# Šalčininkai

> city

**Wikidata**: [Q391011](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q391011)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Šalčininkai)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/salcininkai

## Summary
Šalčininkai is a city in Lithuania that serves as the capital of the Šalčininkai District Municipality. Located in Vilnius County, it is classified as a large human settlement with an area of 2.98 square kilometres. The city has a recorded history dating back to 1311 and had a population of 6,841 as of January 1, 2023.

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: City (instance of a large human settlement).
- **Location**: Šalčininkai District Municipality, Lithuania.
- **Area**: 2.98 square kilometres.
- **Population**: 6,841 (as of 2023-01-01).
- **Coordinates**: 54.311111°N, 25.380555°E.
- **Elevation**: 181 metres above sea level (alternate source lists 173 metres).
- **Time Zone**: UTC+02:00.
- **Postal Code**: LT-17001.
- **Local Dialing Code**: 380.
- **Earliest Written Record**: 1311.
- **Capital Status**: Capital of Šalčininkai District Municipality since September 20, 1972.
- **Official Website**: http://www.salcininkai.lt/.

## FAQs
**What is the population history of Šalčininkai?**
The population has fluctuated over the years, recorded at 6,745 in 2001, dropping to a low of 6,361 in 2011, and rising to 6,841 in 2023. Other notable figures include 6,671 in 2017 and 6,857 in 2021.

**What are the administrative divisions and historical locations of Šalčininkai?**
The city is currently located in the Šalčininkai District Municipality (since December 8, 1962). Historically, it was located in Vilnius County until 1795, and later in various administrative units (Q9272536 and Q92318237) between 1795 and 1962.

**What are the alternative names and linguistic aliases for Šalčininkai?**
The city is known by several aliases including Soleczniki, Шалчининкай, Солечники, and Солечники Большие. Historically, its official name was Большие Солечники (Bol'shie Solechniki) from 1795 until November 25, 1940.

**What twin towns does Šalčininkai have?**
Šalčininkai is twinned with Sokółka and Hude.

## Why It Matters
Šalčininkai serves as a significant administrative center within Lithuania as the capital of the Šalčininkai District Municipality. Its history, stretching back to the 14th century with its earliest written record in 1311, marks it as a long-standing settlement in the region. The city is documented in major encyclopedic works such as the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary and the Jewish Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron, highlighting its cultural and historical relevance. It maintains international connections through its twinning agreements with Sokółka and Hude.

## Notable For
- Serving as the administrative capital of the Šalčininkai District Municipality.
- A long history dating back to the early 14th century (1311).
- Distinct demographic tracking with population data available annually from 2001 to 2023.
- Multiple international identities via aliases in Polish, Russian, and other languages.
- Being the subject of distinct encyclopedic entries in both Jewish and general Russian encyclopedias.

## Body

### Geography and Administration
Šalčininkai is situated at an elevation of 181 metres (alternatively recorded as 173 metres) with coordinates 54.311111°N, 25.380555°E. The city covers a total area of 2.98 square kilometres. Administratively, it has been the capital of the Šalčininkai District Municipality since September 20, 1972. Its location within this municipality was established on December 8, 1962. Historical administrative contexts include its location in Vilnius County (end date 1795), followed by periods in administrative regions identified as Q9272536 (1795–1950) and Q92318237 (1950–1962).

### Demographics
The population of Šalčininkai has been tracked extensively via demographic balance methods. Key population figures include:
- **2023**: 6,841
- **2022**: 6,754
- **2021**: 6,857
- **2020**: 6,718
- **2019**: 6,752
- **2018**: 6,607
- **2017**: 6,671
- **2016**: 6,753
- **2015**: 6,686
- **2014**: 6,573
- **2013**: 6,492
- **2012**: 6,388
- **2011**: 6,361
- **2010**: 6,476
- **2009**: 6,539
- **2008**: 6,564
- **2007**: 6,562
- **2006**: 6,576
- **2005**: 6,654
- **2004**: 6,693
- **2003**: 6,663
- **2002**: 6,694
- **2001**: 6,745

### Historical Names and Identity
The city is officially named Šalčininkai, with a native label pronunciation available via Wikimedia Commons. It has a rich array of aliases: Soleczniki, Шалчининкай, Солечники, Солечники Большие, and Большие Солечники. From 1795 until November 25, 1940, the official name of the settlement was "Большие Солечники". The entity is explicitly differentiated from "Soleczniki" in external references.

### Cultural and External References
Šalčininkai is described by several authoritative sources:
- **Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary**
- **Jewish Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron**
- **Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija** (ID: salcininkai)

It holds identifiers in multiple knowledge bases:
- **VIAF ID**: 28154196790720112035
- **GeoNames ID**: 864520, 595016
- **Freebase ID**: /m/05pc_f
- **National Library of Latvia ID**: 000292064
- **Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names ID**: 1051530
- **Who's on First ID**: 101817929
- **Online PWN Encyclopedia ID**: 3977429

### Media and Visual Representation
Visual representations of the city include:
- **Image**: Šalčininkų centras.JPG
- **Coat of Arms**: LIT_VL_Šalčininkai_CoA.svg
- **Flag Image**: Vaizdas_2024-06-20_150617479.png

The city has a Wikipedia presence in 35 languages, including English, Lithuanian, Russian, Polish, and German. The topic's main category on Wikimedia Commons is "Šalčininkai".

## References

1. [Source](https://www.hude.de/rathaus-politik/staedtepartnerschaften/salcininkai/)
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