Editing Blagoevgrad

{{Redirect|Scaptopara|its namesake in the South Shetland Islands|Skaptopara Cove}}
{{Expand Bulgarian|date=May 2023}}{{Infobox settlement <!--more fields are available for this Infobox--See Template:Infobox Settlement-->
| official_name      = Blagoevgrad
| image_skyline      = {{Photomontage|position=center
|photo1a = Blagoevgrad.Downtown.jpg
|photo2a = Благоевград - panoramio (25).jpg
|photo2b = Благоевград - panoramio (28).jpg
|photo3a = Благоевград - panoramio (26).jpg
|photo3b = The Presentation of Virgin Mary.jpg
|photo4a = Благоевград - panoramio (35).jpg
|photo4b = Struma Winter.jpg
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| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = [[Bulgaria]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces of Bulgaria|Province]]<br /><small>(Oblast)</small>
| subdivision_name1  = [[Blagoevgrad Province|Blagoevgrad]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Municipalities of Bulgaria|Municipality]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Blagoevgrad Municipality|Blagoevgrad]]
| timezone           = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
| utc_offset         = +2
| timezone_DST       = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
| utc_offset_DST     = +3
| map_caption        = Location of Blagoevgrad
| pushpin_map        = Bulgaria#Balkans <!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Blagoevgrad
| pushpin_mapsize    = 
| area_total_km2     = 28.909
| population_density_km2 = auto
| leader_title       = Mayor
| website            = [http://www.blgmun.com/?lang=en Official website]
| postal_code_type   = [[List of postal codes in Bulgaria|Postal Code]]
| image_map          = 
| image_shield       = Emblem of Blagoevgrad.svg
| native_name        = {{native name|bg|Благоевград|italics=off}}
| population_total   = 67810
| population_urban   = 74066
| population_footnotes = <ref name="nsi.bg">{{Cite web|url=https://nsi.bg/bg/content/2975/%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5-%D0%BF%D0%BE-%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8-%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%89%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B8-%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B5-%D0%B8-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB|title=Население по области, общини, местоживеене и пол &#124; Национален статистически институт|website=nsi.bg}}</ref>
| population_as_of   = Census February 2021
| elevation_m        = 410
| postal_code        = 2700
| area_code          = 073
| registration_plate_type = License plate
| registration_plate = E
| coordinates        = {{coord|42|00|43|N|23|05|23|E|region:BG|display=inline,title}}
| leader_name        = [[Metodi Baykushev]]
| blank_name         = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info         = [[Humid subtropical climate|Cfa]]|
| name               = 
| settlement_type    = [[List of cities and towns in Bulgaria|Town]]
| leader_party       = [[PP-DB]]
}}

'''Blagoevgrad''' ({{langx|bg|Благоевград}} {{IPA|bg|bɫɐˈɡɔɛvˌɡrat|}}) is [[List of cities and towns in Bulgaria|а town]] in Southwestern [[Bulgaria]], the administrative centre of [[Blagoevgrad Municipality]] and of [[Blagoevgrad Province]]. With a population of almost {{sigfig|68679|1}} inhabitants,<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.nsi.bg/bg/content/2975/%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5-%D0%BF%D0%BE-%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8-%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%89%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B8-%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B5-%D0%B8-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB| title = Население по области, общини, местоживеене и пол| access-date = 8 December 2020}}</ref> it is the economic and cultural centre of Southwestern Bulgaria. It is located in the valley of the [[Struma River]] at the foot of the [[Rila]] Mountains, {{convert|101|km|0|abbr=off}} south of [[Sofia]], close to the border with [[North Macedonia]].

Blagoevgrad features a pedestrian downtown, with preserved 19th-century architecture and numerous restaurants, cafés, coffee shops, and boutiques. It is home to two universities, the [[South-West University "Neofit Rilski"]] and the [[American University in Bulgaria]]. The town also hosts the "Sts. Cyril and Methodius National Humanitarian High School". The former [[Bulgarian Men's High School of Thessaloniki]] moved from [[Thessaloniki]] to Blagoevgrad (then Gorna Dzhumaya) in 1913.

