Harju County ( et, Harju maakond or ''Harjumaa''), is one of the fifteen
counties of Estonia
Counties ( et, maakond, plural ') are the first-level administrative subdivisions of Estonia. Estonian territory is composed of 15 counties, including 13 on the mainland and 2 on islands. The government (') of each county is led by a ' (gover ...
. It is situated in Northern
Estonia
Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, a ...
, on the southern coast of the
Gulf of Finland, and borders
Lääne-Viru County
Lääne-Viru County ( et, Lääne-Viru maakond or ''Lääne-Virumaa'') is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It is in northern Estonia, on the south coast of the Gulf of Finland. In Estonian, ''lääne'' means western and ''ida'' means east or easter ...
to the east,
Järva County
Järva County ( et, Järva maakond or ''Järvamaa''; german: Jerwen; la, Jervia) is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It is situated in the central part of the country and borders Lääne-Viru County to the east, Jõgeva County to the south-east, ...
to the southeast,
Rapla County
Rapla County ( et, Rapla maakond or ''Raplamaa'') is one of the fifteen counties of Estonia. It is situated in the western part of the country and borders Järva County to the east, Pärnu County to the south, Lääne County to the west, and Har ...
to the south, and
Lääne County
Lääne County ( et, Lääne maakond or ''Läänemaa'', literally "Western land"; german: Wiek; la, Rotalia) is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It is located in western Estonia and borders the Baltic Sea to the north, Harju County to the north-ea ...
to the southwest. The
capital and largest city of Estonia,
Tallinn
Tallinn () is the most populous and capital city of Estonia. Situated on a bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, Tallinn has a population of 437,811 (as of 2022) and administratively lies in the Harju '' ...
, is situated in Harju County. Harju County is the largest county in Estonia in terms of population, as almost half (45%) of the Estonia's population lives in Harju County.
History
Ancient history
The territory of modern Harju County consists mostly of two
ancient Estonian counties:
Revala
Revala (also ''Rävälä'', la, Revalia, by Henry of Livonia ''Revele'', by Danish Census Book ''Revælæ'') was an Ancient Estonian county. It was located in northern Estonia, by the Gulf of Finland and corresponded roughly to the present terr ...
, around what is now Tallinn, and
Harjumaa
Harju County ( et, Harju maakond or ''Harjumaa''), is one of the fifteen counties of Estonia. It is situated in Northern Estonia, on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland, and borders Lääne-Viru County to the east, Järva County to the sout ...
, which was situated south of Revala and presently rests mostly in
Rapla County
Rapla County ( et, Rapla maakond or ''Raplamaa'') is one of the fifteen counties of Estonia. It is situated in the western part of the country and borders Järva County to the east, Pärnu County to the south, Lääne County to the west, and Har ...
. Lindanise, then a small trading post at the
Gulf of Finland, served as the capital of Revala. It eventually grew into the mostly
German-populated Hanseatic
The Hanseatic League (; gml, Hanse, , ; german: label=German language, Modern German, Deutsche Hanse) was a Middle Ages, medieval commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and market towns in Central Europe, Central and Norther ...
town of ''Reval'' and later into the
Estonia
Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, a ...
n capital, Tallinn.
Conquest
![Kadrioru loss by HolgerVaga](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/Kadrioru_loss_by_HolgerVaga.jpg)
In 1219, the
Danish
Danish may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark
People
* A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark
* Culture of Denmark
* Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish a ...
King,
Valdemar II
Valdemar (28 June 1170 – 28 March 1241), later remembered as Valdemar the Victorious (), was the King of Denmark (being Valdemar II) from 1202 until his death in 1241.
Background
He was the second son of King Valdemar I of Denmark and Soph ...
,
landed in Lindanise (
Danish
Danish may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark
People
* A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark
* Culture of Denmark
* Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish a ...
: ''Lyndanisse'') and conquered both Revala and Harju counties, while the inhabitants were forced into
Christianity
Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global pop ...
. At the end of the
Livonian Crusade
The Livonian crusade refers to the various military Christianisation campaigns in medieval Livonia – in what is now Latvia and Estonia – during the Papal -sanctioned Northern Crusades in the 12–13th century. The Livonian crusade was cond ...
(1208–1227 in Estonia), both counties were captured by the
Order of the Sword Brothers
german: Schwertbrüderordenfrench: Ordre des Chevaliers Porte-Glaive
, image=
, caption=
, dates=1204–1237
, country= Terra Mariana
, allegiance= Catholic Church
, garrison= Wenden (Cēsis), Fellin (Viljandi), Segewold (Sigulda). Aschera ...
until given back to Denmark with the
Treaty of Stensby
The Treaty of Stensby was an agreement between King Valdemar II of Denmark and the Teutonic Order, signed on 7 June 1238 in Stensby, Denmark, and confirmed by Innocent IV in September 1243. The arrangement transferred northern maritime Estonia ...
in 1238.
The Danes built the
Toompea Castle
Toompea castle ( et, Toompea loss) is a medieval castle on Toompea hill in the central part of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. In modern times, it houses the Parliament of Estonia.
History
The Toompea castle's predecessor, an ancient Estonia ...
(''Castrum Danorum'') on
Toompea
Toompea (from german: Domberg, "Cathedral Hill") is a limestone hill in the central part of the city of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. The hill is an oblong tableland, which measures about 400 by 250 metres, has an area of and is about 20–30 ...
Hill in Tallinn, which quickly became the biggest settlement in Estonia. In 1248, it was the first settlement in Estonia to receive its town rights, and in 1285 it became the northernmost member of the
Hanseatic League.
German dominance led to the
St. George's Night Uprising, which broke out in 1343 with the burning of
Padise Abbey
Padise Abbey ( et, Padise klooster) was a former Cistercian monastery in Padise in Harju County, Estonia, settled in 1310 by the dispossessed monks of Dünamünde Abbey in Latvia. It was converted into a fortress after its dissolution in 1 ...
in modern
Padise Parish. The uprising led Denmark to sell its possessions in Northern Estonia to the
Livonian Order. In 1561, after the outbreak of the
Livonian War
The Livonian War (1558–1583) was the Russian invasion of Old Livonia, and the prolonged series of military conflicts that followed, in which Tsar Ivan the Terrible of Russia (Muscovy) unsuccessfully fought for control of the region (pre ...
, the nobility of North Estonia and the Tallinn Town Council declared loyalty to
Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
. Tallinn and other Swedish-occupied territories gained during warfare were secured by the
Treaty of Plyussa.
During the
Great Northern War
The Great Northern War (1700–1721) was a conflict in which a coalition led by the Tsardom of Russia successfully contested the supremacy of the Swedish Empire in Northern, Central and Eastern Europe. The initial leaders of the anti-Swed ...
, Harju was one of the few regions in Estonia untouched by warfare for a long time. Nonetheless, Harju County was greatly affected by the
1710-1713 Plague that killed more than eighty percent of the county's population. Russian forces finally arrived in 1710 and laid siege to Tallinn for a month until the
Swedish garrison surrendered, thus ending the Great Northern War in Estonia. Russian rule was secured with the
Treaty of Nystad
The Treaty of Nystad (russian: Ништадтский мир; fi, Uudenkaupungin rauha; sv, Freden i Nystad; et, Uusikaupunki rahu) was the last peace treaty of the Great Northern War of 1700–1721. It was concluded between the Tsardom of ...
in 1721. The plague raged on for several years, eventually leaving several parts of the county completely empty of human habitation.
Russian rule
Imperial Russian
The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. The ...
rule started with the construction of naval harbours in Tallinn and
Paldiski
Paldiski is a town and Baltic Sea port situated on the Pakri Peninsula of northwestern Estonia. Since 2017, it's the administrative centre of Lääne-Harju Parish of Harju County. Previously a village of Estonia-Swedes known by the historical ...
(
Swedish
Swedish or ' may refer to:
Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically:
* Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland
** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...
: ''Rogerwiek''). Russian Tsar
Peter I Peter I may refer to:
Religious hierarchs
* Saint Peter (c. 1 AD – c. 64–88 AD), a.k.a. Simon Peter, Simeon, or Simon, apostle of Jesus
* Pope Peter I of Alexandria (died 311), revered as a saint
* Peter I of Armenia (died 1058), Catholico ...
visited Tallinn at least nine times between 1711 and1723. He personally opened the construction for Tallinn Naval Harbour in 1714 and Paldiski Naval Harbour in 1718.
In 1870, the
Paldiski
Paldiski is a town and Baltic Sea port situated on the Pakri Peninsula of northwestern Estonia. Since 2017, it's the administrative centre of Lääne-Harju Parish of Harju County. Previously a village of Estonia-Swedes known by the historical ...
-
Tallinn
Tallinn () is the most populous and capital city of Estonia. Situated on a bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, Tallinn has a population of 437,811 (as of 2022) and administratively lies in the Harju '' ...
-
St. Petersburg
Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...
Railway was opened, after which several smaller settlements along the line - Paldiski,
Keila
Keila (german: Kegel) is a town and an urban municipality in Harju County in north-western Estonia, 25 km southwest of Tallinn. Keila is also the location of administrative buildings of the surrounding Keila Parish, a rural municipality se ...
,
Saue
Saue is a town in north-western Estonia. It's the administrative centre of Saue Parish in Harju County.
The territory of Saue is and population about 5,800. Closest centres are Tallinn (), Keila (), Saku () and Laagri ().
Geography
Saue is ...
,
Nõmme
Nõmme (Estonian for ''"Heath"'') is one of the 8 administrative districts ( et, linnaosa) of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. It has a population of 39,422 () and covers an area of , population density is . The district is largely a middle-clas ...
