Gacko

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Gacko (Serbian Cyrillic: Гацко) is a town and municipality in East Herzegovina in the Republika Srpska entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Geography

The municipality covers an area of 736 km² (284 sq mi), making it one of the larger municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The town is near the state border with Montenegro.

History

Middle Ages

In the Middle Ages, the town was the seat of a župa (county) of Serbia under the Nemanjić dynasty. In 1276, Serbian prince Stefan Dragutin defeated his father Stefan Uroš I on the Gacko field and took the throne. Gacko was at this time an important commercial centre on the Dubrovnik–Foča route. In the 14th century the region was governed by the powerful Vojinović family.^[1] In its turbulent history, Gacko often changed rulers: after the fall of the Serbian Empire, Gacko became part of the Kingdom of Bosnia, and by 1483–85 it had been annexed by the Ottoman Empire into the Sanjak of Herzegovina.

Ottoman period

The burning of Saint Sava's remains after the Banat Uprising provoked the Serbs in other regions to revolt against the Ottomans.^[2] Grdan, the vojvoda of Nikšić, organized revolt with Serbian Patriarch Jovan Kantul. In 1596, the uprising broke out in Bjelopavlići, then spread to Drobnjaci, Nikšić, Piva and Gacko (see Serb Uprising of 1596–97). The rebels were defeated at the field of Gacko. It ultimately failed due to lack of foreign support.^[3]

Modern history

Austro-Hungarian authorities took over it in 1878 by the decision made at the Berlin Congress. In 1908, Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina sparking the Bosnian crisis which eventually led to World War I. After that war, Gacko joined the State of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, going onto to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes by the end of 1918. These were the first incarnations of Yugoslavia where Gacko remained until Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence in 1992. The town largely stayed out of the Bosnian war thanks to its geographical position and early abandoning by the Bosnian Muslim population. Since the peace deals at the end of that conflict, Gacko has remained within the Republika Srpska entity.

Settlements of Gacko

Avtovac • Bahori • Bašići • Berušica • Brajićevići • Branilovići • Cernica • Čemerno • Danići • Dobrelji • Domrke • Donja Bodežišta • Dramešina • Dražljevo • Drugovići • Dubljevići • Fojnica • Gacko • Gareva • Gornja Bodežišta • Gračanica • Gradina • Hodinići • Igri • Izgori • Jabuka • Jasenik • Jugovići • Kazanci • Ključ • Kokorina • Kravarevo • Kula • Lipnik • Lončari • Luka • Lukovice • Ljeskov Dub • Medanići • Međuljići • Mekavci • Melečići • Miholjače • Mjedenik • Mrđenovići • Muhovići • Nadinići • Novi Dulići • Platice • Poda • Pridvorica • Pržine • Ravni • Rudo Polje • Samobor • Slivlja • Soderi • Srđevići • Stambelići • Stari Dulići • Stepen • Stolac • Šipovica • Šumići • Ulinje • Višnjevo • Vratkovići • Vrba • Zagradci • Zurovići • Žanjevica

Economy

Gacko Power Plant

There is a thermoelectric powerplant in the municipality, which is the main employer. The Czech power company ČEZ intends to build a new power plant.[1][2]

Sport

The local football club, FK Mladost Gacko, plays in the First League of the Republika Srpska.

Notable people

Admir Ćatović, footballer
Nemanja Supić, footballer
Saša Starović, volleyball player
Sanja Starović, female volleyball player
Vukašin Višnjevac, football coach
Vule Avdalović, basketball player

Demographic history

Census year	Total	Serbs	Muslims	Croats	Yugoslavs	Others
Municipality data
1991	10,788	6,661 (61.74%)	3,858 (35.76%)	29 (0.26%)	84 (0.77%)	156 (1.44%)
1981	10,279	6,215 (60.46%)	3,424 (33.31%)	21 (0.20%)	346 (3.36%)	273 (2.65%)
1971	12,033	7,634 (63.44%)	4,184 (34.77%)	15 (0.12%)	20 (0.16%)	180 (1.49%)
Town data
1991	2,253	4,584	2,144	28	78	81