Gacko


Gacko is a town and municipality located in Republika Srpska, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is situated in the region of East Herzegovina. As of 2013, the town has a population of 5,784 inhabitants, while the municipality has 8,990 inhabitants.

Geography

The municipality covers an area of, 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 14th century the region was governed by the powerful Vojinović family.
In 1359, veliki čelnik Dimitrije held the region.

Ottoman period

The rebels were defeated at the field of Gacko. It ultimately failed due to lack of foreign support.

Modern history

authorities took it over in 1878, a decision which was 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 on to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes by the end of 1918. These were the first incarnations of Yugoslavia.
On 6 June 1941 the rebels from Gacko under command of Orthodox priest Radojica Perišić started the uprising against the genocidal Independent State of Croatia known as June 1941 uprising in eastern Herzegovina. The communist historiography intentionally ignored pre-22 June rebels in Eastern Herzegovina and Sanski Most because they occurred in the period of collaboration between communists and fascists, so it would contradict the communist narrative about rebels being led by communists. On the other hand, the first Partisan battalion established in Gacko at the end of 1941 was named "6th June" in honor of the first date of the uprising. In period after the Fall of the Berlin Wall Gacko municipality proclaimed 6 June as their holiday in honor of the beginning of the uprising and held public ceremonies on 6 June named as the Day of Gacko.

Settlements

Aside from the town of Gacko, the municipality includes the following settlements:

Population

Ethnic composition

Economy

The Gacko coal mine and thermoelectric powerplant is located the municipality, and is also the largest employer in the area.
The following table gives a preview of total number of registered people employed in legal entities per their core activity :
ActivityTotal
Agriculture, forestry and fishing28
Mining and quarrying682
Manufacturing31
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply1,246
Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities129
Construction230
Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles155
Transportation and storage78
Accommodation and food services75
Information and communication16
Financial and insurance activities21
Real estate activities-
Professional, scientific and technical activities15
Administrative and support service activities2
Public administration and defense; compulsory social security183
Education185
Human health and social work activities79
Arts, entertainment and recreation39
Other service activities36
Total3,230

Sport

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

Notable people