,
Aruküla
Aruküla is a small borough ( et, alevik) in Harju County, northern Estonia. It is the administrative centre of Raasiku Parish. Aruküla had a population of 2,113 on 1 January 2020. Aruküla has a station on the Elron's eastern route.
Gall ...
,
Raasiku
Raasiku is a borough ( et, alevik) in Raasiku Parish, Harju County, Estonia, with a population of 1,372 (2020). Although situated in a parish with the same name, Raasiku is not the official administrative centre of the municipality (which is Aru ...
,
Kehra
Kehra is a town in Anija Parish, Harju County, Estonia, most known for its pulp and paper mill.
The town is situated on the banks of the Jägala river, and has a station on the Tallinn-Narva railway.
As of January 1, 2021, the town had a popu ...
and
Aegviidu (then in Viru County) - started to grow. Several elements of
Peter the Great's Naval Fortress
Peter the Great's Naval Fortress or the Tallinn-Porkkala defence station was a Russian fortification line, which aimed to block access to the Russian capital Saint Petersburg via the sea. The plans for the fortress included heavy coastal artiller ...
were built in Harju County and its headquarters were in Tallinn.
During
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
in 1914, the native population of
Naissaar island was expelled from the island and it was turned into a military base. A narrow-gauge railway network was built on the island. Tallinn was the site for the very beginning of the
October Revolution
The October Revolution,. officially known as the Great October Socialist Revolution. in the Soviet Union, also known as the Bolshevik Revolution, was a revolution in Russia led by the Bolshevik Party of Vladimir Lenin that was a key mome ...
when the Estonian
Bolshevik
The Bolsheviks (russian: Большевики́, from большинство́ ''bol'shinstvó'', 'majority'),; derived from ''bol'shinstvó'' (большинство́), "majority", literally meaning "one of the majority". also known in English ...
Jaan Anvelt
Jaan Anvelt (also known by the pseudonyms Eessaare Aadu, Jaan Holm, Jaan Hulmu, Kaarel Maatamees, Onkel Kaak; in Russian or ; 18 April 1884 – 11 December 1937), was an Estonian Bolshevik revolutionary and writer. He served the Russian SFS ...
took power in Tallinn on 5 November 1917, two days before the Revolution started in
Petrograd. On 9 November 1917, the Bolsheviks took power from Governor
Jaan Poska
Jaan Poska VR III/1 (; , Laiusevälja, Kreis Dorpat, Governorate of Livonia – 7 March 1920, Tallinn, Estonia) was an Estonian barrister and politician.
Early life
Poska was born the fifth of 12 children of a Russian Orthodox parish school ...
. After the coup, refusing to cooperate with the Estonian Soviet Executive Committee, the
Estonian Provincial Assembly
The Estonian Provincial Assembly ( et, Eestimaa Kubermangu Ajutine Maanõukogu, (Ajutine) Maanõukogu, Eesti Maanõukogu, (Eesti) Maapäev) was elected after the February Revolution in 1917 as the national diet of the Autonomous Governorate of ...
(
Estonian: ''Maanõukogu'') in Tallinn declared sovereignty from the Russian Empire on 28 November 1917. In December 1917, Russian sailors under the leadership of
Stepan Maximovich Petrichenko declared the "Soviet Republic of Soldiers and Fortress-Builders of Naissaar". They were ousted by German forces on 26 February 1918.
Republic of Estonia
The Republic of Estonia was proclaimed in Tallinn on 24 February 1918 while German occupation followed on the next day. German rule ended with the
November Revolution in Germany. During the
Estonian War of Independence
The Estonian War of Independence ( et, Vabadussõda, literally "Freedom War"), also known as the Estonian Liberation War, was a defensive campaign of the Estonian Army and its allies, most notably the United Kingdom, against the Bolshevik westw ...
, Soviet troops were halted only 40 km east of Tallinn by the end of 1918. Tallinn was the site of a failed Communist
coup d'état attempt of 1924.
Occupation era
Soviet occupation
On 18 September 1939, after both
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
and the
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...
had
invaded Poland, the
Polish
Polish may refer to:
* Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe
* Polish language
* Poles
Poles,, ; singular masculine: ''Polak'', singular feminine: ''Polka'' or Polish people, are a West Slavic nation and ethnic group, w ...
submarine
ORP Orzeł escaped from
internment in Tallinn Harbor during the
Orzeł incident
The ''Orzeł'' incident occurred at the beginning of World War II in September 1939, when the interned Polish submarine escaped from Tallinn, in neutral Estonia, to the United Kingdom. The Stalinist Soviet Union used the incident as one of ...
. The submarine eventually made her way to the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
, which led both the Soviet Union and Germany to question Estonia's
neutrality. On 24 September 1939,
Soviet Navy warships appeared in North Estonian waters and
Soviet Air Force
The Soviet Air Forces ( rus, Военно-воздушные силы, r=Voyenno-vozdushnyye sily, VVS; literally "Military Air Forces") were one of the air forces of the Soviet Union. The other was the Soviet Air Defence Forces. The Air Forces ...
bombers patrolled above Tallinn and the nearby countryside.
The Soviet Union demanded that Estonia allow the Soviet military bases and stationed 25,000 troops on Estonian soil for the duration of the European war. On 28 September 1939, the government of Estonia accepted the ultimatum and signed the
mutual assistance treaty.
Paldiski
Paldiski is a town and Baltic Sea port situated on the Pakri Peninsula of northwestern Estonia. Since 2017, it's the administrative centre of Lääne-Harju Parish of Harju County. Previously a village of Estonia-Swedes known by the historical ...
was made a Soviet Naval Base and its population was expelled from the town. With its new military bases in Northern Estonia, the Soviet Union invaded
Finland
Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of B ...
on 30 November 1939, starting the
Winter War
The Winter War,, sv, Vinterkriget, rus, Зи́мняя война́, r=Zimnyaya voyna. The names Soviet–Finnish War 1939–1940 (russian: link=no, Сове́тско-финская война́ 1939–1940) and Soviet–Finland War 1 ...
. During 1939–1940, most of the
Baltic German
Baltic Germans (german: Deutsch-Balten or , later ) were ethnic German inhabitants of the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea, in what today are Estonia and Latvia. Since their coerced resettlement in 1939, Baltic Germans have markedly declined ...
population from Tallinn and the Harju County countryside fled to Germany (''
Umsiedlung'').
On 14 June 1940, the Soviet Navy set up a naval blockade in the
Gulf of Finland and the
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that is enclosed by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden and the North and Central European Plain.
The sea stretches from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from ...
and stationed a navy squadron west of Naissaar island near Tallinn. Soviet bombers shot down the passenger airplane "
Kaleva Kaleva or Kalevi may refer to:
* CWT Kaleva Travel, a travel management company based in Finland
* Kalevi (mythology)
Kaleva – also known as Kalevi or Kalev – and his sons are important heroic figures in Estonian, Finnish and Karelian mytho ...
" near
Keri
Keri () is a Hebrew term which literally means "happenstance", "frivolity" or "contrariness" and has come to mean seminal emission. The term is generally used in Jewish law to refer specifically to the regulations and rituals concerning the emiss ...
island, killing all nine on board, which had included foreign diplomats.
On 16 June 1940, the
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army ( Russian: Рабо́че-крестья́нская Кра́сная армия),) often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and, afte ...
invaded Estonia and organised a Soviet ''coup d'état'' in Tallinn. On 21 June 1940, the Independent Signal Battalion in Tallinn showed resistance to the Red Army, until it surrendered and was disarmed on the same day. The Soviet powers organised rigged parliamentary elections and the new parliament declared the
Estonian SSR on 21 July 1940, which was annexed by the Soviet Union on 6 August 1940. Most county and municipal leaders were replaced and local assemblies were replaced with
Soviets
Soviet people ( rus, сове́тский наро́д, r=sovyétsky naród), or citizens of the USSR ( rus, гра́ждане СССР, grázhdanye SSSR), was an umbrella demonym for the population of the Soviet Union.
Nationality policy in ...
. The native population of Naissaar island was expelled from the island (as in 1914) as the island was turned into a military base. During the 1940–41 Soviet Occupation, thousands were executed, imprisoned, mobilised into the Red Army
labour battalion
Labour battalions have been a form of alternative service or unfree labour in various countries in lieu of or resembling regular military service. In some cases they were the result of some kind of discriminative segregation of the population, wh ...
s or deported to Siberia on 14 June 1941 (
June deportation
The June deportation ( et, juuniküüditamine, lv, jūnija deportācijas, lt, birželio trėmimai) was a mass deportation by the Soviet Union of tens of thousands of people from the territories occupied in 1940–1941: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuan ...
).
Summer War
![Tallinn defence1941](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/Tallinn_defence1941.jpg)
Germany
invaded the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941 and Finland declared the
Continuation War
The Continuation War, also known as the Second Soviet-Finnish War, was a conflict fought by Finland and Nazi Germany against the Soviet Union from 1941 to 1944, as part of World War II.; sv, fortsättningskriget; german: Fortsetzungskrieg. A ...
with the Soviet Union on 25 June 1941. As the Soviet Union retreated, its
destruction battalions
Destruction battalions,, uk, Винищувальні батальйони, be, Zniszczalnyja batalëny, , et, hävituspataljonid, lt, Naikintojų batalionai, lv, Iznīcinātāju bataljoni, group=nb colloquially istrebitels (истреби ...
carried out the
scorched-earth
A scorched-earth policy is a military strategy that aims to destroy anything that might be useful to the enemy. Any assets that could be used by the enemy may be targeted, which usually includes obvious weapons, transport vehicles, communi ...
tactics. The
Erna long-range reconnaissance group
The Erna long-range reconnaissance group ( et, Erna luuregrupp) was a Finnish Army unit of Estonian volunteers, that fulfilled reconnaissance duties in Estonia behind Red Army lines during World War II. The unit was formed by Finnish military i ...
was sent from Finland to Northern Estonia on 10 July 1941 to perform
reconnaissance
In military operations, reconnaissance or scouting is the exploration of an area by military forces to obtain information about enemy forces, terrain, and other activities.