==Name==
In Ottoman times the town was known as ''Yukarı Cuma'' in Turkish or ''Gorna Dzhumaya'' in Bulgarian (a partial translation of the Ottoman name). The name ''Gorna Dzhumaya'' (Горна Джума; "Upper Dzhumaya") distinguished the town from ''Dolna Dzhumaya'' (Долна Джумая; "Lower Dzhumaya", "''Cuma-i Zir''" in Turkish) to the south. The second is called today [[Irakleia, Serres|Irakleia]], and is in Greece.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}} The [[Aromanian language]] still uses this name to refer to the city, as it is known in the language as {{lang|rup|Giumaia di-Nsus}}. In comparison, Irakleia ("Lower Dzhumaya") is known as {{lang|rup|Giumaia di-Nghios}}.<ref>[https://repository.ukim.mk/bitstream/20.500.12188/6782/1/The_war_of_numbers_and_its_first_victim.pdf The War of Numbers and its First Victim: The Aromanians in Macedonia (End of 19th – Beginning of 20th century)]</ref>

The town was renamed ''Blagoevgrad'' in 1950, after the [[Bulgarian Workers' Social Democratic Party]] founder [[Dimitar Blagoev]], who was an immigrant from Ottoman Macedonia.

==History==
[[File:Scaptopara.jpg|thumb|left|Petition to [[Roman Emperor]] [[Gordian III]] from the inhabitants of ancient [[Scaptopara]]]]

=== Antiquity ===
A [[Hellenistic period|Hellenistic]] settlement called '''Scaptopara''' (''market town'' in [[Thracian]], ''Σκαπτοπάρα'' in [[Greek language|Greek]]) emerged on the site of ancient [[Thracians|Thracian]] settlement around 300 BC and was later incorporated into the [[Roman Empire]] with the rest of Thrace in 48 AD. The settlement was known for its [[hot springs]] supplying ''[[thermae]]''. During the [[Crisis of the Third Century]], the Scaptoparans wrote a petition to the emperor Gordian III, whose [[Latin]] and [[Koine Greek]] text is preserved in an inscription discovered there in 1868, and dated 238 AD.<ref>''[[Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum]]'', vol. III 12336=''AJ'' 139</ref><ref>IGR 1674</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Hoddinott|first=Ralph F.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0VsXAAAAIAAJ|title=Bulgaria in Antiquity: An Archaeological Introduction|date=1975|publisher=St. Martin's Press|isbn=9780510032814|pages=183|language=en}}</ref> The petition complained about the conduct of soldiers and visitors to the baths and that appeals to the governor of the province of [[Thracia|Thrace]] had failed; the emperor's [[Rescript|reply]], also inscribed, disclaimed responsibility and again referred the citizens to the governor for redress.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Hoyos|first=Dexter|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wTqEDwAAQBAJ|title=Rome Victorious: The Irresistible Rise of the Roman Empire|date=2018-12-27|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn=978-1-78673-539-3|pages=157|language=en}}</ref> The inscription has since been lost.<ref name=":1" /> Subsequently, the area was part of the eastern half of the [[Late antiquity|late antique]] Roman Empire which later became known as the [[Byzantine Empire]].

=== Ottoman Empire ===
Although the history of the settlement in the [[Middle Ages]] is unknown,{{Citation needed|date=March 2020}} during the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] rule of the Balkans it became a [[Islam|Muslim]]-majority town called ''Cuma-ı Bala'', meaning ''Upper Juma'' in [[Persian language|Persian]] and [[Ottoman Turkish language|Ottoman Turkish]].

