# Kelmė

> city in central Lithuania

**Wikidata**: [Q658230](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q658230)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelmė)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/kelme

## Summary
Kelmė is a city in central Lithuania, serving as the capital of Kelmė District Municipality since 1950. It is a historically significant urban center with a population that has declined steadily since the early 2000s. The city is known for its administrative role, cultural heritage, and international partnerships.

## Key Facts
- Kelmė is a city located in central Lithuania, with coordinates 55.6333° N, 22.9333° E.
- It is the capital of Kelmė District Municipality, a role it has held since June 20, 1950.
- The city covers an area of 7.85 square kilometers.
- As of January 1, 2023, Kelmė had a population of 7,512, down from 10,899 in 2001.
- The city is situated at an elevation of approximately 128 meters above sea level.
- Kelmė operates in the Eastern European Time zone.
- It is part of Kelmė Rural Eldership and Kelmė District Municipality.
- The city was officially classified as such starting in 1947.
- Kelmė is twinned with Hódmezővásárhely (Hungary), Biłgoraj (Poland), Ogre (Latvia), Lienen (Germany), and Novovolynsk (Ukraine).
- The city's official website is [kelme.lt](http://www.kelme.lt/).
- It has a flag, coat of arms, and a dedicated category on Wikimedia Commons.
- Kelmė is recognized in multiple languages, including Russian, Lithuanian, and others, with a pronunciation audio file available.
- The city has a historical connection to the Russian Empire until 1917.
- It is listed in various databases including GeoNames, Freebase, and MusicBrainz.
- Kelmė has been described in the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary.

## FAQs
### What is Kelmė?
Kelmė is a city in central Lithuania, serving as the administrative center of Kelmė District Municipality. It has been officially recognized as a city since 1947 and had a population of 7,512 as of 2023.

### Where is Kelmė located?
Kelmė is located in central Lithuania, within Kelmė District Municipality. Its geographic coordinates are approximately 55.6333° N and 22.9333° E, and it sits at an elevation of about 128 meters above sea level.

### What is the population of Kelmė?
As of January 1, 2023, the population of Kelmė was 7,512. The population has been steadily declining since 2001, when it was recorded at 10,899.

### What administrative role does Kelmė play?
Kelmė serves as the capital of Kelmė District Municipality, a role it has held since June 20, 1950. It also functions as the center of Kelmė Rural Eldership.

### What is the time zone of Kelmė?
Kelmė is in the Eastern European Time (EET) zone.

### What are the international connections of Kelmė?
Kelmė is twinned with several cities: Hódmezővásárhely (Hungary), Biłgoraj (Poland, since June 13, 1998), Ogre (Latvia, since 2010), Lienen (Germany), and Novovolynsk (Ukraine, since August 30, 2008).

### What historical context does Kelmė have?
Kelmė was part of the Russian Empire until 1917. It has been described in historical encyclopedias such as the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary.

### What is the official language and name of Kelmė?
The official name of the city is Kelmė, and it is also known by several aliases including Kelme, Кельмы, Кимель, and Кумель. The native label is also Kelmė.

### What is the area and elevation of Kelmė?
Kelmė covers an area of 7.85 square kilometers and is located at an elevation of approximately 128 meters above sea level.

### What resources are available for learning more about Kelmė?
Kelmė has a dedicated website (kelme.lt), a Wikipedia page, and is featured in various encyclopedias and databases such as the Online PWN Encyclopedia and the Library of Congress.

## Why It Matters
Kelmė holds administrative importance as the capital of its district municipality and serves as a regional hub in central Lithuania. Its historical role, cultural identity, and international partnerships contribute to its relevance in regional diplomacy and local governance. The city's steady population decline since 2001 highlights demographic challenges common in smaller Lithuanian cities, making it a case study in urban sustainability and regional development. Its recognition in historical and international databases underscores its cultural and geographic significance.

## Notable For
- Being the capital of Kelmė District Municipality since 1950.
- A consistent population decline from 10,899 in 2001 to 7,512 in 2023.
- Administrative twinning with cities in Poland, Hungary, Ukraine, Germany, and Latvia.
- Historical mention in the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary.
- Recognition in multiple international databases including GeoNames, Freebase, and MusicBrainz.
- A dedicated local government website and presence in multiple language versions of Wikipedia.
- A coat of arms and flag, symbolizing its civic identity.
- Inclusion in the Online PWN Encyclopedia and other national encyclopedias.