Examples of reconnaissance include patrolling by troops (skirmisher ...
of the retreating Red Army, but it eventually engaged the destruction battalions near Kautla forest (
Battle of Kautla) on 31 July to 1 August 1941, allowing 2,000 civilians to flee.
German forces started its Tallinn Offensive on 19 August 1941, capturing
Rapla
Rapla (German: ''Rappel'') is a town in central Estonia, the capital of Rapla County and the centre of Rapla Parish. The oldest records date back to 1241 in the Danish Census Book, when it was said that it was a small village with 8 acres of ...
on 21 August 1941. They reached Tallinn outskirts in
Pirita
Pirita is one of the eight administrative districts ( et, linnaosa) of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia.
Pirita occupies a relatively big area, but compared to other districts of Tallinn its population of 17,592 (as of 1 November 2014) is relati ...
on 24 August 1941 and
Harku
Harku (german: Hark) is a Populated places in Estonia, small borough ( et, alevik) in Harku Parish, Harju County, northern Estonia. As of 2011 Estonia Census, 2011 Census, the settlement's population was 868, of which the Estonians were 539 (62 ...
and
Lasnamäe
Lasnamäe is the most populous administrative district of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. The district's population is about 119,000, the majority of which is Russian-speaking. Local housing is mostly represented by 5–16 stories high panel bl ...
on 26 August 1941. Ordinary citizens were ordered to build defenses around Tallinn. Soviet forces started
evacuating by sea on 24 August 1941. Of the 195 ships, that left Tallinn and Paldiski, 55 were sunk by mines near
Juminda
Juminda is a village in Kuusalu Parish, Harju County in northern Estonia. (retrieved 27 July 2021) It is located on the coast of the Gulf of Finland, on top of the Juminda Peninsula, on the territory of Lahemaa National Park. Juminda has a popu ...
Peninsula, killing around 15,000 evacuees. Evacuating Soviet forces destroyed much of the infrastructure and industry around Tallinn. German forces captured Paldiski and Tallinn on 28 August 1941, shooting down the
Soviet Flag
The State Flag of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (), commonly known as the Soviet flag (), was the official state flag of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) from 1922 to 1991. The flag's design and symbolism are derived from ...
on Tallinn
Pikk Hermann
Pikk Hermann or Tall Hermann (german: Langer Hermann) is a tower of the Toompea Castle, on Toompea hill in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. The first part was built 1360–70. It was rebuilt (height brought to ) in the 16th century. A staircase ...
Tower. Estonians replaced it with the
Flag of Estonia
The flag of Estonia ( et, Eesti lipp) is a tricolour featuring three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black (middle), and white (bottom). In Estonian it is colloquially called the ().
The tricolour was already in wide use as the symbol of ...
, but it was replaced with the
Flag of Germany
The national flag of Germany is a tricolour consisting of three equal horizontal bands displaying the national colours of Germany: black, red, and gold (german: Schwarz-Rot-Gold). The flag was first sighted in 1848 in the German Confederat ...
the next day. German forces were greeted as liberators in Tallinn. It was also the first time since 1219 that Tallinn had been captured following a military engagement.
German occupation
Northern Estonia was the site of several
concentration camp
Internment is the imprisonment of people, commonly in large groups, without charges or intent to file charges. The term is especially used for the confinement "of enemy citizens in wartime or of terrorism suspects". Thus, while it can simply ...
s and massacres. In September 1942, up to three thousand foreign
Jews
Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...
and
Gypsies
The Romani (also spelled Romany or Rromani , ), colloquially known as the Roma, are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, traditionally nomadic itinerants. They live in Europe and Anatolia, and have diaspora populations located worldwide, with sign ...
were executed at
Kalevi-Liiva in Jõelähtme Parish, while the rest were sent to the small
Jägala concentration camp
Jägala concentration camp was a labour camp of the Estonian Security Police and SD during the German occupation of Estonia during World War II. The camp was established in August 1942 on a former artillery range of the Estonian Army near the vi ...
nearby, that never had more than 200 prisoners as their lifespan was short.
Klooga concentration camp
Klooga concentration camp was a Nazi forced labor subcamp of the Vaivara concentration camp complex established in September 1943 in Harju County, during World War II, in German-occupied Estonia near the village of Klooga. The Vaivara camp comple ...
in Keila Parish was mostly evacuated before the Soviet takeover, however, 2,000 prisoners were executed before the German retreat. The Red Army liberated the few survivors on 22 September 1944.
Tallinn
was bombed by the
Soviet Air Force
The Soviet Air Forces ( rus, Военно-воздушные силы, r=Voyenno-vozdushnyye sily, VVS; literally "Military Air Forces") were one of the air forces of the Soviet Union. The other was the Soviet Air Defence Forces. The Air Forces ...
on 9 and 10 March 1944, killing 757 people and destroying 8,000 buildings (about one-third of the capital). Among others, Harju Street,
St. Nicholas' Church, and
Estonia Theatre
Estonia Theatre is an historic building in Tallinn, Estonia, which houses the Estonian National Opera and the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra.
The original Jugendstil building was designed by Finnish architects Armas Lindgren
Armas Elie ...
were hit. 36-38 Soviet
bomber
A bomber is a military combat aircraft designed to attack ground and naval targets by dropping air-to-ground weaponry (such as bombs), launching torpedoes, or deploying air-launched cruise missiles. The first use of bombs dropped from an air ...
s were shot down during the bombardment.
After the Red Army
broke through the Tannenberg Line in Eastern Estonia and crossed the
Emajõgi
Emajõgi (; meaning ''"Mother River"'') is a river in Estonia which flows from Lake Võrtsjärv through Tartu County into Lake Peipsi, crossing the city of Tartu for 10 km. It has a length of 100 km.
The Emajõgi is sometimes called ...
river near Tartu, it launched the
Tallinn Offensive on 17 September 1944 when
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Nazi Germany, Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his death in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the le ...
had agreed to start abandoning Estonia on 16 September 1944. The
National Committee of the Republic of Estonia
The National Committee of the Republic of Estonia (, EVRK) was a deliberative and legislative body, formed by the government of Republic of Estonia (the last government of Estonia before the Soviet occupation) to control the resistance movement in ...
was formed in Tallinn in March 1944 and the last
Prime Minister of Estonia
The Prime Minister of Estonia (Estonian: ''peaminister'') is the head of government of the Republic of Estonia. The prime minister is nominated by the president after appropriate consultations with the parliamentary factions and confirmed by th ...
Jüri Uluots
Jüri Uluots (13 January 1890 – 9 January 1945) was an Estonian prime minister, journalist, prominent attorney and distinguished Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Tartu.
Early life
Uluots was born in Kirbla Paris ...
organized a new government under
Otto Tief on 18 September 1944, captured government offices in Tallinn on 20 September 1944, and put the Estonian flag on top of the Pikk Hermann Tower.
German forces started
Operation Aster to evacuate its 50,000 soldiers and 20,000 civilians through Tallinn and
Paldiski
Paldiski is a town and Baltic Sea port situated on the Pakri Peninsula of northwestern Estonia. Since 2017, it's the administrative centre of Lääne-Harju Parish of Harju County. Previously a village of Estonia-Swedes known by the historical ...
. On the way, the
hospital ship
A hospital ship is a ship designated for primary function as a floating medical treatment facility or hospital. Most are operated by the military forces (mostly navies) of various countries, as they are intended to be used in or near war zones. I ...
"Moero" was attacked and sunk by the Soviet Air Force, killing 637 of its passengers. The retreating German forces avoided conflict with the Red Army in Tallinn and the invading army saw only little resistance by Estonian units led by Rear Admiral
Johan Pitka
Johan Pitka, VR I/1, (also Juhan Pitka; 19 February 1872 – 22 November 1944) was an Estonian entrepreneur, sea captain and a rear admiral (1919). He was the Commander of the Estonian Navy in the Estonian War of Independence.
Johan Pitka ...
. The Red Army entered Tallinn on 22 September and Paldiski on 24 September 1944.
Before the Soviet reoccupation in 1944, thousands fled to
Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
across the Baltic Sea, including the entire
Estonian Swedish population, who had been settling also on Pakri islands in Harju County.
Second Soviet occupation
The
Forest Brothers
The Guerrilla war in the Baltic states was an armed struggle which was waged by the Latvian, Lithuanian, and Estonian partisans, called the Forest Brothers (also: the "Brothers of the Wood" and the "Forest Friars"; et, metsavennad, lv, mež ...
resistance movement was considered to be the weakest in Harju County, due to dense population, fewer forests and more Soviet military activity. New
deportations followed in 1949. The Soviet era brought development of heavy industry, a massive influx of foreign workers from throughout the
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...
and construction of new districts (
Maardu
Maardu (german: Maart) is a town and a municipality in Harju County, Estonia. It is part of Tallinn metropolitan area. The town covers an area of 22.76 km² and has a population of 16,170 (as of 1 January 2021).
The Port of Muuga, ...
,
Mustamäe
Mustamäe (Estonian for ''Black Hill'') is one of the 8 administrative districts ( et, linnaosa) of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. The smallest by area (it covers only 8.1 km²), it is at the same time the second largest district by popula ...
