# Jonava

> city in Kaunas County, Lithuania

**Wikidata**: [Q743218](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q743218)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonava)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/jonava

## Summary
Jonava is a city located in Kaunas County, Lithuania, and serves as the capital of both the Jonava District Municipality and the Jonava Eldership. Founded in 1740, it covers an area of 13.67 square kilometers and sits at an elevation of 65 meters above sea level. As of January 1, 2023, the city has a population of 27,134 residents.

## Key Facts
- **Location:** Kaunas County, Lithuania (Coordinates: 55.0722°N, 24.2806°E).
- **Inception:** 1740; the earliest written record dates to the same year.
- **Area:** 13.67 square kilometres.
- **Elevation:** 65 metres above sea level.
- **Population:** 27,134 (as of January 1, 2023).
- **Time Zone:** UTC+02:00.
- **Postal Code Range:** 55000–55999.
- **License Plate Code:** K.
- **Local Dialing Code:** 841.
- **UN/LOCODE:** LTJNA.
- **Demonym:** Jonavietis, Jonaviškis, Jonavietė, Jonaviškė.
- **Nicknames:** "Jonų ir Janinų sostinė" (The capital of Jonai and Janinos).
- **Official Websites:** [jonava.lt](https://www.jonava.lt) (Lithuanian), [jonava.lt/en](https://www.jonava.lt/en/pradzia) (English).

## FAQs
**What is the demographic history of Jonava?**
The city has experienced a gradual decline in population over the last two decades. Records show a population of 34,968 in 2001, which decreased to 31,725 by 2010. By 2020, the number was 26,423, and as of January 1, 2023, the population stood at 27,134.

**What are the administrative and territorial divisions for Jonava?**
Jonava is the capital of the Jonava District Municipality and the Jonava Eldership. Historically, it was part of the Kovensky Uyezd from 1795 to 1920. In the mid-20th century, it shifted between the Jonava District Municipality and the Kaunas District Municipality before settling in its current administrative structure on July 7, 1994.

**Which cities are twinned with Jonava?**
Jonava is twinned with seven cities: Bagrationovsk (Russia), Děčín (Czech Republic), Kędzierzyn-Koźle (Poland), Polatsk (Belarus), Pucioasa (Romania), Riihimäki (Finland), and Smila (Ukraine).

**What international organizations is Jonava a member of?**
The city is a member of the Union of the Baltic Cities.

## Why It Matters
Jonava serves as a significant administrative hub within Kaunas County, functioning as the central governance point for the Jonava District Municipality and Eldership. Its inclusion in the Union of the Baltic Cities highlights its active role in regional cooperation and international networking within the Baltic region. The city maintains a distinct cultural identity, affectionately known as the "Capital of Jonai and Janinos," and possesses a robust digital and academic footprint, cataloged by major libraries and geographic databases worldwide.

## Notable For
- **Unique Nickname:** Referred to as "The capital of Jonai and Janinos" (Jonų ir Janinų sostinė).
- **Extensive Wikipedia Presence:** The city is covered in 84 different Wikipedia language editions, including minority and constructed languages.
- **Long-standing Records:** Consistent written records dating back to 1740.
- **Sports Infrastructure:** Owns and operates the Central stadium of Jonava.
- **Cultural Recognition:** Categorized in the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary and the Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana.

## Body

### Geography and Climate
Jonava is situated in central Lithuania within Kaunas County. Geographically, it is positioned at a latitude of 55.0722°N and a longitude of 24.2806°E. The city spans a total area of 13.67 square kilometers and rests at an elevation of 65 meters above sea level. It operates within the UTC+02:00 time zone.

### Demographics and Population Trends
The population of Jonava has been tracked via demographic balance methods from 2001 to 2023. The city saw its highest recorded population in the provided data on January 1, 2001, with 34,968 residents. The population remained relatively stable in the early 2000s but began a steady decline in the 2010s.
- **2001:** 34,968
- **2005:** 34,036
- **2010:** 31,725 (Note: one data point cites 34,056 for 2010, but the time series indicates a decline to ~31k).
- **2015:** 29,031
- **2020:** 26,423
- **2023:** 27,134

Residents are known by the demonyms Jonavietis, Jonaviškis, Jonavietė (female), and Jonaviškė (female).