In the middle of the 17th century, the Ottoman traveller [[Evliya Çelebi]] passed by here and wrote that the town of Orta Jumaa had 200 tiled houses, a large mosque with many worshippers and 80 [[souks]] and many mineral springs.<ref>[[Evliya Çelebi]]. "Travelogue", Sofia, 1972, p. 28</ref>

A Bulgarian quarter called ''Varosha'' was formed during the [[Bulgarian National Revival]], with many of its typical houses and the [[Church (building)|Church]] of the Presentation of the Mother of God from 1844 being preserved to this day. In the 1830s, the French geologist [[Ami Boué]] passed by here and described Dzhumaya as a town of 3,000 to 4,000 inhabitants, where a hereditary voivode lived. The mosques prove that there were many Turks and Pomaks along with the Bulgarians. The streets are paved and very irregular. According to him, the Bulgarians call the town Shuma (from "shuma" - forest).<ref><nowiki>''</nowiki>French travelogues of the Balkans, 19th century". Sofia, ''Наука и изкуство'', 1981, p. 348</ref> [[Victor Grigorovich]] visited the town in 1845.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ДОКУМЕНТЫ->БОЛГАРИЯ->ВИКТОР ГРИГОРОВИЧ->ОЧЕРК ПУТЕШЕСТВИЯ ПО ЕВРОПЕЙСКОЙ ТУРЦИИ->ЧАСТЬ 4 |url=https://www.vostlit.info/Texts/Dokumenty/Bulgarien/XIX/1840-1860/Grigorovic/text4.phtml?id=2235 |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www.vostlit.info}}</ref> A ''[[chitalishte]]'' was founded in 1866. Bulgarian scholar Georgi Strezov visited the town in 1891. According to him, there were 1200 houses.<ref>[https://www.strumski.com/books/Georgi_Strezov_za_Iztochna_Makedonia.pdf Два санджака отъ Источна Македония, pp. 18-19]</ref>

=== First half of 20th century ===
In 1900, according to [[Vasil Kanchov]] the population of the town numbered 6440 people, of whom 1250 were Bulgarians, 4500 Turks, 250 Vlachs, 200 Roma, 180 Jews and 60 Greeks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.promacedonia.org/vk/vk_2_19.htm|title=Makedonija. Etnografija i statistika - 2.19|website=www.promacedonia.org}}</ref> During that time most of the Turks lived in the town and the Bulgarians lived in the surrounding villages. Many [[Macedonian Bulgarians|refugees]] from [[Macedonia (Greece)|Greek]] and [[Vardar Macedonia]] arrived in the town in the subsequent decades.

The [[Balkan Wars]] of 1912-1913 saw the annexation of the area Ottoman rule and its integration in the Bulgarian state in the [[Treaty of Constantinople (1913)|Treaty of Constantinople]]. Before the Balkan Wars, Cuma-ı Bala was bounded as [[township|''kaza'']] to [[Serres, Greece|Serez]] ''[[Sanjak|sandjak]]'' in [[Thessaloniki|Selanik]] ''[[vilayet]]''.

On October 5, 1912, Gorna Dzhumaya was seized by the Bulgarian army. After the [[Second Balkan War]] War in 1913, the Turkish population was largely displaced, and large masses of Bulgarian refugees from Aegean and [[Vardar Macedonia]] settled in the town. According to Dimitar Gadzhanov, in 1916 Gorna Dzhumaya numbered about 7,000 people, of whom only 30 were Turkish families, 100 families of wealthy [[Aromanians]] and a few Jews and Gypsies.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Научна експедиция в Македония и Поморавието, 1916 - Димитър Гаджанов |url=http://www.promacedonia.org/bg_1916/bg_1916_2_13.htm#a2 |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=www.promacedonia.org}}</ref>
[[File:Gorna Dzhumaya (Balgoevgrad) Panorama 1940 (Cropped, Retouched).jpg|left|thumb|Gorna Dzhumaya in 1940]]
In March 1943, during [[World War II]], the Bulgarian Commissariat for Jewish Affairs (KEV) established at Gorna Dzhumaya (modern Blagoevgrad) a transit camp for Jews deported from Bulgaria during [[the Holocaust]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last1=Megargee|first1=Geoffrey P.|url=https://muse.jhu.edu/book/58327|title=The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos, 1933–1945, vol. III: Camps and Ghettos under European Regimes Aligned with Nazi Germany|last2=White|first2=Joseph R.|publisher=Indiana University Press|year=2018|isbn=978-0-253-02386-5|pages=19|language=en}}</ref> The Jews had been arrested in the new "Belomora Oblast" in Bulgarian-occupied [[Kingdom of Greece|Greece]] and Bulgarian-annexed [[Pirot]] in [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]]. The camp consisted of a tobacco warehouse and some school buildings, under the command of KEV official Ivan Tepavski, where inmates were imprisoned and malnourished for 11–12 days before being taken to [[Lom, Bulgaria|Lom]], embarked for [[Vienna]], and finally exterminated at [[Treblinka extermination camp|Treblinka]].<ref name=":0" />