,
Väike-Õismäe
Väike-Õismäe ( Estonian for ''"Lesser Blossom Hill"'') is a subdistrict ( et, asum) in the district of Haabersti, Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. It has a population of 27,481 (). thus housing more than 60% of Haabersti's population. Väike ...
and
Lasnamäe
Lasnamäe is the most populous administrative district of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. The district's population is about 119,000, the majority of which is Russian-speaking. Local housing is mostly represented by 5–16 stories high panel bl ...
) for Tallinn.
Hotel Viru in Tallinn was built in 1972 as the first modern highrise in Estonia. The
1980 Summer Olympics Sailing events were held in Tallinn. The event also brought major construction, such as the seaside road from Central Tallinn to
Pirita
Pirita is one of the eight administrative districts ( et, linnaosa) of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia.
Pirita occupies a relatively big area, but compared to other districts of Tallinn its population of 17,592 (as of 1 November 2014) is relati ...
, renovation projects in Tallinn Old Town and the iconic highrise
Hotel Olümpia and
Tallinn TV Tower
Tallinn TV tower () is a free-standing structure with an observation deck, built to provide better telecommunication services for the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics regatta event (see Sailing at the 1980 Summer Olympics). It is located near the s ...
.
In 1962, Paldiski became a
Soviet Navy nuclear submarine
A nuclear submarine is a submarine powered by a nuclear reactor, but not necessarily nuclear-armed. Nuclear submarines have considerable performance advantages over "conventional" (typically diesel-electric) submarines. Nuclear propulsion, ...
training centre and had two land-based
nuclear reactor
A nuclear reactor is a device used to initiate and control a fission nuclear chain reaction or nuclear fusion reactions. Nuclear reactors are used at nuclear power plants for electricity generation and in nuclear marine propulsion. Heat fr ...
s with 16,000 employees. It was a
closed town
A closed city or closed town is a settlement where travel or residency restrictions are applied so that specific authorization is required to visit or remain overnight. Such places may be sensitive military establishments or secret research ins ...
until the last Russian warship left in August 1994. Until then it was the last Russian military base in Estonia. Russia relinquished control of the nuclear reactor facilities in September 1995.
Administrative history
Formation of the county
The ancient counties of
Harjumaa
Harju County ( et, Harju maakond or ''Harjumaa''), is one of the fifteen counties of Estonia. It is situated in Northern Estonia, on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland, and borders Lääne-Viru County to the east, Järva County to the sout ...
and
Revala
Revala (also ''Rävälä'', la, Revalia, by Henry of Livonia ''Revele'', by Danish Census Book ''Revælæ'') was an Ancient Estonian county. It was located in northern Estonia, by the Gulf of Finland and corresponded roughly to the present terr ...
were merged into Harju County in 1266. It remained within most of its borders until 1949 (with the exclusion of 1783–1796, when Paldiski County was separated).
During the Soviet occupation, in 1940, Tallinn became a
city of republic significance.
Loksa
Loksa is a town and municipality in Harju County, Estonia, most known for its shipping industry.
The town is situated on the estuary of the Valgejõgi river, which drains into Hara Bay, Gulf of Finland.
As of April 1, 2022, the town had a po ...
was transferred to Viru County in 1949. The rest of Harju County was replaced with four
raion
A raion (also spelt rayon) is a type of administrative unit of several post-Soviet states. The term is used for both a type of subnational entity and a division of a city. The word is from the French (meaning 'honeycomb, department'), and is co ...
s during the Soviet occupation in 1950. Harju Raion around Tallinn gradually absorbed the former areas of Harju County as
Loksa
Loksa is a town and municipality in Harju County, Estonia, most known for its shipping industry.
The town is situated on the estuary of the Valgejõgi river, which drains into Hara Bay, Gulf of Finland.
As of April 1, 2022, the town had a po ...
Raion was abolished in 1957,
Kose
Kose is a small borough ( et, alevik) in Harju County, 39 kilometers (24 miles) southeast of Tallinn, Estonia. It is the administrative centre of Kose Parish and lies next to Pirita River.
At the 2011 Census, the settlement's population wa ...
Raion in 1959 and
Keila
Keila (german: Kegel) is a town and an urban municipality in Harju County in north-western Estonia, 25 km southwest of Tallinn. Keila is also the location of administrative buildings of the surrounding Keila Parish, a rural municipality se ...
Raion in 1962 and most of their territories transferred to Harju Raion.
Aegviidu, Aegviidu Village Council and
Kohila
Kohila (formerly also Kapa-Kohila, german: Koil, Kappakoil) is a borough ( et, alev) in Rapla County, northern Estonia. It is the administrative center of Kohila Parish. Kohila has a population of 3,505 (as of 1 January 2006).
Kohila has a railw ...
Village Council were transferred to Harju Raion in 1962. Harju Raion and the remaining Rapla Raion became Harju County and
Rapla County
Rapla County ( et, Rapla maakond or ''Raplamaa'') is one of the fifteen counties of Estonia. It is situated in the western part of the country and borders Järva County to the east, Pärnu County to the south, Lääne County to the west, and Har ...
in 1990. Tallinn was reincorporated into Harju County in 1993.
Municipal history
Urban municipalities
Tallinn was the first settlement in Harju County to receive town rights in 1248. Municipally, it consisted of the "upper town" of
Toompea
Toompea (from german: Domberg, "Cathedral Hill") is a limestone hill in the central part of the city of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. The hill is an oblong tableland, which measures about 400 by 250 metres, has an area of and is about 20–30 ...
and the "lower town". The two municipalities were merged in 1877. The naval harbour town of Paldiski received its town rights in 1783.
Nõmme
Nõmme (Estonian for ''"Heath"'') is one of the 8 administrative districts ( et, linnaosa) of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. It has a population of 39,422 () and covers an area of , population density is . The district is largely a middle-clas ...
was given a town status in 1926 and
Keila
Keila (german: Kegel) is a town and an urban municipality in Harju County in north-western Estonia, 25 km southwest of Tallinn. Keila is also the location of administrative buildings of the surrounding Keila Parish, a rural municipality se ...
in 1938.
Soviet powers merged Nõmme with Tallinn already in 1940. They also separated Tallinn from Harju County and it became a
centrally administered town. The same was applied to Paldiski in 1941. The German occupation of 1941-1944 left only Tallinn separated from Harju County. The Soviet reoccupation brought Paldiski back to central administration. Tallinn was divided into four urban raions in 1945 and it gained several new territories from its surrounding parishes.
Aegviidu (then in
Järva County
Järva County ( et, Järva maakond or ''Järvamaa''; german: Jerwen; la, Jervia) is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It is situated in the central part of the country and borders Lääne-Viru County to the east, Jõgeva County to the south-east, ...
),
Järvakandi
Järvakandi (german: Jerwakant) is a borough ( et, alev) in central Estonia. Administratively it constituted Järvakandi Parish () until 2017 — a rural municipality within Rapla County. After the 2017 reforms of municipalities, it is now locat ...
and
Kohila
Kohila (formerly also Kapa-Kohila, german: Koil, Kappakoil) is a borough ( et, alev) in Rapla County, northern Estonia. It is the administrative center of Kohila Parish. Kohila has a population of 3,505 (as of 1 January 2006).
Kohila has a railw ...
(both now in Rapla County) and
Kehra
Kehra is a town in Anija Parish, Harju County, Estonia, most known for its pulp and paper mill.
The town is situated on the banks of the Jägala river, and has a station on the Tallinn-Narva railway.
As of January 1, 2021, the town had a popu ...
were named boroughs. The central administration of Paldiski was abolished in 1950 when Paldiski was merged with Keila Raion. Tallinn absorbed
Saue
Saue is a town in north-western Estonia. It's the administrative centre of Saue Parish in Harju County.
The territory of Saue is and population about 5,800. Closest centres are Tallinn (), Keila (), Saku () and Laagri ().
Geography
Saue is ...
in 1960 and
Maardu
Maardu (german: Maart) is a town and a municipality in Harju County, Estonia. It is part of Tallinn metropolitan area. The town covers an area of 22.76 km² and has a population of 16,170 (as of 1 January 2021).
The Port of Muuga, ...
in 1962 and the latter became a town within the municipality of Tallinn in 1980.
Maardu and Saue were separated from Tallinn in 1991 and Kehra,
Loksa
Loksa is a town and municipality in Harju County, Estonia, most known for its shipping industry.
The town is situated on the estuary of the Valgejõgi river, which drains into Hara Bay, Gulf of Finland.
As of April 1, 2022, the town had a po ...
and Saue were given town status in 1993. The central administration of Tallinn was abolished and the town was re-transferred into Harju County. Its urban raions were abolished in 1993 and replaced with eight modern districts.
Rural municipalities
Ancient Estonian counties were divided into parishes (
Estonian language
Estonian ( ) is a Finnic language, written in the Latin script. It is the official language of Estonia and one of the official languages of the European Union, spoken natively by about 1.1 million people; 922,000 people in Estonia and 160, ...
: ''kihelkond''), that became centered on local churches from the 13th century. Modern municipal parishes (Estonian: ''vald'') were created in the 19th century. They were created within the old parishes, that were still centered on the local church.
Soviet rule brought major changes in rural municipalities as local village councils were created throughout 1945. The parishes were abolished with the creation of raions in 1950.
