Bačko Gradište


Bačko Gradište is a village located in the Bečej municipality, in the South Bačka District of Serbia. It is situated in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. The village is ethnically mixed and its population numbering 5,445 people. Largest ethnic groups in the village are Hungarians and Serbs. Linguistically the village has a Slavophonic plurality as Serbs, Yugoslavs, Croats, Montenegrins and Muslims by nationality collectively compose 49.35% of the population. In early 2007, the village was, among others, affected by the measles outbreak that attracted WHO attention.

History

Former Serbian name of this village was Feldvarac. Historical sources from 1316 mentioned several settlements with name Feldvarac, but it is not sure which one of those could be identified with modern village. However, documents show that Serbs lived there before, during and after Ottoman rule.
The oldest and most reliable mention of place is from 1387 when it was part of the feudal lands of the Gorjanski family. In 1440, it belonged to the Serbian despot Đurađ Branković.
In 1519, there were, according to a 1925 article by ethnographer Borivoje Drobnjaković twelve Serbian households. By 1580, the number had decreased to four.
After the Ottoman forces left, Bačko Gradište became part of Tisa military border district. According to Habsburg census from 1720, this village was populated exclusively by Serbs, while in 1910 there were 1,390 houses with 6,922 inhabitants -- 3,934 Hungarians; 2,890 Serbs; and 98 Jews. In 1921, the population was 7,007 with a Hungarian majority.

Ethnic groups (2002 census)

The population of the village include:
Bačko Gradište is very popular because of its Oxbow lake. There is a settlement of holiday houses there -without electricity- because the town doesn't want it to become an official village. People from Novi Sad, Belgrade, Temerin, Bečej, and Vrbas have houses here and they spend their time here on weekends, because it is very relaxing and far away from the urban life.
On 1 May there is a huge holiday at the oxbow lake, where even people from neighbouring countries come to enjoy the nature.

Sports