== Geography ==
Blagoevgrad is situated in the valley of the [[Struma (river)|Struma]] and the smaller [[Blagoevgradska Bistritsa]] flows through it. It is nestled at 360 m above sea level in the Blagoevgrad valley between the [[Rila]] and [[Vlahina]] mountains and is in close proximity to [[Pirin|Pirin Mountain]]. Blagoevgrad is 102&nbsp;km from the capital [[Sofia]], 237&nbsp;km from [[Plovdiv]], 545&nbsp;km from [[Varna, Bulgaria|Varna]] and 476&nbsp;km from [[Burgas]].
{{Multiple image
| image1            = Blagoevgrad panorama.jpg
| image2            = Blgizgled.jpg
| align             = center
| total_width       = 700
}}


Blagoevgrad has a hot-summer [[continental climate]] with influences of a [[mediterranean climate]] due to warm air masses coming from the Sandanski-Petrich valley. The town is protected from cold northerly winds due to the natural barrier of the [[Rila]] and [[Pirin]] mountains. Mountain breeze descends from Rila along the river [[Blagoevgradska Bistritsa]] bringing cool air during hot summer days. Wind is moderate - 1.6 metres per second. Thanks to the many mountain forests around the town and the lack of industrial pollution, the air is clean in Blagoevgrad. Winter is mild, brief and marked by little to no snowfall. The average temperature in January is {{convert|1.6|°C|0|abbr=on}}. Summers are long and dry, with a small amount of rainfall. The average July and August temperature is {{convert|24|°C|0|abbr=on}} and the maximum temperature measured in Blagoevgrad is {{convert|44.6|°C|0|abbr=on}}, while the record low temperature measured is {{convert|-17.4|°C|0|abbr=on}} The average annual temperature is around {{convert|13.2|°C|0|abbr=on}}.{{Weather box
| width = auto
| single line = yes
| metric first = yes
| location = Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria (2002-2012)
| Jan high C = 6.7
| Feb high C = 8.9
| Mar high C = 14.0
| Apr high C = 20.0
| May high C = 24.6
| Jun high C = 28.5
| Jul high C = 31.6
| Aug high C = 31.9
| Sep high C = 27.0
| Oct high C = 20.6
| Nov high C = 13.7
| Dec high C = 8.0
| year high C = 19.6
| Jan mean C = 1.5
| Feb mean C = 2.8
| Mar mean C = 7.8
| Apr mean C = 13.1
| May mean C = 18.1
| Jun mean C = 21.7
| Jul mean C = 24.7
| Aug mean C = 24.5
| Sep mean C = 20.0
| Oct mean C = 14.1
| Nov mean C = 8.7
| Dec mean C = 3.0
| year mean C = 13.5
| Jan low C = −2.8
| Feb low C = −2.3
| Mar low C = 1.6
| Apr low C = 6.4
| May low C = 11.2
| Jun low C = 14.3
| Jul low C = 16.5
| Aug low C = 16.3
| Sep low C = 12.5
| Oct low C = 7.6
| Nov low C = 3.7
| Dec low C = -1.1
| year low C = 7.5
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 42
| Feb precipitation mm = 37
| Mar precipitation mm = 35
| Apr precipitation mm = 50
| May precipitation mm = 58
| Jun precipitation mm = 67
| Jul precipitation mm = 42
| Aug precipitation mm = 31
| Sep precipitation mm = 35
| Oct precipitation mm = 50
| Nov precipitation mm = 63
| Dec precipitation mm = 49
| year precipitation mm = 560
| Jan snow days = 7
| Feb snow days = 5
| Mar snow days = 2
| Apr snow days = 0
| May snow days = 0
| Jun snow days = 0
| Jul snow days = 0
| Aug snow days = 0
| Sep snow days = 0
| Oct snow days = 0
| Nov snow days = 0
| Dec snow days = 3
| Jan sun = 90
| Feb sun = 122
| Mar sun = 173
| Apr sun = 229
| May sun = 276
| Jun sun = 319
| Jul sun = 328
| Aug sun = 322
| Sep sun = 228
| Oct sun = 166
| Nov sun = 111
| Dec sun = 71
| year sun = 2435
| source 1 = Stringmeteo.com<ref name="climate">[http://www.stringmeteo.com/synop/bg_climate.php?pr=&n=1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301010604/http://www.stringmeteo.com/synop/bg_climate.php?pr=&n=1 |date=2012-03-01 }}, Stringmeteo.com Retrieved February 24, 2012.</ref>
| date = February 2012
| source = 
}}

