Last modified: 2023-06-03 by 
zachary harden
Keywords: hungary | subdivisions | wolf teeth |
Links: FOTW homepage |
search |
disclaimer and copyright |
write us |
mirrors
by Antonio Broto, 7 August 2001
See also:
Other Sites:
Subdivisions of Hungary (1 January 1999) - Hungary is divided
to 19 county (megye), 1 capital (főváros) and 22 cities (like
county by right / megyei jogú város). The cities are not
part of the counties.
In 1 July 2000. many "large community" has became
towns.
István Molnár, 4 July 2000
Most of the visited villages made a horizontal flag (ratio
2:3) and a vertical flag (ratio 5:2). The name of the horizontal
flag is "zászló" or "lobogó", the name of
the vertical flag is " "labarum" " or
"függönyzászló"
István Molnár, 8 August 2000
Every piece of territory of Hungary must by law to be part of
some community or city. In Hungary before we had five types of
settlements:
1. Község (community).
2. Nagyközség (large community). This type of settlement does
not really exist any more as a separate category. Before,
communities, when their population became larger, were awarded
with the title of "large community". Now, there is no
specific procedure for the title "large community". All
former large communities retain their title, but no such new
titles are awarded. Now, all communities with a population of
5000 or more people can use the title of large community, without
any official procedure, if they wish so. For example, the
community, where I live, has 6000 people, but the title of large
community is not used by the local authorities.
3. Város (city). The title of city is given by the head of
state, there are no specific requirements, but in order to apply
for the status of city, a community is expected to have a high
school, permanent police station, permanent medical service,
cultural institutions.
4. Megyei jogú város (city with right of county). Now the
capitals of all counties are automatically given the title of
"city with right of county" (before, only 16 of the 19
county capitals had such title, now all 18 (!) county capitals
have this title). Also all cities with a population of 50
thousands can apply for this status. Now we have 3 cities with
right of county that are not capital of any county. Cities with
right of county are de jure not considered part of the county
where they are located, but the de facto they are part of them
(the only exception is Pest county, whose capital - Budapest - is
outside the county, de jure and de facto). The main difference
between a "normal" city and a "city with right of
county" is that a normal city offer services only to its own
habitants and to surrounding communities, while a "city with
right of county" offer services to a larger region,
including to surrounding cities.
5. Főváros (capital) - the capital is divided to smaller parts,
districts, that have their own local autonomy, powers are shared
with the capital's local autonomy.
Ivan Marinov, 14 March 2001
1. Község - I use the word: village. This settlement type
exists from 1876. Before 1876 they were named as 'Falu' means
village. The official name of these settlements are 'Község',
the used version 'Falu'. In the 1900-1910s these settlements were
named
'Kisközség' - It means 'Little Community' but I don't use the
word "community" because it is not the same as the
village (for example in Yugoslavia, Romania and Ukraine one
community contains more settlements as a district).
Between 1950-1989 in Hungary there were some communities which
contained more villages. These villages became independent
settlements after 1989. In Slovakia too.
2. Nagyközség - This settlement type exists from 1876 when some
formerly 'Mezőváros' - means borough (town)- lost its town type
rights and didn't become 'Rendezett Tanácsú Város' - means
'City with Council' (town). They became 'Nagyközség'. Most of
them became town (last in August 2000: Harkány, Szob,
Pannonhalma, Visegrád etc.). Inhabitants these formerly 'large
villages' or 'large communities': Harkány: 3.587, Szob: 2.803,
Pannonhalma: 3.524, Visegrád: 1.543.
3. Város - I always use the title 'town' when it is is a second
class 'city-or-town'.
Towns in Hungary:
Before 1876: 'Mezőváros' means borough or 'Kiváltságos
Mezőváros' means 'Privileged Borough' etc.
1876-1929: 'Rendezett Tanácsú Város' means 'City with
Council'. The towns were under the county but not under the
district administration.
1929-1950 'Megyei Város' means 'County Town'. Only the name was
changed. 1950 is the end of the rights of self-government.
1950-1954 'Város' means 'City'. under the district and county
soviets.
1954-1971 'Járási Jogú Város' means 'Town with District
Rights' under the county soviet
1971-1989 'Város' means 'Town' under the county soviet
1989- 'Város' under the goverment of Hungary.
4. Megyei jogú város - I always use the title 'city' it is a
first class 'city-or-town'. I use this word in Hungary at 'Megyei
Jogú Város' in Romania at 'Municipiul' in Ukraine at Mukachevo,
Uzhhorod and Hust which cities are not under the rayon
administrations. The cities (with county ranks) and the counties
have got own 'General Assemblies' 'Közgyűlés'.