Naissaar Parish had been abolished and given to the
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army ( Russian: Рабо́че-крестья́нская Кра́сная армия),) often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and, afte ...
already in 1940 and
Pakri Parish had been abolished and merged with
Paldiski
Paldiski is a town and Baltic Sea port situated on the Pakri Peninsula of northwestern Estonia. Since 2017, it's the administrative centre of Lääne-Harju Parish of Harju County. Previously a village of Estonia-Swedes known by the historical ...
in 1947.
Village councils were renamed "parishes" in 1990–1993.
Kehra
Kehra is a town in Anija Parish, Harju County, Estonia, most known for its pulp and paper mill.
The town is situated on the banks of the Jägala river, and has a station on the Tallinn-Narva railway.
As of January 1, 2021, the town had a popu ...
merged into
Anija Parish
Anija Parish ( et, Anija vald) is a rural municipality in Harju County, Estonia, consisting of 33 settlements.
The parish has a population of 6274 and covers an area of .
The administrative centre of the municipality is Kehra. The municipalit ...
in 2002,
Loksa Parish
Kuusalu Parish ( et, Kuusalu vald) is a rural municipality in northern Estonia, the largest in Harju County. After joining with the adjacent Loksa Parish in 2005, the municipality has now a population of 6,863 (as of 1 January 2009) and covers an ...
merged into
Kuusalu Parish
Kuusalu Parish ( et, Kuusalu vald) is a rural municipality in northern Estonia, the largest in Harju County. After joining with the adjacent Loksa Parish in 2005, the municipality has now a population of 6,863 (as of 1 January 2009) and covers an ...
in 2005 and
Kõue Parish merged into
Kose Parish
Kose Parish ( et, Kose vald) is a rural municipality in northern Estonia. It is a part of Harju County. The municipality has a population of 5,737 (as of 1 January 2004) and covers an area of . The population density is 24.2 inhabitants per km2.
...
in 2013.
Demography
Geography
![Keri saar 2007](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/Keri_saar_2007.JPG)
Harju County lies on the southern coast of the
Gulf of Finland. Its shores are dominated by the North-Estonian coastal plain and the
North-Estonian Klint separates the plain from Harju plateau in central and southern Harju County. The forested Kõrvemaa area is situated in eastern Harju County and the West-Estonian plain in western Harju County.
Shoreline
The shoreline is mostly low, but is at some places close to the high North-Estonian Klint. The coastal cliff is the highest in
Rannamõisa
Rannamõisa is a village in Harku Parish, Harju County in northern Estonia
Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from F ...
() and
Türisalu () in
Harku Parish, and in three points in Paldiski: Pakri Peninsula (), Leetse () and
Väike-Pakri
, image_name =
, image_caption =
, image_size =
, map_image = Pakri location map.svg
, map_caption =
, native_name = Pakri saared
, native_name_link =
, sobriquet =
, location = Baltic Sea
, ...
island (). There are also several long sand beaches, for example
Kakumäe
Kakumäe ( Estonian for ''"Owl Hill"'') is a subdistrict ( et, asum) in the district of Haabersti, Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. It is located at the top of the Kakumäe Peninsula, which is part of the Baltic Klint in the Tallinn Bay. Kakumä ...
, Stroomi in
Pelguranna
Pelguranna (Estonian for "Refuge Beach") is a subdistrict () in the district of Põhja-Tallinn (North Tallinn) in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. It is located between Pelgulinn, Kopli
Kopli ( Estonian for ''"Paddock"'') is a subdistrict o ...
, Pikakari in
Paljassaare
Paljassaare ( Estonian for ''"Bare Island"'') is the name of the Paljassaare Peninsula in the Tallinn Bay, and the name of a subdistrict ( et, asum) in the district of Põhja-Tallinn (''Northern Tallinn'') in the city of Tallinn, the capital of E ...
and
Pirita
Pirita is one of the eight administrative districts ( et, linnaosa) of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia.
Pirita occupies a relatively big area, but compared to other districts of Tallinn its population of 17,592 (as of 1 November 2014) is relati ...
along the shoreline and
Lake Harku
Harku Lake ( et, Harku järv; also known as ''Haabersti Lake'', ''Loodjärv'' and ''Argo Lake'') is a lake on the western border of Tallinn, Estonia. It has an average depth of and a maximum depth of .
Lake's beach is the only lakeside beach ...
in
Pikaliiva
Pikaliiva (Estonian for ''"Long Sand"'') is a subdistrict of the district of Haabersti in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia
Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to th ...
, all within Tallinn, and
Kloogaranna
Kloogaranna is a village in Lääne-Harju Parish, Harju County, Estonia
Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finla ...
and
Kaberneeme in the countryside. The shoreline is also characterized by many peninsulas, such as
Pakri,
Lohusalu
Lohusalu is a village in Lääne-Harju Parish, Harju County, Estonia. The village spans the Lohusalu peninsula. In 2000, it had the population of 221."Arengukava 2004-2014" (in Estonian). Keila Vald http://www.keilavald.ee. . Retrieved 11 Decem ...
,
Suurupi,
Kakumäe
Kakumäe ( Estonian for ''"Owl Hill"'') is a subdistrict ( et, asum) in the district of Haabersti, Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. It is located at the top of the Kakumäe Peninsula, which is part of the Baltic Klint in the Tallinn Bay. Kakumä ...
,
Kopli
Kopli (Estonian for ''"Paddock"'') is a subdistrict of the district of Põhja-Tallinn (Northern Tallinn) in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. It is located on the Kopli Peninsula and is bordered by parts of the Tallinn Bay, the Kopli Bay to the s ...
,
Paljassaare
Paljassaare ( Estonian for ''"Bare Island"'') is the name of the Paljassaare Peninsula in the Tallinn Bay, and the name of a subdistrict ( et, asum) in the district of Põhja-Tallinn (''Northern Tallinn'') in the city of Tallinn, the capital of E ...
,
Viimsi
Viimsi (german: Wiems) is a small borough ( et, alevik) in Harju County, Estonia, about northeast of the centre of Tallinn, just north of Tallinn's subdistrict Merivälja. Viimsi is the administrative centre of Viimsi Parish. As of the 2011 c ...
,
Ihasalu,
Kaberneeme,
Juminda
Juminda is a village in Kuusalu Parish, Harju County in northern Estonia. (retrieved 27 July 2021) It is located on the coast of the Gulf of Finland, on top of the Juminda Peninsula, on the territory of Lahemaa National Park. Juminda has a popu ...
and
Pärispea
Pärispea is a village in Kuusalu Parish in Harju County in northern Estonia. The village has a population of 109 (as of 1 January 2009). .
Islands
The shoreline is dotted with several islands, with the largest ones being
Naissaar (),
Väike-Pakri
, image_name =
, image_caption =
, image_size =
, map_image = Pakri location map.svg
, map_caption =
, native_name = Pakri saared
, native_name_link =
, sobriquet =
, location = Baltic Sea
, ...
(),
Suur-Pakri
, image_name =
, image_caption =
, image_size =
, map_image = Pakri location map.svg
, map_caption =
, native_name = Pakri saared
, native_name_link =
, sobriquet =
, location = Baltic Sea
, ...
(),
Prangli
Prangli ( sv, Vrangö) is an Estonian island in the Gulf of Finland.
The first records are from 1387 when it was called ''Rango''. The first settlers came from Sweden. The Estonian culture spread to the island in the 17th century.
Prangli is ...
(),
Aegna
Aegna is an Estonian island in the Bay of Tallinn in the Baltic Sea. Administratively it is part of the city of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia and is a sub district of the Kesklinn (City center) district.
Geography
Aegna island has an ...
() and
Rammu
Rammu is an island in Jõelähtme Parish, Harju County in northern Estonia
Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from ...
(). All of the larger islands and several of the smaller islands have had a considerable historical population.
Pakri Islands
, image_name =
, image_caption =
, image_size =
, map_image = Pakri location map.svg
, map_caption =
, native_name = Pakri saared
, native_name_link =
, sobriquet =
, location = Baltic Sea
, ...
, Naissaar and Prangli even formed separate municipalities. Their population diminished during Soviet occupation, either gradually or by force. Today, Prangli (73 inhabitants) and Naissaar (three inhabitants) both consist of three villages within
Viimsi Parish
Viimsi Parish ( et, Viimsi vald) is a rural municipality in Northern Estonia, located North-East and neighbouring the capital Tallinn. It occupies an area of with a population of 20 580 (). The municipality contains the Viimsi Peninsula and sev ...
. Aegna (eight inhabitants) is a subdistrict in
Kesklinn (central) district of Tallinn. Pakri islands (six inhabitants) are part of Paldiski.
Koipsi
Koipsi is an island and a village in Jõelähtme Parish, Harju County in northern Estonia. If in 2010 it had a population of 1 (as of 1 January 2010), today it's uninhabited.
References
Estonian islands in the Baltic
Villages in Harju C ...
and
Rammu
Rammu is an island in Jõelähtme Parish, Harju County in northern Estonia
Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from ...
form uninhabited villages within
Jõelähtme Parish
Jõelähtme Parish ( et, Jõelähtme vald) is a rural municipality in Harju County, north-western Estonia. It had a population of 5,351 (as of 1 January 2012) and an area of , the population density is
The administrative centre of Jõelähtme P ...
.
Lakes and rivers
The largest lakes in Harju County are
Lake Ülemiste
Lake Ülemiste ( et, Ülemiste järv) is the largest of the lakes surrounding Tallinn, Estonia. Ülemiste is the main part of the Tallinn water supply system, which supplies the city with most of its drinking water. The lake is fed mostly by Kur ...
() and
Lake Harku
Harku Lake ( et, Harku järv; also known as ''Haabersti Lake'', ''Loodjärv'' and ''Argo Lake'') is a lake on the western border of Tallinn, Estonia. It has an average depth of and a maximum depth of .
