Valga
Town
Valga Town Hall, Jaani (St. John´s) Church and Railway Station
Valga Town Hall, Jaani (St. John´s) Church and Railway Station
Motto(s): 
1 linn, 2 riiki (1 city, 2 countries)
Valga is located in Estonia
Valga
Valga
Location in Estonia
Coordinates: 57°47′N 26°02′E / 57.783°N 26.033°E / 57.783; 26.033
CountryEstonia
CountyValga County
MunicipalityValga Parish
First mention1286
Area
 • Total16.54 km2 (6.39 sq mi)
Elevation
65 m (213 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total11,792
 • Rank11th
 • Density710/km2 (1,800/sq mi)
Ethnicity (2021)
 • Estonians59.2%
 • Russians26.3%
 • Latvians5.65%
 • Ukrainians3.02%
 • other5.83%
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
68230

Valga (German: Walk) is a town in southern Estonia and the capital of Valga County and Valga Parish. Until their separation in 1920, Valga and the town of Valka in northern Latvia were one town. They are now twin-towns. The area of Valga is 16.5 square kilometres (6.4 square miles) and that of Valka is 14.2 km2 (5.5 sq mi). Their populations are respectively 12,261 and 6,164. On 21 December 2007 all border-crossing points were removed and roads and fences opened between the two countries with both countries joining the Schengen Agreement.

Location and transport

The distance to Tartu is 89 km (55 mi), Pärnu 144 km (89 mi), Tallinn 245 km (152 mi), Riga 175 km (109 mi) and Pskov 170 km (106 mi).

Valga is situated at the junction of roads and railways.

The Valga-Võru-Koidula railway runs to the town. Trains stopped running in 2001. At the time, the railway only ran to Piusa, as the Koidula border station was yet to be built. Along the line, there was a morning and evening trip in each direction as of 1995, and a trip in the midday that only went to Võru. An international train to St. Petersburg ran in the night.[2] Trains were extended in 1997 to Veski, when the train line Tartu-PiirTP was cut back from the Russian border to Orava.[3] Freight trains on the Valga-Võru-Koidula line have been cut back significantly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[4]

The Tartu-Valga railway line also serves this station. After closing April 2008 for extensive repair work Edelaraudtee railway services from other parts of Estonia to Valga re-opened in January 2010.[5][6] From 1 January 2014 all domestic train services in Estonia are operated by Elron. The journeys at 6:35am, 12:01pm, and 6:02pm run to Tallinn. The train at 7:36am goes only to Tartu. All trains arriving the station from Estonia begin in Tallinn, as of January 2, 2024.[7]

Valga is also an international railway junction; since April 2008, from Riga. Currently two trains run daily, operated by Pasažieru Vilciens. These trains previously terminated at Lugaži, but have been extended across the border to Valga.[8]

The train service from Latvia by Pasažieru Vilciens was updated in 2016, the morning train to Riga leaves at 5:12am, and the afternoon ones leave 2:52pm on weekdays and 4:52pm on weekends. There are two trains to Riga everyday.[9] The Latvian trains use track 2, and the Estonian trains use track 1.[10]

With the expansion of the Schengen Agreement and the abolition of systematic border controls between Estonia and Latvia, it was announced that common public bus transport would be launched between Valga and Valka.[11]

During the Cold War, Valga was home to Valga air base.

Districts of Valga

There are six districts of Valga:

Activity

One of the main streets

Since 1944, a local newspaper, Valgamaalane, has been published (3 times a week). Since 2003, there has also been a local newspaper "Walk" (in the Russian language). There also is a local correspondence office of Estonian Television (Eesti Televisioon) and a local radio – "Raadio Ruut".

The former urban municipality of Valga has established partnerships with many towns, mostly in foreign countries, which are listed in a special subsection below.

Valga is developing quickly. Since 1996, the populace's quality of life has improved due to the renovation of several buildings, including the Central Library, Valga Stadium, the Museum, Valga Hospital, and the Culture and Hobby Centre. Step by step, the schools and kindergartens are also being modernized. Since 2003, a new water treatment plant has improved the quality of water in the town.

In the private sector, there have been extensive investments in trade, light industry, and forestry.