Cities in Hungary:
Before 1876: 'Szabad Királyi Város' means 'Free Royal City'.
Not under the county administration.
1876-1950: 'Törvényhatósági Jogú Város' means 'City with
Municipal Rights'. Here is a translation problem again. The
Municipality = Törvényhatóság, Önkormányzat in Hungarian.
The translator thought Municipal Rights mean 'rights of the
counties'. These settlements were not under the county
administration. Most of them annexed in 1920.
1950-1954 there were no first class cities, only towns: 'Város'
1954-1971 'Megyei Jogú Város' means 'City with County Rights'.
These settlements were: Debrecen, Miskolc, Pécs and Szeged.
These settlements had the rights to divide their territories into
districts. These settlements were not under the county soviet.
1971-1989 'Megyei Város' means 'County Town'. The fifth was
Gyor. These settlements didn't have the rights to divide their
territories into districts (exactly: no district soviets). These
settlements was under the county soviet as a different part.
1989-1990 Some 'Város' became 'Megyei Város' for example
Kecskemét and Székesfehérvár.
1990-1996 'Megyei Jogú Város' means 'City with County Rights'
under the goverment of Hungary. 20 settlements became 'MJV'
(which have more than 50.000 inhabitants).
1996- 22 settlements (Two county seats which haven't got 50.000
inhabitants - Szekszárd and Salgótarján became 'MJV') There is
one town in Hungary which have got more than 50.000 inhabitants
and not city: Érd.
In 2000 the government wanted the Parliament to give a title of
'Megyei Jogú Város' to the Town of Esztergom because its great
historical past, but the Parliament didn't give it.
We have four cities with right of county that
are not capital of any county: Dunaújváros,
Hódmezovásárhely, Nagykanizsa and Sopron
Cities don't have representation in the General Assemblies of the
County. They have to make an agreement with their counties. For
example there was a really beautiful political war between
Veszprém County and Veszprém City. The county hall is in the
city... The villages and towns has got representation in the
General Assembly of the County. Of course the cities are the
parts of their counties by state administration. But 1990-1994 a
high sheriff - 'Köztársasági Megbízott' means
'Commissary of the Republic' looks after more than one counties.
Levels of the courts of the justice. First level: towns (included
cities) and districts (in Budapest). second level: counties and
capital. The highest level: The Supreme Court.
5. Fováros - Budapest is the capital. The capital is divided
into 23 districts which have own selfgovernments. There are
political wars between the districts and the Council of the
Capital about the rights and powers. The capital wants the
districts become only local offices of the capital, the districts
want the capital becomes one of the counties, not more.
6. Településrész (part-community) - Some areas of a larger
settlement has its own local government with a some rights. For
example: Szeged City has got three part communities:
Kiskundorozsma, Tápé and Szoreg. The larger settlements (most
of the cities) could divided their territories and could found
part-communities. These part-communities could have got parts of
the rights and powers of the settlement to their local works and
problems. Not only cities have got part-communities. For example
Monor town's part Monorierdo is a part-community. And some of
them has got own symbols!
Information about counties. The county council is the assembly
of the settlements of the county (without cities). The General
Assembly is not over the local authorities.
Historical settlement type: 1984-1989 some 'large village' had
got the title 'Városi Jogú Nagyközség' means 'Large Community
with Town Rights'. They became later towns.
Formerly divisions: ' Járás' means districts. Historical
divisions of the counties. They were discontinued in 1984.
Divisions of the counties (of course without cities 1876-1971;
1990-now)
1876-1950: districts and towns
1950-1954: districts
1954-1971: districts and towns
1971-1984: districts, town's environs, towns and cities (!)
1984-1989: town's environs, towns, LCTRs, LCTR's environs, cities
and some 'large village under direct county administration'
1990-now: towns and communities (villages)
István Molnár, 14 March 2001
I missed the 'Notarial Districts' 'Körjegyzoség'.
Settlements which don't want to have got own office - because for
example haven't got enough money - found 'ND' with others. Each
settlement has got oun council and mayor but hasn't own Mayor's
Office.
For example: I sent flag of Döbrönte and Ganna villages which
settlements have got one 'ND'. Pictures was sent me by the
District Notary of the Ganna-Döbrönte Notarial District by the
authorization of the Mayor of Döbrönte village and the Mayor of
Ganna village.