Lake's beach is the only lakeside beach ...
() in Tallinn and
Lake Kahala
Lake Kahala is a lake of Estonia.
See also
*List of lakes of Estonia
''This is a list of lakes (including reservoirs) in Estonia.''
Largest lakes
All lakes
''List is incomplete''
See also
*
External links
{{Europe topic, List of lak ...
() in
Kuusalu Parish
Kuusalu Parish ( et, Kuusalu vald) is a rural municipality in northern Estonia, the largest in Harju County. After joining with the adjacent Loksa Parish in 2005, the municipality has now a population of 6,863 (as of 1 January 2009) and covers an ...
. The largest artificial lake is
Paunküla Reservoir
Paunküla Reservoir is located in Kiruvere, Kiruvere Village, Kose Parish, Harju County, Estonia near Ardu, Estonia, Ardu.
The reservoir is part of the Tallinn water supply system and is connected to upstream Jägala (river), Jägala river vi ...
() in
Kose Parish
Kose Parish ( et, Kose vald) is a rural municipality in northern Estonia. It is a part of Harju County. The municipality has a population of 5,737 (as of 1 January 2004) and covers an area of . The population density is 24.2 inhabitants per km2.
...
. The longest rivers are the
Keila River ( in total),
Pirita River
The Pirita ( et, Pirita jõgi) is a long river in northern Estonia that drains into Tallinn Bay (part of the Gulf of Finland) in Pirita, Tallinn. The basin area of the Pirita is 799 km2.
For the 1980 Summer Olympics held in Moscow, the ...
(),
Jägala River Jägala may refer to:
* Jägala, Estonia
* Jägala River, a river which runs through Jägala
**Jägala Waterfall Jägala may refer to:
*Jägala, Estonia
*Jägala River, a river which runs through Jägala
** Jägala Waterfall, a waterfall along the r ...
() and
Valgejõgi River (). The two largest permanently active waterfalls in Estonia,
Jägala Waterfall Jägala may refer to:
*Jägala, Estonia
*Jägala River, a river which runs through Jägala
** Jägala Waterfall, a waterfall along the river
*Jägala concentration camp, a Nazi concentration camp
**Kalevi-Liiva
Kalevi-Liiva are sand dunes in Jõ ...
() and
Keila Waterfall (), are situated on these rivers.
Geographical extremes
*Northernmost point:
Keri
Keri () is a Hebrew term which literally means "happenstance", "frivolity" or "contrariness" and has come to mean seminal emission. The term is generally used in Jewish law to refer specifically to the regulations and rituals concerning the emiss ...
island,
Kelnase
Kelnase is a village on Prangli Island in Viimsi Parish, Harju County in northern Estonia. (retrieved 27 July 2021)
Keri
Keri () is a Hebrew term which literally means "happenstance", "frivolity" or "contrariness" and has come to mean seminal ...
village,
Viimsi Parish
Viimsi Parish ( et, Viimsi vald) is a rural municipality in Northern Estonia, located North-East and neighbouring the capital Tallinn. It occupies an area of with a population of 20 580 (). The municipality contains the Viimsi Peninsula and sev ...
**Mainland:
Cape Purekkari,
Pärispea
Pärispea is a village in Kuusalu Parish in Harju County in northern Estonia. The village has a population of 109 (as of 1 January 2009). village,
Kuusalu Parish
Kuusalu Parish ( et, Kuusalu vald) is a rural municipality in northern Estonia, the largest in Harju County. After joining with the adjacent Loksa Parish in 2005, the municipality has now a population of 6,863 (as of 1 January 2009) and covers an ...
(Northernmost point of mainland Estonia)
*Easternmost point:
Kolgu
Kolgu is a village in Kuusalu Parish, Harju County in northern Estonia. It lies on the Valgejõgi River, just northwest of the town of Tapa.
The western part, which is about half of the villages territory, is occupied by Keskpolügoon, the cent ...
village,
Kuusalu Parish
Kuusalu Parish ( et, Kuusalu vald) is a rural municipality in northern Estonia, the largest in Harju County. After joining with the adjacent Loksa Parish in 2005, the municipality has now a population of 6,863 (as of 1 January 2009) and covers an ...
*Southernmost point:
Rehemäe
Rehemäe is a village in Lääne-Nigula Parish, Lääne County in western Estonia. (retrieved 28 July 2021) Prior to the administrative reform of Estonian local governments in March 2017, the village belonged to Nissi Parish
Nissi Parish ( et, ...
village,
Nissi Parish
Nissi Parish ( et, Nissi vald) was a rural municipality in northern Estonia
Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from F ...
*Westernmost point:
Keibu village,
Padise Parish
*Highest point: - Määrasmägi,
Vetla village,
Anija Parish
Anija Parish ( et, Anija vald) is a rural municipality in Harju County, Estonia, consisting of 33 settlements.
The parish has a population of 6274 and covers an area of .
The administrative centre of the municipality is Kehra. The municipalit ...
*Lowest point: 0 m (
sea level
Mean sea level (MSL, often shortened to sea level) is an average surface level of one or more among Earth's coastal bodies of water from which heights such as elevation may be measured. The global MSL is a type of vertical datuma standardise ...
) -
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that is enclosed by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden and the North and Central European Plain.
The sea stretches from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from ...
Protected areas
![Viru Bog at winter](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Viru_Bog_at_winter.jpg)
There are a number of protected areas in Harju County.
Lahemaa National Park
Lahemaa National Park is a park in northern Estonia, 70 kilometers east from the capital Tallinn. The Gulf of Finland is to the north of the park and the Tallinn-Narva highway (E20) is to the south. Its area covers 747 km2 (including 274.9&nbs ...
was the first
national park in the
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...
, when it was created in 1971. The park was intended for the protection of the natural and cultural heritage of the coastal landscapes of Northern Estonia. There are 21
nature reserve
A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological or ...
s and 25 landscape protection areas, that are at least partly situated in Harju County. The largest is the
Põhja-Kõrvemaa Nature Reserve
Põhja-Kõrvemaa Nature Reserve ( et, Põhja-Kõrvemaa looduskaitseala) is a protected area in Harju County, Northern Estonia, some 50 km east of Tallinn. With an area of 130.9 km2, it is the third largest nature reserve in Estonia. Do ...
in
Kuusalu Parish
Kuusalu Parish ( et, Kuusalu vald) is a rural municipality in northern Estonia, the largest in Harju County. After joining with the adjacent Loksa Parish in 2005, the municipality has now a population of 6,863 (as of 1 January 2009) and covers an ...
and
Anija Parish
Anija Parish ( et, Anija vald) is a rural municipality in Harju County, Estonia, consisting of 33 settlements.
The parish has a population of 6274 and covers an area of .
The administrative centre of the municipality is Kehra. The municipalit ...
.
Transportation
Highways
![Tallinn-Narva maantee](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/Tallinn-Narva_maantee.jpg)
The Harju County highway system is determined by roads leading out from
Tallinn
Tallinn () is the most populous and capital city of Estonia. Situated on a bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, Tallinn has a population of 437,811 (as of 2022) and administratively lies in the Harju '' ...
.
* runs from Tallinn to
Lääne-Viru County
Lääne-Viru County ( et, Lääne-Viru maakond or ''Lääne-Virumaa'') is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It is in northern Estonia, on the south coast of the Gulf of Finland. In Estonian, ''lääne'' means western and ''ida'' means east or easter ...
towards
Narva
Narva, russian: Нарва is a municipality and city in Estonia. It is located in Ida-Viru county, at the eastern extreme point of Estonia, on the west bank of the Narva river which forms the Estonia–Russia international border. With 54 ...
. Expressway for 80 km out of Tallinn.
* runs from Tallinn to
Järva County
Järva County ( et, Järva maakond or ''Järvamaa''; german: Jerwen; la, Jervia) is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It is situated in the central part of the country and borders Lääne-Viru County to the east, Jõgeva County to the south-east, ...
towards
Tartu. Expressway for 26 km out of Tallinn.
* runs from Tallinn to
Rapla County
Rapla County ( et, Rapla maakond or ''Raplamaa'') is one of the fifteen counties of Estonia. It is situated in the western part of the country and borders Järva County to the east, Pärnu County to the south, Lääne County to the west, and Har ...
towards
Pärnu
Pärnu () is the fourth largest city in Estonia. Situated in southwest Estonia, Pärnu is located south of the Estonian capital, Tallinn, and west of Estonia's second largest city, Tartu. The city sits off the coast of Pärnu Bay, an inlet ...
. Expressway for 14 km out of Tallinn.
* runs from Tallinn to
Paldiski
Paldiski is a town and Baltic Sea port situated on the Pakri Peninsula of northwestern Estonia. Since 2017, it's the administrative centre of Lääne-Harju Parish of Harju County. Previously a village of Estonia-Swedes known by the historical ...
via
Keila
Keila (german: Kegel) is a town and an urban municipality in Harju County in north-western Estonia, 25 km southwest of Tallinn. Keila is also the location of administrative buildings of the surrounding Keila Parish, a rural municipality se ...
.
*runs from
Ääsmäe
Ääsmäe is a settlement in Saue Parish, Harju County in northern Estonia.
Ääsmäe Manor
The manor in Ääsmäe traces its origins to 1574, when king John III of Sweden presented the estate as a gift to his secretary Johann Berends. The prese ...
,
Saue Parish
Saue Parish (Estonian: ''Saue vald'') is a rural municipality in Harju County, north-western Estonia.
The administrative centre of Saue Parish is Saue. It is situated in the suburban area of Estonia's capital, Tallinn.