Demographics

Ethnic composition 1922-2021
Ethnicity 1922[13] 1934[14] 1941[15] 1970[16] 1979[17] 1989[17] 2000[18] 2011[19] 2021[20]
amount % amount % amount % amount % amount % amount % amount % amount % amount %
Estonians 6997 74.0 8919 82.3 7941 88.9 9635 57.4 10052 54.4 9383 52.9 8970 62.6 7886 64.3 7110 59.2
Russians 443 4.69 368 3.39 209 2.34 5241 31.2 6164 33.4 6140 34.6 3913 27.3 3224 26.3 3160 26.3
Ukrainians - - 6 0.06 - - 554 3.30 766 4.15 720 4.06 421 2.94 386 3.15 363 3.02
Belarusians - - - - - - 170 1.01 322 1.74 307 1.73 211 1.47 156 1.27 159 1.32
Finns - - 1 0.01 7 0.08 121 0.72 136 0.74 126 0.71 99 0.69 55 0.45 40 0.33
Jews 393 4.16 262 2.42 0 0.00 73 0.43 31 0.17 24 0.14 13 0.09 7 0.06 3 0.02
Latvians - - 1037 9.56 606 6.79 382 2.27 448 2.43 456 2.57 334 2.33 262 2.14 679 5.65
Germans 182 1.92 143 1.32 - - - - 273 1.48 241 1.36 36 0.25 27 0.22 34 0.28
Tatars - - 0 0.00 - - - - 28 0.15 27 0.15 18 0.13 13 0.11 10 0.08
Poles - - 35 0.32 20 0.22 - - 68 0.37 68 0.38 35 0.24 24 0.20 15 0.12
Lithuanians - - 6 0.06 4 0.04 34 0.20 24 0.13 41 0.23 32 0.22 29 0.24 23 0.19
unknown 13 0.14 18 0.17 4 0.04 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 46 0.32 30 0.24 102 0.85
other 1427 15.1 47 0.43 139 1.56 585 3.48 162 0.88 189 1.07 195 1.36 162 1.32 312 2.60
Total 9455 100 10842 100 8930 100 16795 100 18474 100 17722 100 14323 100 12261 100 12010 100
Year 1881 1897 1922 1934 1959 1970 1979 1989 2000 2011 2017 2021
Population 4,200 10,900 9,500 10,800 13,300 17,000 18,500 17,700 14,323 12,261 12,452 12,010
Population of Valga by first language
Language 2000 census[21] 2011 census[22] 2021 census[23]
Number % Number % Number %
Estonian 8,772 61.24 7,573 61.77 6,818 56.76
Russian 4,744 33.12 4,113 33.55 4,095 34.09
Latvian 259 1.81 191 1.56 531 4.42
Ukrainian 192 1.34 159 1.30 134 1.12
Belarusian 75 0.52 23 0.19 24 0.20
Total 14,323 12,261 12,010

Sports

Valga is home to several notable Estonian sports teams.

Warrior Valga, is a football club that currently plays in the III liiga. Warrior Valga played in the Meistriliiga from 2003 to 2006.

Valga, is a basketball club that currently plays in the Estonian top-tier Korvpalli Meistriliiga and the Baltic Basketball League.

Climate

Valga lies within the temperate humid continental climate zone.

Climate data for Valga (normals 1991–2020, extremes 1925–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 10.1
(50.2) 		10.9
(51.6) 		18.4
(65.1) 		27.4
(81.3) 		30.7
(87.3) 		33.2
(91.8) 		34.4
(93.9) 		34.3
(93.7) 		29.5
(85.1) 		21.7
(71.1) 		15.2
(59.4) 		11.9
(53.4) 		34.4
(93.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −1.6
(29.1) 		−1.1
(30.0) 		3.8
(38.8) 		11.6
(52.9) 		17.7
(63.9) 		21.2
(70.2) 		23.6
(74.5) 		22.2
(72.0) 		16.6
(61.9) 		9.5
(49.1) 		3.5
(38.3) 		0.1
(32.2) 		10.6
(51.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) −4.0
(24.8) 		−4.3
(24.3) 		−0.4
(31.3) 		6.0
(42.8) 		11.6
(52.9) 		15.6
(60.1) 		18.0
(64.4) 		16.5
(61.7) 		11.6
(52.9) 		5.9
(42.6) 		1.3
(34.3) 		−2.0
(28.4) 		6.3
(43.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −6.6
(20.1) 		−7.4
(18.7) 		−4.2
(24.4) 		0.9
(33.6) 		5.5
(41.9) 		10.0
(50.0) 		12.6
(54.7) 		11.5
(52.7) 		7.3
(45.1) 		2.8
(37.0) 		−0.9
(30.4) 		−4.2
(24.4) 		2.3
(36.1)
Record low °C (°F) −38.5
(−37.3) 		−38.2
(−36.8) 		−30.1
(−22.2) 		−17.8
(0.0) 		−5.6
(21.9) 		−1.6
(29.1) 		2.5
(36.5) 		1.5
(34.7) 		−6.5
(20.3) 		−14.4
(6.1) 		−21.9
(−7.4) 		−40.5
(−40.9) 		−40.5
(−40.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 52
(2.0) 		42
(1.7) 		38
(1.5) 		37
(1.5) 		52
(2.0) 		82
(3.2) 		67
(2.6) 		78
(3.1) 		53
(2.1) 		71
(2.8) 		56
(2.2) 		50
(2.0) 		675
(26.6)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 12 9 9 8 9 11 10 11 11 12 13 14 128
Average relative humidity (%) 89 86 78 70 68 73 76 79 84 87 90 90 81
Source: Estonian Weather Service (precipitation days 1971–2000)[24][25][26][27][28]

History

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Estonia

Twin towns – Sister cities

The former municipality of Valga, Estonia was twinned with:[30]

City Twins Association

The former municipality of Valga was a founding member of City Twins Association that was founded in Imatra, Finland on 13 December 2006. In addition to sister towns, Valga had a cooperation through the association with following cities:[31]

