,096%) | |
| Roma | | | 24 (0,044%) | 1 (0,002%) | |
| Albanians | | | 20 (0,037%) | 10 (0,021%) | |
| Macedonians | | | 13 (0,024%) | 9 (0,019%) | |
| Slovenes | | | 5 (0,009%) | 7 (0,015%) | |
| Hungarians | | | 2 (0,004%) | 6 (0,013%) | |

## Notable people

* Branko Cvetković, basketball player
* Muhamed Konjić, football player
* Mitar Lukić, football player
* Vedin Musić, football player
* Arminka Helić, politician

## Twin towns – sister cities

Gračanica is twinned with:
* Fleury-les-Aubrais, France
* Formia, Italy
* Pljevlja, Montenegro

## Sports

* NK Bratstvo Gračanica, an association football club
* RK Gračanica, a handball club