After the administrativ ...
to
Lääne County
Lääne County ( et, Lääne maakond or ''Läänemaa'', literally "Western land"; german: Wiek; la, Rotalia) is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It is located in western Estonia and borders the Baltic Sea to the north, Harju County to the north-ea ...
towards
Haapsalu
Haapsalu () is a seaside resort town located on the west coast of Estonia. It is the administrative centre of Lääne County, and on 1 January 2020 it had a population of 9,375.
Description
Haapsalu has been well known for centuries for its ...
.
* runs from
Lasnamäe
Lasnamäe is the most populous administrative district of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. The district's population is about 119,000, the majority of which is Russian-speaking. Local housing is mostly represented by 5–16 stories high panel bl ...
to Keila and forms the Tallinn ring road.
Rail
Paldiski
Paldiski is a town and Baltic Sea port situated on the Pakri Peninsula of northwestern Estonia. Since 2017, it's the administrative centre of Lääne-Harju Parish of Harju County. Previously a village of Estonia-Swedes known by the historical ...
-
Tallinn
Tallinn () is the most populous and capital city of Estonia. Situated on a bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, Tallinn has a population of 437,811 (as of 2022) and administratively lies in the Harju '' ...
-
St Petersburg line was opened as the first line in Estonia in 1870. Today,
Elron operates both
commuter rail
Commuter rail, or suburban rail, is a passenger rail transport service that primarily operates within a metropolitan area, connecting Commuting, commuters to a Downtown, central city from adjacent suburbs or commuter towns. Generally commuter r ...
in Harju County and inter-city rail from Tallinn. Important lines include Tallinn-
Narva
Narva, russian: Нарва is a municipality and city in Estonia. It is located in Ida-Viru county, at the eastern extreme point of Estonia, on the west bank of the Narva river which forms the Estonia–Russia international border. With 54 ...
/
Tartu through
Kehra
Kehra is a town in Anija Parish, Harju County, Estonia, most known for its pulp and paper mill.
The town is situated on the banks of the Jägala river, and has a station on the Tallinn-Narva railway.
As of January 1, 2021, the town had a popu ...
and
Aegviidu, Tallinn-
Pärnu
Pärnu () is the fourth largest city in Estonia. Situated in southwest Estonia, Pärnu is located south of the Estonian capital, Tallinn, and west of Estonia's second largest city, Tartu. The city sits off the coast of Pärnu Bay, an inlet ...
/
Viljandi
Viljandi (, german: Fellin, sv, Fellin) is a town and municipality in southern Estonia with a population of 17,407 in 2019. It is the capital of Viljandi County and is geographically located between two major Estonian cities, Pärnu and Tartu. ...
through
Saku Saku may refer to:
Places
*Saku, Nagano, a city in Japan
*Saku, Nagano (Minamisaku), a town in Japan
*Saku Parish, a rural municipality in Harju County, Estonia
**Saku, Estonia, a small borough in Saku Parish, Harju County, Estonia
*Saku Constituen ...
and Tallinn-
Paldiski
Paldiski is a town and Baltic Sea port situated on the Pakri Peninsula of northwestern Estonia. Since 2017, it's the administrative centre of Lääne-Harju Parish of Harju County. Previously a village of Estonia-Swedes known by the historical ...
through
Saue
Saue is a town in north-western Estonia. It's the administrative centre of Saue Parish in Harju County.
The territory of Saue is and population about 5,800. Closest centres are Tallinn (), Keila (), Saku () and Laagri ().
Geography
Saue is ...
and
Keila
Keila (german: Kegel) is a town and an urban municipality in Harju County in north-western Estonia, 25 km southwest of Tallinn. Keila is also the location of administrative buildings of the surrounding Keila Parish, a rural municipality se ...
. Tallinn-
Riisipere line used to be extended to
Haapsalu
Haapsalu () is a seaside resort town located on the west coast of Estonia. It is the administrative centre of Lääne County, and on 1 January 2020 it had a population of 9,375.
Description
Haapsalu has been well known for centuries for its ...
. The
Rail Baltic Tallinn-
Riga
Riga (; lv, Rīga , liv, Rīgõ) is the capital and largest city of Latvia and is home to 605,802 inhabitants which is a third of Latvia's population. The city lies on the Gulf of Riga at the mouth of the Daugava river where it meets the Ba ...
-
Warsaw
Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officia ...
line is estimated to be operational in 2024.
Air
Harju County and Estonia are serviced by
Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport
Tallinn Airport ( et, Tallinna lennujaam, ) or Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport ( et, Lennart Meri Tallinna lennujaam) is the largest airport in Estonia, which serves as a hub for the national airline Nordica, as well as the secondary hub for Air ...
, which is open to both domestic and international flights. The
Tallinn Linnahall Heliport
Linnahall ( et, Tallinna Linnahall, 'Tallinn City Hall') (originally the V. I. Lenin Palace of Culture and Sports) is a multi-purpose venue in Tallinn, Estonia. It is situated in the harbor, just beyond the walls of the Old Town, and was complete ...
offers international flights to
Helsinki
Helsinki ( or ; ; sv, Helsingfors, ) is the capital, primate, and most populous city of Finland. Located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, it is the seat of the region of Uusimaa in southern Finland, and has a population of . The city ...
,
Finland
Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of B ...
.
Ports and harbours
Tallinn Passenger Port
The Old City Harbour ( et, Vanasadam) is the main passenger harbour in Tallinn, Estonia. Regular lines serve routes to Helsinki (Finland), Stockholm (Sweden) and St. Petersburg (Russia).
Overview
Old City Harbour is one of the five ports within ...
or the Old City Harbour served 8.84 million passengers in 2012 on lines to
Helsinki
Helsinki ( or ; ; sv, Helsingfors, ) is the capital, primate, and most populous city of Finland. Located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, it is the seat of the region of Uusimaa in southern Finland, and has a population of . The city ...
,
Stockholm
Stockholm () is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, largest city of Sweden as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in Scandinavia. Approximately 980,000 people liv ...
and
St. Petersburg
Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...
. Transport to
Kelnase
Kelnase is a village on Prangli Island in Viimsi Parish, Harju County in northern Estonia. (retrieved 27 July 2021)
Keri
Keri () is a Hebrew term which literally means "happenstance", "frivolity" or "contrariness" and has come to mean seminal ...
Harbour on
Prangli
Prangli ( sv, Vrangö) is an Estonian island in the Gulf of Finland.
The first records are from 1387 when it was called ''Rango''. The first settlers came from Sweden. The Estonian culture spread to the island in the 17th century.
Prangli is ...
Island is provided from
Leppneeme
Leppneeme is a village in Viimsi Parish, Harju County in northern Estonia. It's located about northeast of the centre of Tallinn, on the northeastern coast of Viimsi peninsula by the Muuga Bay. As of 2011 Census, the settlement's population wa ...
Harbour in
Viimsi Parish
Viimsi Parish ( et, Viimsi vald) is a rural municipality in Northern Estonia, located North-East and neighbouring the capital Tallinn. It occupies an area of with a population of 20 580 (). The municipality contains the Viimsi Peninsula and sev ...
and to Naissaar Island from Tallinn Lennusadam Harbour. Seasonal transport to
Aegna
Aegna is an Estonian island in the Bay of Tallinn in the Baltic Sea. Administratively it is part of the city of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia and is a sub district of the Kesklinn (City center) district.
Geography
Aegna island has an ...
Island is provided from Tallinn Kalasadam Harbour.
The biggest cargo port is
Muuga Harbour
Muuga Harbour ( et, Muuga sadam) is the largest cargo port in Estonia, located on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland, northeast of the capital Tallinn, in Maardu. The harbour is administrated by Port of Tallinn, the biggest port authority ...
in
Maardu
Maardu (german: Maart) is a town and a municipality in Harju County, Estonia. It is part of Tallinn metropolitan area. The town covers an area of 22.76 km² and has a population of 16,170 (as of 1 January 2021).
The Port of Muuga, ...
and
Viimsi Parish
Viimsi Parish ( et, Viimsi vald) is a rural municipality in Northern Estonia, located North-East and neighbouring the capital Tallinn. It occupies an area of with a population of 20 580 (). The municipality contains the Viimsi Peninsula and sev ...
. Other large ports include Paldiski North Harbour and Paldiski South Harbour,
Miiduranna
Miiduranna is a village in Viimsi Parish, Harju County in northern Estonia. It's located about northeast of the centre of Tallinn, situated just northwest of Tallinn's subdistrict Merivälja, west of the settlement Viimsi and south of Haabneeme, ...
Harbour in Viimsi Parish and
Bekkeri-Meeruse Port, Hundipea Harbour, Lennusadama Harbour, Paljassaare Harbour, Patarei Harbour, Peetri Harbour and Vene-Balti Port in Tallinn.
Media
The official newspaper of Harju County is ''
Harju Elu''.
County Government
The
County Government
A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesChambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...
( et, Maavalitsus) is led by a
governor
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
( et, maavanem), who is appointed by the
Government of Estonia
The Government of the Republic of Estonia ('' Estonian: Vabariigi Valitsus'') is the cabinet of Estonia. Under the Constitution, it exercises executive power pursuant to the Constitution and laws of Estonia.
The cabinet carries out the country' ...
for a term of five years. Since 2009 the Governor position has been held by
Ülle Rajasalu.
Harju County received municipal functions on 30 March 1917. Members of the Harju County Council were elected by the delegates of county municipalities and the first meeting was held on 1 July 1917 in Tallinn's
Toompea Castle
Toompea castle ( et, Toompea loss) is a medieval castle on Toompea hill in the central part of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. In modern times, it houses the Parliament of Estonia.