== Economy and infrastructure ==

=== Economy ===
Because of the large number of students (partly due to the South-West University and the American University in the town), its cross-road location, nature and number of social factors, the town has a relatively well developed economy. There are many clothing stores, cafés, and restaurants. The district has the sixth largest economy in Bulgaria, for its share of the GDP, after the more industrial districts of Sofia City, Varna, Sofia District, Plovdiv, and Burgas. The number of people registered as unemployed is slightly below 10%, less than the average for the country.

Industries of interest:

# Food and tobacco processing industries - Animal products, fruit, vegetables, tobacco, and liquor production. High export potential.
# Textile industry - Foreign investors have helped the development of many firms that produce ready-made clothing.
# Timber and furniture industries - The easy access to local resources makes gives that branch perspectives for development. There are open foreign markets for furniture. Increasing interest of foreign investors.
# Iron processing and machinery industry - Firms specialize mainly in production of metal constructions and details. Radio-electronic equipment and other electronic communication components are being produced.
# Construction materials industry - The terrain characteristics are suitable for the extraction of certain minerals, used in construction. Marble is extracted at numerous locations in [[Sandanski Municipality|Sandanski municipality]], [[Koprivlen]], [[Petrich]], [[Strumyani]].
# Education - The town is also a huge student center thanks to [[American University in Bulgaria|AUBG]] and [[South-West University "Neofit Rilski"|SWU]] "Neofit Rilski".<ref>{{Cite web |title=VISIT BLAGOEVGRAD - Хотели, Квартири, Ресторанти, Магазини в гр. Благоевград - Университети |url=http://visitblagoevgrad.com/universities.aspx |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=visitblagoevgrad.com}}</ref>
# Other - Tourism, pharmaceuticals, plastics, paper, shoes.

==== Real Estate ====
The town is very attractive to investors, both foreign and native. It is no coincidence that Blagoevgrad is the third largest town by number of building permits. Blagoevgrad is growing and the small bordering villages of Elenovo and Strumsko are now considered part of it. Recently there was a major overhaul of the town park and a new bridge was built.

==== Industries ====
Currently the town has seven [[hypermarket]]s: [[Metro Cash and Carry|Metro]], [[Technopolis (retail chain)|Technopolis]], [[Technomarket Europe]], [[Mr. Bricolage]], [[Billa (supermarket)|Billa]], [[Kaufland]], and [[Lidl]].

Since 2015, the largest shopping mall in Southwest Bulgaria - "Largo" - has been operating in the city.

=== Transport ===
The town is situated on the European road [[European route E79|E-79]] and the Republican road I-1. Blagoevgrad is 31&nbsp;km away from North Macedonia, 83&nbsp;km away from Greece, 88&nbsp;km away from Serbia. The distance to Sofia is 96&nbsp;km, to Plovdiv it is 193&nbsp;km and to Skopje (the capital of North Macedonia) - 183&nbsp;km. The town is a main crossroad for tourists who want to visit the mountains and their ski resorts such as Bansko, Dobrinishte, Sandanski.