Bacause the 'ND' is only a common office of some settlements it
got no symbols.
István Molnár, 14 March 2001
While browsing on the Internet I found mentioned a division of
Hungary into regions, namely the following:
- Közép-Magyarország (KMO) Budapest és Pest megye
- Közép-Dunántúl (KDT) Fejér, Komárom-Esztergom, Veszprém
megye
- Nyugat-Dunántúl (NYDT) Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Vas, Zala megye
- Dél-Dunántúl (DDT) Baranya, Somogy, Tolna megye
- Észak-Magyarország (ÉMO) BAZ, Heves, Nógrád megye
- Észak-Alföld (ÉAF) Hajdú-Bihar, Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok,
Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg megye
- Dél-Alföld (DAF) Bács-Kiskun, Békés, Csongrád megye
What is the significance of these regions? Are these regions
supposed to have flags, logos or the like?
Another question: what is the status of the second level
administrative divisions in Hungary? The first level is the
"megye" (county) I think, and at least in the past
there were the "jaras" (district). Do these divisions
still / again exist, or are they abolished altogether? Do they
have flags/coat of armsts-of-arms?
Dirk Schonberger, 20 May 2003
The mentioned new subdivision entities are only formal
regions without any self-government or office. They are imaginary
established in order to divide Hungary into EU-compatible
regions. So they are only regions for EU affairs. They have not any flags or
coat of arms.
Hungary divided into 19 counties and the capital, Budapest. They
are some (22) cities, which have the same right as a county
(in practice, it is a budget question only). All other
settlements (towns and villages) have own self-governments, too
(there were formerly councils). The county governments have
limited rights, they have administative possibilities for
county-level affairs only. But a settlement's administration is
not supervised by a county administration. All Hungarian
self-governments are supervised by Ministry of Interior (in
legislative issues).
There are no "jaras" anymore, they were abolished end
of 70's. Of course all cities and towns have an agglomeration (or
something that similar to it) instead of "jaras". For
example, if a citizen has an affair with officials (police,
court, registry, hospital, etc), he/she has to go into town,
because there is the nearest offices/installations.
Zoltan Horvath, 21 May 2003
Just some correction to the letter of Zoltán:
The second level administrative divisions - 'járás' were
abolished in 1984. You can see maps showing statistical small
districts. These ssd-s are not administrative divisions.
The government has a plan to make self government of the regions
and abolished the counties.
István Molnár, 21 May 2003
The
cities are not part of the counties, they are independent, but
are counted at the Counties as per public administration. As a
part of the administrative reform, system of the new cities (Like
County by Right) was introduced on 1 December, 1990, when 16
county towns (Békéscsaba, Debrecen, Eger, Győr, Kaposvár,
Kecskemét, Miskolc, Nyíregyháza, Pécs, Szeged,
Székesfehérvár, Szolnok, Szombathely, Tatabánya, Veszprém,
Zalaegerszeg) and 4 bigger towns (Dunaújváros,
Hódmezővásárhely, Nagykanizsa, Sopron) became cities. Later,
on 30 October, 1994, the remaining 2 county towns (Salgótarján
and Szekszárd) were declared cities to finish this reform.
All the cities have been traditional Hungarian towns for a long
time, except Dunaújváros and Tatabánya.
In 2004, Hungary has 251 towns, 22 cities (Like County by Right)
and the capital (főváros).
Zoltán Turay, 28 December 2004
Currently [in 2009],
there are 328 cities and towns in Hungary, including 23 urban
counties (cities have rights similar to counties) and the
capital. Number of municipalities (large villages) has been
reduced to 118, and number of villages is 2706. Total number of
localities (settlements) of Hungary is 3152. (There are more
entities, while 23 districts of Budapest has own administrative
bodies, and all of them have flag and coat of arms, as well.).
More and detailed information can be found in Gazetteer
of Hungary. Please note that this material based on situation
as of 1st January of 2009. In this year 22 former municipalities
became a town; a complete list is available at the end of this
booklet.
Zoltan Horvath, 29 December 2009
There are some changes regarding to Hungarian subdivisions. 175 districts (járás)
have been established on January 1, 2013 in Hungary. The 19 counties were
subdivided into 6 - 18 districts per county. Budapest
- the capital, which does not belong to any counties - is already divided to 23
districts.
District system is not new in Hungary, they had existed between 1876 and 1984,
and now the Government restored it, but these districts are not completely the
same as they were before 1984. As far as I know, the new district authorities
primarily have administrative tasks rather than operating as local entities.