History
The Toompea castle's predecessor, an ancient Estonia ...
. Johannes Reinthal won the election for the Chair of the Council. The language of the proceedings was decided to be Estonian.
Harju County Government became the Executive Committee of Harju County Soviet in January 1941. The County Government was restored during the German occupation from autumn 1941 until autumn 1944. In 1950, the Executive Committee of Harju County Soviet became the Executive Committee of Harju District Labour Soviet. The Harju County Government was re-formed in 1990.
The Chairs of Harju County Councils, the Heads of County Governments and the County Governors:
* 1917–1920 Johannes Reinthal
* 1920–1922 Oskar Suursööt
* 1922–1927 Martin Kruusimaa (Krusemann)
* 1927–1936 Rudolf Kuris
* 1936–1940 Karl Robert Ruus
* 1940–1941 Gustav Abel
* 1940; 1941–1944 Paul Männik
* 1990–1991 Anti Oidsalu
* 1991–1994 Mati Zernand
* 1994–1999 Mait Kornet
* 1999–2004 Orm Valtson
* 2005–2006
Jaan Mark
* 2006–2009
Värner Lootsmann
* 2009–present
Ülle Rajasalu
Settlements
Harju County has seven
settlement
Settlement may refer to:
*Human settlement, a community where people live
*Settlement (structural), the distortion or disruption of parts of a building
* Closing (real estate), the final step in executing a real estate transaction
*Settlement (fin ...
s with
town status:
Tallinn
Tallinn () is the most populous and capital city of Estonia. Situated on a bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, Tallinn has a population of 437,811 (as of 2022) and administratively lies in the Harju '' ...
,
Maardu
Maardu (german: Maart) is a town and a municipality in Harju County, Estonia. It is part of Tallinn metropolitan area. The town covers an area of 22.76 km² and has a population of 16,170 (as of 1 January 2021).
The Port of Muuga, ...
,
Keila
Keila (german: Kegel) is a town and an urban municipality in Harju County in north-western Estonia, 25 km southwest of Tallinn. Keila is also the location of administrative buildings of the surrounding Keila Parish, a rural municipality se ...
,
Saue
Saue is a town in north-western Estonia. It's the administrative centre of Saue Parish in Harju County.
The territory of Saue is and population about 5,800. Closest centres are Tallinn (), Keila (), Saku () and Laagri ().
Geography
Saue is ...
,
Paldiski
Paldiski is a town and Baltic Sea port situated on the Pakri Peninsula of northwestern Estonia. Since 2017, it's the administrative centre of Lääne-Harju Parish of Harju County. Previously a village of Estonia-Swedes known by the historical ...
,
Kehra
Kehra is a town in Anija Parish, Harju County, Estonia, most known for its pulp and paper mill.
The town is situated on the banks of the Jägala river, and has a station on the Tallinn-Narva railway.
As of January 1, 2021, the town had a popu ...
and
Loksa
Loksa is a town and municipality in Harju County, Estonia, most known for its shipping industry.
The town is situated on the estuary of the Valgejõgi river, which drains into Hara Bay, Gulf of Finland.
As of April 1, 2022, the town had a po ...
. All but Kehra are
municipal towns, the latter being part of the
parish
A parish is a territorial entity in many Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest, often termed a parish priest, who might be assisted by one o ...
of
Anija Parish
Anija Parish ( et, Anija vald) is a rural municipality in Harju County, Estonia, consisting of 33 settlements.
The parish has a population of 6274 and covers an area of .
The administrative centre of the municipality is Kehra. The municipalit ...
since 2002. There are also two
borough
A borough is an administrative division in various English-speaking countries. In principle, the term ''borough'' designates a self-governing walled town, although in practice, official use of the term varies widely.
History
In the Middle A ...
s:
Kiili
Kiili (before 1977: ''Veneküla'') is a borough ( et, alev) in Harju County, northern Estonia
Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finl ...
and
Aegviidu, of which Aegviidu (
Aegviidu Parish) is one of the five
municipal borough
Municipal boroughs were a type of local government district which existed in England and Wales between 1835 and 1974, in Northern Ireland from 1840 to 1973 and in the Republic of Ireland from 1840 to 2002. Broadly similar structures existed in S ...
s of Estonia. There are also 31 small boroughs in Harju County. There are plans to give a town status to
Haabneeme
Haabneeme is a small borough ( et, alevik) in Viimsi Parish, Harju County, in northern Estonia alongside Viimsi. It's located about northeast of the centre of Tallinn, on the eastern coast of Tallinn Bay. With a population of 5,634 ( 2011 Cens ...
in
Viimsi Parish
Viimsi Parish ( et, Viimsi vald) is a rural municipality in Northern Estonia, located North-East and neighbouring the capital Tallinn. It occupies an area of with a population of 20 580 (). The municipality contains the Viimsi Peninsula and sev ...
and
Peetri
Peetri is a small borough (') in Järva Parish, Järva County in northern Estonia
Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland acros ...
in
Rae Parish
Rae Parish ( et, Rae vald) is a rural Municipalities of Estonia, municipality in northern Estonia. It is a part of Harju County. The municipality has a population of 17,967 (as of 1 January 2018) and covers an area of 206.7 km². The populat ...
.
Postimees
''Postimees'' () is an Estonian daily newspaper established on 5 June 1857, by Johann Voldemar Jannsen. In 1891, it became the first daily newspaper in Estonia. Its current editor-in-chief is Priit Hõbemägi. The paper has approximately 250 ...
Seadusemuudatus muudab kaks linna aleviks
27 November 2013.
Municipalities
Harju County is subdivided into 16
municipalities
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...
, of which 4 are urban ( et, linnad — cities or towns) and 12 are rural ( et, vallad —
parishes).
Gallery
St. Olaf's church, Estonian Maritime Museum.jpg, Tallinn St. Olaf's Church and Fat Margaret
Fat Margaret (, ) is a tower in Tallinn, Estonia. Nowadays, the tower is home to Estonian Maritime Museum.
The tower was built in the early 16th century (from 1511 to 1530) during the reconstruction of the medieval city gate system. The etymology ...
tower
Vanalinna tornid.JPG, Walltowers of Tallinn
Ayuntamiento, vistas panorámicas desde Toompea, Tallin, Estonia, 2012-08-05, DD 21.JPG, Tallinn
Tallinn () is the most populous and capital city of Estonia. Situated on a bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, Tallinn has a population of 437,811 (as of 2022) and administratively lies in the Harju '' ...
modern skyline
Püha Brigitta Klooster(Convent of St. Bridget).jpg, Pirita Convent
Pirita Convent ( et, Pirita klooster) was a monastery for both monks and nuns dedicated to St. Brigitta, located in the district of Pirita in Tallinn, Estonia. It functioned from 1407 to 1575. It was the largest convent in Livonia, and one o ...
ruins in Tallinn
EU-EE-Tallinn-LAS-Mustakivi and Laagna.jpg, Tallinn Lasnamäe district
Iru power plant.jpg, Iru Power Plant
Iru Power Plant is a co-generation power plant in Iru village, Maardu, Estonia. It is owned by Enefit Green, a subsidiary of Eesti Energia. The plant has a heating capacity of .
History
The first unit of power plant was commissioned in 1978. In ...
Paldiski jaamahoone2 (2011).jpg, Paldiski
Paldiski is a town and Baltic Sea port situated on the Pakri Peninsula of northwestern Estonia. Since 2017, it's the administrative centre of Lääne-Harju Parish of Harju County. Previously a village of Estonia-Swedes known by the historical ...
railway station
Jõelähtme kirik2.jpg, Jõelähtme
Jõelähtme (german: Jegelecht) is a village in Jõelähtme Parish, Harju County, northern Estonia. (retrieved 27 July 2021)
Gallery
File:Jõelähtme postijaama peahoone1.jpg, Post office
File:Jõelähtme rahvamaja juulis 2018.jpg, Community ce ...
Church
Kose kirik suvi 2012.jpg, Kose
Kose is a small borough ( et, alevik) in Harju County, 39 kilometers (24 miles) southeast of Tallinn, Estonia. It is the administrative centre of Kose Parish and lies next to Pirita River.
At the 2011 Census, the settlement's population wa ...
Church
Vasalemma mõisa peahoone, 1893 (1).jpg, Vasalemma Manor
Ääsmäe mõisa peahoone jpg.jpg, Ääsmäe
Ääsmäe is a settlement in Saue Parish, Harju County in northern Estonia.
Ääsmäe Manor
The manor in Ääsmäe traces its origins to 1574, when king John III of Sweden presented the estate as a gift to his secretary Johann Berends. The prese ...
Manor
Tuhala Witches Well1-21-03-2013.jpg, Tuhala "Witch's Well"
Waterfall Jägala part VI.jpg, Jägala Waterfall Jägala may refer to:
*Jägala, Estonia
*Jägala River, a river which runs through Jägala
** Jägala Waterfall, a waterfall along the river
*Jägala concentration camp, a Nazi concentration camp
**Kalevi-Liiva
Kalevi-Liiva are sand dunes in Jõ ...
Laitse manor - panoramio (1).jpg, Laitse
Laitse is a village in Saue Parish, Harju County in northern Estonia. Prior to the administrative reform of Estonian local governments in 2017, the village belonged to Kernu Parish.
Laitse manor
Laitse Manor (german: Laitz) was established as an ...
manor
Tarvasjõgi.jpg, Tarvasjõgi river
Laukad Kakerdaja rabas, Priit Vilba.jpg, Kakerdaja bog
References
External links
*
Harjumaa Tourism
{{Authority control
Counties of Estonia