=== Media ===
In Blagoevgrad is located one of the four regional centers of BNT - RTVC Blagoevgrad, broadcasting its own production since 1975 and its Channel Pirin, distributed over the air throughout Southwestern Bulgaria. Here is also the headquarters of the regional channel OKO, which is distributed by cable in the settlements of Blagoevgrad region. There are 2 cable TV channels Telecom Group and Pirin TV.

Of the radio stations of regional importance, Radio Blagoevgrad, a division of BNR, stands out, which for 35 years has been on the air from Sofia to Kulata, Eastern North Macedonia and Northern Greece. The private radio networks Focus Pirin and Darik Blagoevgrad also have their own local programmes. The Blagoevgrad student radio Aura, the regional Ultra and Vega Plus, as well as numerous radios with national coverage complement the airwaves of Blagoevgrad.

Two daily newspapers are published in Blagoevgrad - "Struma" and "Vyara", distributed throughout Southwest Bulgaria. In addition, "Pirin Trud" and "Local 24 Hours" are published and distributed in the city and the region.

==Population==
According to the 2021 census, Blagoevgrad has population of 67,810 people.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nsi.bg/bg/content/2981/%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5-%D0%BF%D0%BE-%D0%B3%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B5-%D0%B8-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB|title=Население по градове и пол &#124; Национален статистически институт|website=nsi.bg}}</ref>{{historical populations|5=1920|6=7009|7=1934|8=9977|9=1946|10=14200|11=1956|12=21833|13=1965|14=32680|15=1975|16=50023|17=1985|18=64882|19=1992|20=71476|21=2001|22=71144|23=2011|24=70881|align=right|cols=1|source=<ref name="BAN">{{cite web |url=http://www.geography.iit.bas.bg/2009/1-09/13-17.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-02-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706142758/http://www.geography.iit.bas.bg/2009/1-09/13-17.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-06 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Cities of Bulgaria|url=http://pop-stat.mashke.org/bulgaria-cities.htm}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=POPULATION BY STATISTICAL REGIONS, DISTRICS, MUNICIPALITIES, SETTLEMENTS, SEX AND AGE (2021 Census)|url=https://infostat.nsi.bg/infostat/pages/reports/query.jsf?x_2=1962|publisher=[[National Statistical Institute (Bulgaria)|National Statistical Institute]]}}</ref>|25=2021|26=62534}}

===Ethnic linguistic and religious composition===
According to the 2011 census, the individuals declared their ethnic identity were distributed as follows:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nsi.bg/ORPDOCS/Census2011_1.pop_by_age.xls|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908134107/http://www.nsi.bg/ORPDOCS/Census2011_1.pop_by_age.xls|url-status=dead|title=НАСЕЛЕНИЕ КЪМ 01.02.2011 Г. ПО ОБЛАСТИ, ОБЩИНИ, НАСЕЛЕНИ МЕСТА И ВЪЗРАСТ|archivedate=September 8, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nsi.bg/ORPDOCS/Census2011_4.pop_by_ethnos.xls|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521202356/http://www.nsi.bg/ORPDOCS/Census2011_4.pop_by_ethnos.xls|url-status=dead|title=НАСЕЛЕНИЕ ПО ОБЛАСТИ, ОБЩИНИ, НАСЕЛЕНИ МЕСТА И САМООПРЕДЕЛЕНИЕ ПО ЕТНИЧЕСКА ПРИНАДЛЕЖНОСТ КЪМ 1.02.2011 ГОДИНА|archivedate=May 21, 2013}}</ref>

*[[Bulgarians]]: 62,674 (95.6%)
*[[Roma in Bulgaria|Romani]]: 1,813 (2.8%)
*[[Turks in Bulgaria|Turks]]: 123 (0.2%)
*Others: 684 (1.0%)
*Indefinable: 271 (0.4%)
**Undeclared: 5,316 (7.5%)

Total: 70,881.

