# Obeliai

> city in Aukštaitija, Lithuania

**Wikidata**: [Q1987043](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1987043)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obeliai)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/obeliai

## Summary
Obeliai is a city located in the Aukštaitija region of Lithuania, situated within the Rokiškis District Municipality. Officially designated as a city in 1957, its history dates back to its earliest written record in 1519. The settlement has experienced significant demographic shifts, with its population peaking at 2,000 in 1970 before declining to 814 residents by 2023.

## Key Facts
*   **Entity Type:** City (designated in 1957).
*   **Location:** Rokiškis District Municipality, Aukštaitija region, Lithuania.
*   **Coordinates:** 55.94166666666667°N, 25.8°E.
*   **Elevation:** 94 meters above sea level.
*   **Earliest Written Record:** 1519.
*   **Population (2023):** 814.
*   **Postal Code:** LT-42222.
*   **Coat of Arms:** Adopted in 1993.
*   **Identifiers:** VIAF ID 309840443; GeoNames ID 596545; Library of Congress Authority ID no2014082577.

## FAQs
**Where is Obeliai located?**
Obeliai is located in the northeastern part of Lithuania within the Aukštaitija ethnographic region. Administratively, it falls under the Rokiškis District Municipality.

**How has the population of Obeliai changed over time?**
The city experienced population growth through the mid-20th century, peaking at 2,000 residents in 1970. Since the 1989 census (1,804 residents), the population has steadily declined, reaching 814 residents as of January 1, 2023.

**When was Obeliai officially designated as a city?**
While the settlement has records dating back to the 16th century, it was officially designated as a city in 1957.

**What historical sources document Obeliai?**
The city is documented in several major encyclopedic works, including the Granat Encyclopedic Dictionary, the Jewish Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron, Otto's Encyclopedia, and the Geographical Statistical Dictionary of the Russian Empire.

## Why It Matters
Obeliai serves as a case study in the demographic evolution of Lithuanian towns in the Aukštaitija region. Its transition from a growing settlement in the Soviet era (peaking in 1970) to a shrinking community in the 21st century reflects broader regional trends. The city's documentation in diverse historical sources, ranging from the Jewish Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron to the Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija, highlights its cultural and historical continuity from the 16th century to the present day. The adoption of its coat of arms in 1993 marks its modern administrative identity within the Lithuanian state.

## Notable For
*   **Historical Depth:** Possesses a documented history spanning over 500 years, with the earliest written record dating to 1519.
*   **Demographic Peak:** Reached a population zenith of 2,000 residents in 1970, a figure more than double its 1868 population of 232.
*   **Multilingual Documentation:** The city is documented across a wide array of linguistic encyclopedias, including German (Otto's), Russian (Brockhaus and Efron), Polish (Granat), and Lithuanian sources.
*   **Global Identifiers:** Maintains presence in international knowledge bases including VIAF, GeoNames, Freebase, and the Library of Congress authorities.

## Body

### Geography and Administration
Obeliai is situated in Lithuania at coordinates 55.94166666666667°N, 25.8°E, within the Aukštaitija region. It is administered by the Rokiškis District Municipality. The city sits at an elevation of 94 meters above sea level and utilizes the postal code LT-42222. A distinct coat of arms has represented the city since its adoption in 1993.

### Historical Records and Status
The settlement's earliest mention in written records occurred in 1519. It was formally granted the status of a city in 1957. Historical knowledge regarding Obeliai has been preserved through several key encyclopedic and geographic publications, including:
*   *Granat Encyclopedic Dictionary*
*   *Jewish Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron*
*   *Geographical Statistical Dictionary of the Russian Empire*
*   *Otto's Encyclopedia*

### Demographics
Obeliai has experienced significant population fluctuations over the last two centuries. Initial growth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries accelerated into the Soviet era, followed by a sustained decline in the post-independence period.

**Historical Population Timeline:**
*   **1868:** 232
*   **1897:** 975
*   **1923:** 1,328
*   **1959:** 1,907
*   **1970:** 2,000 (Peak)
*   **1989:** 1,804
*   **2001:** 1,371
*   **2011:** 1,074

**Recent Demographic Data (2001–2023):**
*   2001: 1,370
*   2002: 1,364
*   2003: 1,331
*   2004: 1,310
*   2005: 1,295
*   2006: 1,254
*   2007: 1,211
*   2008: 1,204
*   2009: 1,186
*   2010: 1,123
*   2011: 1,083
*   2012: 1,017
*   2013: 973
*   2014: 956
*   2015: 949
*   2016: 925
*   2017: 883
*   2018: 857
*   2019: 834
*   2020: 797
*   2021: 871
*   2022: 845
*   2023: 814

### Cultural and Knowledge Representation
The city is visually represented in media by an image of the local church (Església de Santa Anna d'Obeliai) and its coat of arms. It is categorized under "Obeliai" on Wikimedia Commons.

In the realm of structured data and knowledge graphs, Obeliai is associated with a variety of unique identifiers:
*   **VIAF ID:** 309840443
*   **GeoNames ID:** 596545
*   **Who's on First ID:** 101818129
*   **GNS Unique Feature ID:** -2617212
*   **National Library of Israel J9U ID:** 987011911574205171
*   **Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija ID:** obeliai
*   **Freebase ID:** /m/0g5kmw
*   **Snarc ID:** Teltow-Fläming District
*   **FactGrid Item ID:** Category:Tuchola County

The entity is referenced across Wikipedia in 32 different languages, including English, Lithuanian, Russian, Polish, and German.

## References

1. Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija Online
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. [State Data Agency of Lithuania](https://osp-rs.stat.gov.lt/rest_xml/data/S3R167_M3010210/?startPeriod=2017&endPeriod=2017)
5. [State Data Agency of Lithuania](https://osp-rs.stat.gov.lt/rest_xml/data/S3R167_M3010210/?startPeriod=2018&endPeriod=2018)
6. Resident population by city / town at the beginning of the year
7. GeoNames
8. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File