Mažeikiai Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Mažeikiai

City

Flag	Coat of arms

Mažeikiai

Location in Lithuania

Mažeikiai

Location in Baltic states

Mažeikiai

Location in Europe

Country

Lithuania

Ethnographic region

Samogitia

County

Telšiai County

Municipality

Mažeikiai district municipality

Eldership

Mažeikiai town eldership

Capital of

Mažeikiai district municipality
Mažeikiai town eldership
Mažeikiai rural eldership

First mentioned

Sixteenth century

Granted city rights

1924

Area

• Total

16.35 km² (6.31 sq mi)

Elevation

117 m (384 ft)

Population

(2020)

• Total

32,470

• Density

1,985.9/km² (5,143.5/sq mi)

Time zone

UTC+2 (EET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+3 (EEST)

Mažeikiai (; Samogitian: Mažeikē; Latvian: Mažeiķi; Polish: Możejki) is a city in northwestern Lithuania. It sits on the Venta River. About 32,000 people live there, making it the eighth biggest city in Lithuania. Mažeikiai is the main town for the Mažeikiai district municipality in Telšiai County. It's the largest city in Lithuania that isn't the capital of its own county.

History of Mažeikiai
Economy and Industry
Culture and Community Life
Twin Towns and Sister Cities
Notable People from Mažeikiai
Images for kids
See also

History of Mažeikiai

Mažeikiai was first written about in 1335. A writer from the Livonian Order mentioned a war. During this war, the land of Duke Mažeika was damaged. This area was part of the Duchy of Samogitia. It was also part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Growth of the Town

The town grew fast starting in 1869. This was when the Libau–Romny Railway was built. This railway connected Vilnius and Liepāja. By 1893, Mažeikiai had 13 shops and 5 pubs.

In 1894, an Orthodox church was built. A synagogue had been built a few years before that. A Catholic church was built in 1902. An Evangelical-Lutheran church followed in 1906. From 1899 to 1918, the town was called Muravyov.

Becoming a City

In 1919, Mažeikiai became the center of its county. It also gained the right to govern itself. For a few years, Lithuania and Latvia argued over who owned Mažeikiai. This was because it was an important railway hub. It connected Latvian cities like Riga, Jelgava, and Liepaja. In 1921, an international group decided that Mažeikiai belonged to Lithuania.

In 1922, a hospital and a library opened. A museum opened in 1928. By 1939, 5,618 people lived in the town. In 1940, Mažeikiai had 26 factories, 4 banks, and a credit union.

World War II and Later Years

During World War II, German forces took control of Mažeikiai. This was from June 26, 1941, to October 31, 1944. It was part of a German-controlled area called Reichskommissariat Ostland. In August 1941, many Jewish people from the Mažeikiai area were killed.

In 1950, Mažeikiai became the center of its district.

Economy and Industry

In 1980, a large oil refinery called Mažeikių Nafta opened. Today, it is one of the biggest factories in Lithuania. In 1999, it was sold to an American company, Williams International.

In 2001, Williams sold the refinery to a company called Yukos. Later, in 2006, Yukos sold the refinery to PKN Orlen. In 2004, Mažeikių Nafta helped pay for the building of the New Church of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Culture and Community Life

Mažeikiai Museum

The Mažeikiai Museum was started in 1928 by a teacher named Stasys Ličkūnas. The museum collects and shows old items. These include things from history, old traditions, and folk art. They focus on the Samogitia region.

Cultural Center

Mažeikiai has one of the largest cultural centers in Lithuania. It started in 1946 as a "culture house." In 2005, it moved to a new building. This building has three halls. The main hall has 750 seats. The small hall has 250 seats. The entertainment hall can hold up to 500 people. The center has 20 groups that perform amateur art.

Public Library

A public library opened in Mažeikiai in 1922. In 1975, it moved into a new three-story building. By 1976, it became the main library for the district. It had 21 smaller branches in villages and 2 in other towns.