Concerning their symbols, at this time I do not have any information about their
flags and coat of arms or even their willingness to adopt symbols at all. But
current law gives an opportunity to do this.
List and map of newly created districts can be seen
here.
Another change has occured on 15 July 2013, when President of the Republic
granted town status for 18 former municipalities. It means they have been
declared as towns from that time.
Here is a list (by counties) of them:
Kondoros in Békés county;
Onga in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county;
Aba and Csákvár in Fejér county;
Lébény in Győr-Moson-Sopron county;
Gyöngyöspata and Verpelét in Heves county;
Besenyszög and Fegyvernek in Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok county;
Tát in Komárom-Esztergom county;
Diósd, Kerepes, Piliscsaba, Őrbottyán, Sülysáp, and Újhartyán in Pest county;
Ajak in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg county;
Jánosháza in Vas county.
So, 346 towns have been in Hungary since mid July of this year.
Zoltan Horvath, 18 October 2013
Ole Andersen asked following Gyarmat
flag: "Are the top and bottom triangles a theme in Győr-Moson-Sopron Co.?"
It seems some designer standardizes. You can find triangles on
the flag of Vaszar village ,
Veszprém Co, which settlement is neighbouring to Gyarmat and so is Győrszemere. On the
other hand, the flag of Szany large
village has no triangles . More uniformised flags: Bársonyos, Kerékteleki,
Bakonyszombathely, Réde.
István Molnár, 1 December 2000
Ole Andersen asked: "Could the triangle idea be borrowed
from the city of Győr?"
I think that this designer follows the triangles of the Army
flags.
István Molnár, 2 December 2000
The coloured triangles set along the flag edges are
traditional and typical for Hungarian flags and also in flag
traditions of the
countries where Hungarian influence was strong (with that I mean
not only those countries that were under Hungarian rule - like
Croatia and Romania, but also those that ruled Hungary, like
Austria). The pattern is called in Hungarian
"wolf-teeth", if I am not much mistaken. It was used
primarily on the flags of military units of (say) 17th and 18th
century, and from there it was transfered to municipal flags in
Hungary, to rank flags of Austria, and so on, to be used in
modern times in various modifications in presidential standards
of Central-European countries (Czech R., Slovakia, Austria,
Croatia, Yugoslavia ...) and for example on Slovakian
chief-of-town standard banners. The pure triangular teeth are,
IMHO, still typical for Hungary while other nations around prefer
to use some "more elaborate" variations (flamully i.e.
wavy triangles, chequy patterns, stripes of various interlacing etc.) The
Hungarian military flags always used the wolf-teeth, as far as I know and still
do so. The usual Hungarian pattern of flags with wolf-teeth is white (or buff)
flag field with the (elaborate, full) coat of arms in the middle and wolf-teeth
in main coat of arms colours around. The teeth may be of one colour, or two,
one at upper and one at lower edge or interlaced along three
edges. The most well known case of not using white (or buff)
field for such flag are the Hungarian military flags of socialist
period when they are red with white teeth IIRC.
Željko Heimer, 2 December 2000
I noted in several cases (e.g. at least twice driving though
cities along Balaton) common versions of flags. One was a
bicolour while the other was quartered in saltire. In any case,
it seems that many subdivisions of Hungary have both ceremonial
and more common versions of flags, which would not be quite
unexpected comparing the national flag usage, too.
If I may say so without the research, the white flags with
wolf-teeth (typical for Hungary, even if not maybe the most
frequent) are much less prone to be coat of armst-of-arms-less then more
"classical" designs.
Željko Heimer, 23 April 2001
In many pages there are images of historical flags which are
based on the book by Dr. Széll Sandor: Városaink neve,
címere és lobogója . The book was printed in 1941. In this
time these flags were on use in Hungary. Some of the settlements
in the book was not part of Hungary in 1941. Some settlements
used in 1941 the original flag given by the kings of Hungary in
the 17-19th century. It seems no flag adopted in 1941. All flag
was abandoned in 1949.
Some of them are still in use. They are:
Budapest (With or without coat of arms)
Miercurea-Ciuc (Romania)
Esztergom
Gyula
Kecskemét (with coat of arms)
Komárom and Komárno (Slovakia)
Nyíregyháza (with coat of arms)
Budapest XX. (with coat of arms)
Sopron (but not vertical, horizontal divided)
see also: http://www.hmks.deltav.hu/lapok/vexsze10.htm
István Molnár, 18 December 2000 and 28 Febuary 2001
Some of them is in use today:
Csíkszereda - now Miercurea Ciuc, RO.