### History and Administration
The city was officially founded in 1740, which marks the time of its earliest written record. Administratively, Jonava has undergone several territorial reassignments:
- **1795–1920:** Part of Kovensky Uyezd.
- **1950–1962:** Located in the Jonava District Municipality.
- **1962–1965:** Briefly moved to the Kaunas District Municipality.
- **1965–1994:** Returned to the Jonava District Municipality.
- **1994–Present:** Established within the Jonava Eldership.

Today, it serves as the administrative center (capital) for both the Jonava District Municipality and the Jonava Eldership.

### Civic Infrastructure and Services
The city infrastructure includes the Central stadium of Jonava, which is owned by the city entity. Jonava utilizes the postal code range of 55000–55999 and uses the license plate code "K." For telecommunications, the local dialing code is 841. The city maintains an official online presence with separate portals for Lithuanian and English speakers.

### International Relations
Jonava maintains active sister-city relationships through the Union of the Baltic Cities. Its twin towns include:
- **Bagrationovsk** (Russia)
- **Děčín** (Czech Republic)
- **Kędzierzyn-Koźle** (Poland)
- **Polatsk** (Belarus)
- **Pucioasa** (Romania)
- **Riihimäki** (Finland)
- **Smila** (Ukraine)

### Digital and Academic Identifiers
Jonava is indexed in numerous international databases and library catalogs.
- **Standard IDs:** VIAF ID 168653847, GND ID 7587167-1, GeoNames ID 598818.
- **National Catalogs:** Library of Congress Authority ID n92082595, National Library of Israel ID 987007530944905171.
- **Encyclopedic Sources:** Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija ID "jonava", Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary.
- **Digital Archives:** Freebase ID /m/07mqz1, OpenStreetMap Relation ID 1903910.

### Symbols and Images
The city has official heraldic and vexillological symbols, including a Coat of Arms and a Flag. Visual resources include a locator map image (LietuvaJonava.png) and a page banner hosted on Wikimedia Commons. The city is also categorized under "Maps of Jonava" for cartographic references.

### Aliases and Alternative Names
The city is known by various names in different languages and historical contexts, including Yanove, Ianovo, Janów, Janow, Janau, Janova, Janovo, Janowa, Janowo, Yanova, Yonava, Ionava, "Janów nad Wilią", "Janow nad Wilia", "Jonavos Miestelis", Juonava, Йонава, and Яново.

## References

1. [Source](https://smila-rada.gov.ua/content/mista-pobratymy)
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. [Source](https://ubc.net/cities/)
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. Czech National Authority Database
6. [Source](http://db1.stat.gov.lt/statbank/selectvarval/saveselections.asp?MainTable=M3010210&PLanguage=0&TableStyle=&Buttons=&PXSId=3239&IQY=&TC=&ST=ST&rvar0=&rvar1=&rvar2=&rvar3=&rvar4=&rvar5=&rvar6=&rvar7=&rvar8=&rvar9=&rvar10=&rvar11=&rvar12=&rvar13=&rvar14=)
7. [Source](http://www.stat.gov.lt/uploads/docs/Population_by_age2010.xls)
8. [State Data Agency of Lithuania](https://osp-rs.stat.gov.lt/rest_xml/data/S3R167_M3010210/?startPeriod=2017&endPeriod=2017)
9. [State Data Agency of Lithuania](https://osp-rs.stat.gov.lt/rest_xml/data/S3R167_M3010210/?startPeriod=2018&endPeriod=2018)
10. Resident population by city / town at the beginning of the year
11. GeoNames
12. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/lt.htm)
13. [Source](https://encyklopedia.pwn.pl/haslo/Janow;3916869.html)