Today, Blagoevgrad is one of the few places in Bulgaria where members of the small [[Aromanians|Aromanian]] minority of the country still live.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.revistadesociologie.ro/pdf-uri/nr.3-4-2014/05-MConstantin.pdf|title=The ethno-cultural belongingness of Aromanians, Vlachs, Catholics, and Lipovans/Old Believers in Romania and Bulgaria (1990–2012)|first=Marin|last=Constantin|journal=Revista Română de Sociologie|volume=25|issue=3–4|year=2014|page=268|quote=Aromanians in Bulgaria are situated in Western Rhodopes, in the areas of Blagoevgrad, Pazardzhik, Plovdiv, and Sofia (Anton, Blagoevgrad, Dorkovo, Doupnitsa, Peshtera, Rakitovo, Samokov, Sofia, Stara Planina, and Velingrad).}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/IJSL.2006.029/pdf|title=The Aromânians: an ethnos and language with a 2000-year history|first=Nikolai|last=Kyurkchiev|journal=[[International Journal of the Sociology of Language]]|issue=179|year=2006|volume=2006|doi=10.1515/IJSL.2006.029|page=127|s2cid=144939846|quote=They live in the following regions and population centres: Mount Rila: the cities of Blagoevgrad and Doupnitsa; the Rhodopi Mountains: the village of Dorkovo and the towns of Velingrad, Rakitovo, Peshtera and Bratsigovo; the Balkan Range: the village of Anton and the town of Pirdop. There is an Aromânian colony in Sofia, and individual families in Plovdiv and Pazardjik.|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

The [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Eastern Orthodox]] population of the town in the 19th-20th centuries was traditionally part of the Diocese of [[Nevrokop]] (since 1894 part of the Bulgarian Exarchate). After the division of the diocese between Bulgaria and Greece in 1913, from 1921 to 1928 Gorna Dzhumaya was its centre. From 1928 to 1941 and from 1945 to 1951, the seat of the diocese was temporarily in Nevrokop, and in 1951 it was finally moved to Blagoevgrad.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Неврокопска епархия - СВЕТИ МЕСТА |url=http://svetimesta.com/%D0%9D%D0%B5%D0%B2%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BF%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B0 |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=svetimesta.com}}</ref> The head of the diocese from 1994 to 2013 was Metropolitan Nathanael.

===Sports===
Generally, sports are well developed, but the town's traditionally strong sports, handball and basketball, have been in financial crisis and without representation in the national leagues in years past (only supporting children and youth ensembles).

The crisis in basketball and handball provides others with the opportunity to pick up pace. Taekwon-Do, in the form of "Falcon" club has given Blagoevgrad and Bulgaria multiple European and World Championship medals, including a European Championship in 2004 (Todor Kozladerov).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.falcontaekwon-do.com|title=Таекуон-До клуб "Фолкън" Благоевград|website=www.falcontaekwon-do.com|access-date=2018-03-19}}</ref> Baseball is a little-known sport in Bulgaria but it thrives in Blagoevgrad. The local team's name is the "Buffaloes" and its manager is Yassen Nedelchev, who also serves as the Bulgarian Baseball Federation's president. In 2010, the "Blagoevgrad Buffaloes" won their 17th National title (in 18 attempts).

The town has two multi-purpose sports halls, the second was opened in 2007, it has a capacity of over 1000 seats and meets all requirements of the International Federation of handball, basketball and volleyball, a game area may be used for competitions Rhythmic gymnastics and martial arts. The town has three well-maintained complexes for tennis, a football stadium, six small playgrounds for football, an Olympic size swimming pool, a go-cart track and one of the best games of baseball in the Balkans. In 2008 construction began on a new sports complex at the [[South-West University "Neofit Rilski"]] for the needs of its students.

Despite the well-developed infrastructure for the sports facilities, Blagoevgrad citizens often use the public space of Bachinovo park in order to jog, commit to sports activities, such as football, rugby, and frisbee and develop the community sports environment, typical for post-Soviet culture of Bulgaria.

The new facility of [[American University in Bulgaria|AUBG]], the ABF center serves as occasional facilitator of the national volleyball training and competitions.

