Varaždin County

Varaždin County

Varaždin County (Croatian: Varaždinska županija ) is a county in Hrvatsko Zagorje. It is named after its county seat, the city of Varaždin.

This area is known for its beautiful landscapes and rich history.

County day, called Dan županije, is celebrated on 5 September. This special day brings together people to honor the traditions and culture of the county. Varaždin County is an important part of Croatia, contributing to the country's heritage and beauty.

Geography

Varaždin County is home to the city of Varaždin and several towns, including Ivanec, Ludbreg, Lepoglava, Novi Marof, and Varaždinske Toplice. It also includes 22 smaller areas called municipalities. The county covers 1,262 square kilometres.

Varaždin County shares borders with Slovenia to the northwest, Međimurje County to the north, Krapina-Zagorje County to the southwest, Zagreb County to the south, and Koprivnica-Križevci County to the southeast, with a small part of the latter separating it from Hungary. The Drava river runs along the northern edge of the county. Another river, the Bednja, flows through the county and joins the Drava. The county also features the Ivanščica and Kalnik mountains.

Transport

The highway A4 runs through Varaždin County, connecting the Hungarian border to Zagreb. It has exits in Varaždin, Varaždinske Toplice, and Novi Marof. A main road follows the Drava river from Maribor in Slovenia to Osijek. The county has railways linking to Zagreb, Čakovec, Budapest, and Koprivnica, but they are not yet modernised.

Economy

The economy of Varaždin County focuses on making things. Important jobs include processing milk, making drinks, working with meat, creating clothes and fabrics, producing metal items, making leather shoes, and crafting quality wood furniture and other wood products.

Administrative division

Varaždin County is divided into towns and smaller areas. The biggest city is Varaždin, which is also the county seat. Other important towns include Ludbreg, Lepoglava, Ivanec, Novi Marof, and Varaždinske Toplice. The county also has many smaller areas called municipalities, such as Bednja, Beretinec, Breznica, and more.

Demographics

Varaždin County has 175,951 people, according to the 2011 census. Most people there are Croats, making up 97.9% of the population.

Varaždin County: Population trends 1857–2021

Sources:

Acknowledgements

On September 5, 2025, the leader of the government of Herzegovina-Neretva County, Marija Buhač, and the county leader, Anđelko Stričak, signed an agreement. The agreement was about working together in areas like jobs, schools, farming, visiting places, art, games, and helping young people.

Some important people in the county are honorary citizens. One of them is Zlatko Dalić, who became an honorary citizen in 2018.