Andrijevica (Cyrillic: Андријевица, ) is a town in Montenegro in the northern region and it is the seat of Andrijevica Municipality. According to the 2023 Census of Montenegro, it had a population of 988.
Name
The town is named after Andrija, a descendant of the Nemanjić dynasty.
History
The town developed in the 19th century. In addition, traces of Illyrian culture were also found, so it can be assumed that the environment of Andrijevica was an ecumenical space of numerous groups of people. Remainders of Roman settlements are also present in Berane valley, as well as in the vicinity of Andrijevica. In 1858, Vasojević Duke Miljan Vukov proclaimed the Vasojevići region a part of Montenegro.
From that point, the settlement gradually expanded into a town, but World War I interrupted its development. Andrijevica was the center of the county (Okrug) from 1918 to 1921, and the inter-war period was a time of rapid development for the town.
In July 1944, the German SS Skanderbeg division massacred more than 400 Orthodox Christian civilians in the town. After World War II, the town was first the seat of the district (srez), and then of municipality (opština) until 1960. Andrijevica was restored with municipality status in 1991.
The economy of Andrijevica was struck heavily by the decline of industry during the Yugoslav Wars, hence the population of the municipality declined slowly but steadily.
Demographics
According to the 1948 census, the town had 10,058 inhabitants. Since then, the town's population has gradually declined.
According to the 2023 census, Andrijevica had 988 inhabitants.