## Body

### History
Kelmė has a documented history that includes its time under the Russian Empire until 1917. It was officially designated as a city in 1947. The city's historical significance is further highlighted by its inclusion in the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, indicating its presence in historical records. The city has been the subject of demographic studies, with population data showing a steady decline from 10,899 in 2001 to 7,512 in 2023.

### Administrative Structure
Kelmė is the administrative center of Kelmė District Municipality, a role it has held since June 20, 1950. Prior to that, it served as the capital of a different administrative unit until June 19, 1950. The city is also part of Kelmė Rural Eldership, which is a smaller administrative subdivision within Lithuania. This layered governance structure positions Kelmė as a key local administrative node.

### Demographics
Population data for Kelmė shows a consistent decline over the past two decades. In 2001, the population was 10,899, and by 2023, it had dropped to 7,512. The city's population peaked in the early 2000s and has since been decreasing annually. This trend is typical of many small Lithuanian cities affected by emigration and demographic shifts.

### International Relations
Kelmė maintains international ties through city twinning agreements:
- Hódmezővásárhely, Hungary
- Biłgoraj, Poland (since June 13, 1998)
- Ogre, Latvia (since 2010)
- Lienen, Germany
- Novovolynsk, Ukraine (since August 30, 2008)

These partnerships contribute to cultural and civic exchanges, highlighting Kelmė's role in regional diplomacy.

### Geography and Physical Characteristics
Kelmė is located in central Lithuania at the geographic coordinates 55.6333° N and 22.9333° E. The city covers an area of 7.85 square kilometers and sits at an elevation of approximately 128 meters above sea level. It is part of the Kelmė District Municipality and Kelmė Rural Eldership.

### Cultural and Digital Presence
Kelmė has a dedicated website (kelme.lt) and is featured in multiple language versions of Wikipedia, including Lithuanian, Russian, German, and others. It has a pronunciation audio file and is recognized in the Online PWN Encyclopedia. The city also has a coat of arms and a flag, symbolizing its civic identity. Its presence in databases such as GeoNames, Freebase, and MusicBrainz underscores its recognition beyond local contexts.

### Related Entities
- **Kelmė District Municipality**: The district municipality of which Kelmė is the capital.
- **Kelmė Rural Eldership**: A smaller administrative unit within Lithuania that includes Kelmė.
- **Historical Context**: Mentioned in the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, indicating its historical relevance.

### Official Designations and Identifiers
- **Instance of**: City (since 1947)
- **Country**: Lithuania
- **Historical Country**: Russian Empire (until 1917)
- **Timezone**: Eastern European Time
- **Aliases**: Kelme, Кельмы, Кимель, Кумель
- **Official Name**: Kelmė
- **Native Label**: Kelmė
- **Image**: A pond in Kelmė is featured in its image archive.
- **Flag Image**: Available on Wikimedia Commons.
- **Coat of Arms Image**: Also available on Wikimedia Commons.
- **Pronunciation Audio**: Available for the Lithuanian pronunciation of the city's name.
- **Wikipedia Title**: Kelmė
- **Commons Category**: Kelmė
- **Online PWN Encyclopedia ID**: 3922053
- **GeoNames ID**: 864505
- **Freebase ID**: /m/03p2f5
- **MusicBrainz Area ID**: ca216019-6d35-45ac-aa8b-7c14ed59bc7b
- **Library of Congress Authority ID**: nr93034966
- **National Library of Latvia ID**: 000353804
- **National Library of Israel J9U ID**: 987007554836805171
- **Yale LUX ID**: place/39ddbb51-a0a4-49f6-9257-defbae20974c
- **Facebook Location ID**: 113770718634655
- **Who's on First ID**: 101817199
- **Viaf ID**: 151714576

Kelmė's structured data reflects its recognition in numerous international databases and its role in cultural, historical, and administrative contexts.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.bilgoraj.pl/page/61/kelme-litwa.html)
2. [Source](https://nov-rada.gov.ua/pro-misto/mizhnarodne-spivrobitnytstvo/)
3. [Source](https://www.kelme.lt/apie-kelmes-rajona/miestai-partneriai/)
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. MusicBrainz
7. [State Data Agency of Lithuania](https://osp-rs.stat.gov.lt/rest_xml/data/S3R167_M3010210/?startPeriod=2017&endPeriod=2017)
8. Resident population by city / town at the beginning of the year
9. GeoNames