Cooperation without any formal agreement

Notable residents

Gallery


References

Notes
  1. ^ Population by sex, age and place of residence after the 2017 administrative reform, 1 January. Statistics Estonia.
  2. ^ "Picture 023 lisas R. Jeerland - Nagi". 7 July 2017. Archived from the original on 7 July 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Edelareisija album "diiselrongide sõiduplaan aastal 2001." - Nagi". 21 April 2019. Archived from the original on 21 April 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  4. ^ "[Lost Video] Operail / Eesti Raudtee GE C36-7 1545 at Antsla". YouTube.
  5. ^ "Taasavatud Tartu-Valga rongiliini esimene sõit osutus ülipopulaarseks" (in Estonian). tartupostimees.ee. 30 December 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  6. ^ Tere, Juhan (15 December 2009). "Tartu-Valga train connection to get relaunched from January". The Baltic Course. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  7. ^ https://elron.ee/sites/default/files/2023-12/Kagusuund%20al%2002.01.pdf
  8. ^ "Latvijas Dzelzceļš". Archived from the original on 28 June 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  9. ^ https://www.pv.lv/images/userfiles/Vivi_Riga_Pienaksana_10.12.2023..pdf
  10. ^ Estonian Train Action at Valga and Sangaste Station, retrieved 29 December 2023
  11. ^ "Establishment of common public bus transport (Presentation)" (PDF). euregio-heltal.org. Retrieved 17 April 2018.[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ "LINNAOSADE JA -JAGUDE LÜHENDID". www.eki.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  13. ^ 1922 a. üldrahvalugemise andmed. Vihk X. Tartu ja Valga maakonnad (tabelid). Eesti riikline statistika (in Estonian and French). Tallinn: Riigi Statistika Keskbüroo. 1924. p. 22. hdl:10062/4445.
  14. ^ Rahvastiku koostis ja korteriolud. 1.III 1934 rahvaloenduse andmed. Vihk II (in Estonian and French). Tallinn: Riigi Statistika Keskbüroo. 1935. pp. 47–53. hdl:10062/4439.
  15. ^ Eesti Statistika : kuukiri 1942-03/04 (in German and Estonian). Tallinn: Riigi Statistika Keskbüroo. 1942. pp. 66–67.
  16. ^ Население районов, городов и поселков городского типа Эстонской ССР : по данным Всесоюзной переписи населения на 15 января 1970 года (in Russian). Tallinn: Eesti NSV Statistika Keskvalitsus. 1972. p. 76.
  17. ^ a b Eesti Vabariigi maakondade, linnade ja alevite rahvastik. 1. osa, Rahvaarv rahvuse, perekonnaseisu, hariduse ja elatusallikate järgi : 1989. a. rahvaloenduse andmed (in Estonian). Tallinn: Eesti Vabariigi Riiklik Statistikaamet. 1990. pp. 31, 35. ISBN 978-9949-7193-2-7 – via Digar.
  18. ^ "RL222: RAHVASTIK ELUKOHA JA RAHVUSE JÄRGI". Estonian Statistical Database (in Estonian).
  19. ^ "RL0429: RAHVASTIK RAHVUSE, SOO, VANUSERÜHMA JA ELUKOHA JÄRGI, 31. DETSEMBER 2011". Estonian Statistical Database. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  20. ^ "RL21429: Rahvastik Rahvuse, Soo, Vanuserühma Ja ELukoha (Haldusüksus) Järgi, 31. DETSEMBER 2021". Estonian Statistical Database (in Estonian).
  21. ^ "Ethnic nationality. Mother tongue. Command of foreign languages". pub.stat.ee. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  22. ^ "Ethnic nationality. Mother tongue and command of foreign languages. Dialects". pub.stat.ee. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  23. ^ "Population by ethnic nationality, sex, age group and place of residence (administrative unit)". andmed.stat.ee. 31 December 2021.
  24. ^ "Climate normals-Temperature". Estonian Weather Service. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  25. ^ "Climate normals-Precipitation". Estonian Weather Service. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  26. ^ "Climate normals-Humidity". Estonian Weather Service. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  27. ^ "Rekordid" (in Estonian). Estonian Weather Service. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  28. ^ "Kliimanormid-Sademed, õhuniiskus" (in Estonian). Estonian Weather Service. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  29. ^ T.Rosenberg. Künnivaod. ("Plow furrows"). Research on Estonian agrarian history of the 18th-20th centuries. The town of Valga in the first quarter of the 19th century. Tartu University Press. Learned Estonian Society, Tartu, 2013 (in Estonian), p. 239.
  30. ^ "Valga". Valga. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  31. ^ "Valga". Valga. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  32. ^ "Кардынал Казімір Свёнтэк (пам. 2011 г.) (Cardinal Kazimierz Cardinal Świątek)(died 2011)(in Belarusian)". Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  33. ^ Bourdeaux, Michael (25 July 2011). "Cardinal Kazimierz Swiatek obituary". TheGuardian.com. Retrieved 19 February 2022.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Valga, Estonia.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Valga.
Cities and towns of Estonia
Settlements in Valga Parish
Authority control databases
Categories