Kézdivásárhely - now Targu Secuiesc, RO.,
Buda old flag - Budapest I. district
Kecskemét, HU (with coat of arms)
Pestszenterzsébet - Budapest XX. district (with coat of arms)
Nyíregyháza, HU (with coat of arms)
Budapest, HU (with coat of arms)
Esztergom, HU
Gyula, HU
Komárom, HU (with and without coat of arms)
Komárom - now Komárno, SK
Gyergyószenmiklós - now Gheorgheni, RO. relates to the old and
renewed coat of arms
Marosvásárhely - now Targu Mures, RO. relates to the old and
renewed coat of arms
Temesvár - now Timisoara, RO. this flag is in the old with new
coat of arms.
Újpest - now Budapest IV, HU. relates the old and renewed coat of arms
Győr, HU. relates the old and renewed coat of arms
Zenta - now Senta, YU. this flag relates the old coat of arms.
Flags that aren't in use today:
Baja, Békéscsaba, Cegléd, Csáktornya (Cakovec, HR),
Csongrád, Debrecen, Eger, Gyöngyös, Győr, Hajdúböszörmény,
Hajdúnánás, Hajdúszoboszló, Hódmezővásárhely, Kaposvár,
Kispest, Kolozsvár (Cluj, RO), Kőszeg, Marosvásárhely (Targu
Mures, RO), Mezőtúr, Miskolc, Pápa, Pécs (but blue and yellow
the colours of the flag), Szeged, Székesfehérvár, Szombathely,
Vác, Veszprém, Zalaegerszeg.
István Molnár, 5 April 2001
After 1949 the settlements couldn't use their flags and coat of arms. In the early 70's some of them created their own flag
and coat of arms. The Soviet of the Ministers (the Government) made a
resolution to regulate the creating and using these symbols. (The
word "soviet" means council in the time of the
communist era):
Resolution No. 1006/1974 (II.22.) of the Soviet of the Ministers
about the creating and using local flag and coat of arms, and the
granting title of the honorary freeman.
1. The soviet has the right to create and use local coat of arms of arms and
flag and grant title of the honorary freeman - according to this resolution. The
rules of the creating and using of coat of arms and flag and the granting title of the honorary freeman is
determined in an order by the soviet. At the
arrangement of the order the opinion of the inhabitants has to be
known and considered.
2. Local coat of arms and flag could be created by the capital
soviet, city soviet, town soviet, moreover the soviet of the
large village and the village soviet - by the authorization given
by the Office of the Soviets of the Soviet of the Ministers
considered the suggestion of the executive committee of the
competent county soviet. The same rules are the standards to
grant the title of honorary freeman.
3. The local coat of arms is the symbol which relates to the historical past and
the nowadays typical character of the settlement; couldn't substitute the coat
of arms of the Hungarian People's Republic. If the coat of arms of the Hungarian
People's Republic have to be used at the time of the state administration, the
local coat of arms couldn't be used. For the proposal of the local coat of arms the assent of The Lecturers of Fine Arts and
Industrial Arts has to be asked.
4. The president of the soviet may permit to use of the coat of arms for not soviet organizations and he determines the
conditions of the using.
5. The local coat of arms is not usable as a trade-mark for the
soviet and not soviet organizations - based on the IX./1969 law
about the trade-marks.
6. The local flag contains the local coat of arms and the
administrative name of the settlement on an unicoloured material;
couldn't substitute nor the flag of the Hungarian People's
Republic either the Red Flag of the International Labour
Movement.
7. The title of the honorary freeman could be granted for the
excellent activity for the inhabitants of the settlement.
8. The costs of the creating and using local coat of arms and
flag and granting title of the honorary freeman have to be paid
by the local soviet.
9. The President of The Office of the Soviets of the Soviet of
the Ministers provides for the execution of the resolution.,
comes to a decision in all disputed questions of execution (...)
10. This resolution becomes effective on the day of its proclamation. The orders
of this resolution have to be used for the already created coat of arms and flags.
Lajos Fehér
Deputy President of the Soviet of the Ministers
This resolution is no longer valid after 1990.
István Molnár, 28 October 2000
It seems they are not in use. But some cities uses the same
field as in 1974-1989 flags with the old coat of arms. For example
Debrecen and Szeged. Maybe (only maybe) Balatonfüred use its
1974-1989 flag, because the settlement use its coat of arms from
1974-1989.
István Molnár, 18 December 2000