===Football===
[[File:Mitko Berbatov cropped.jpg|thumb|Footballer [[Dimitar Berbatov]] is from Blagoevgrad]]
Blagoevgrad has given Bulgaria and world football talents such as [[Dimitar Berbatov]] and regularly feeds the wealthy football clubs. Local team investment is lacking.

At present in Blagoevgrad there are four active male clubs, three of which bear the name "Pirin". The "A" group is PFC [[Pirin Blagoevgrad]]. Pirin Authentic, then discard it in "B" group in 2005 due to obligations to Social Security, was usurped by a group of businessmen D15, and then failed to return to professional football during the 2008/09 season and will play in the Western B Group . Pirin 2001 - the team owned by former international Ivaylo Andonov, competed in the Southwestern 'B' group. In the championship of the Blagoevgrad District League (zone "Bistritsa") features one Blagoevgrad football team - FC Athletic.

Women's football is represented by the football club [[FC Sportika Blagoevgrad|Sportika]] - a participant in the [[Bulgarian women's football championship|National Championship for Women]]

===Arts and Culture===
Francofolies
Blagoevgrad is the host of the most important francophone music festival "Francofolies", which takes place annually in only few other locations: La Rochelle, France; Montreal, Canada, Spa, Belgium.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://francofoliesbg.com/|title=franco folies|website=francofoliesbg.com |access-date=3 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222000534/http://francofoliesbg.com/ |archive-date=22 February 2016 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> The festival has attracted some big names, including French pop singers Patrick Bruel, Patricia Kaas, Zaz, rapper Fefe, and the groups Nouvelle Vague and Gypsy Kings.

Bansko International Jazz Festival
Blagoevgrad is also one hour away from the prestigious Bansko Jazz Festival.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.banskojazzfest.com/en|title=International Jazz Festival Bansko - Home|website=www.banskojazzfest.com|language=en-gb|access-date=2018-03-19}}</ref> which takes place every year in August. Former participants of Bansko Jazz Fest include Jamie Davis, Joss Stone, and Vasil Petrov.

Bulgarian National Radio Awards
Blagoevgrad was also chosen by the BNR to host its annual awards show, which brought to the city Bulgaria's greatest musical talents.
The recently inaugurated Art Salon of Radio Blagoevgrad is the host of monthly art shows, book opening presentations and exhibits.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bnr.bg/blagoevgrad|title=Благоевград|website=bnr.bg|language=bg|access-date=2018-03-19}}</ref>

===Universities===
* [[South-West University "Neofit Rilski"]]
* [[American University in Bulgaria]]

==International relations==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Bulgaria}}

===Twin towns – sister cities===
Blagoevgrad is [[Town twinning|twinned]] with:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.namrb.org/filesystem.php?id=12.xls|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081215162211/http://www.namrb.org/filesystem.php?id=12.xls|title=spissak-pobratimenigradove|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-12-15|date=2008-12-15|access-date=2018-03-19}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Auburn, Alabama|Auburn, AL]], United States
*{{flagicon|CRO}} [[Čakovec]], Croatia
*{{flagicon|NMK}} [[Prilep]], North Macedonia
*{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Serres]], Greece
*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Akademgorodok]], Russia
*{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Lund]], Sweden
*{{flagicon|HUN}} [[Székesfehérvár]], Hungary<ref name="Székesfehérvár twinning">{{cite web|url=http://onkormanyzat.szekesfehervar.hu/index.php?pg=page_49881|title=Partnervárosok Névsora Partner és Testvérvárosok Névsora|access-date=2013-08-05|last=Bozsoki|first=Agnes|work=City of Székesfehérvár|language=hu|trans-title=Partner and Twin Cities List|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121208035612/http://onkormanyzat.szekesfehervar.hu/index.php?pg=page_49881|archive-date=2012-12-08}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|GEO}} [[Batumi]], Georgia
*{{flagicon|SVK}} [[Žilina]], Slovakia<ref name="Žilina">{{cite web|url=http://www.zilina.sk/mesto-zilina-o-meste-partnerske-mesta|title=''Žilina - oficiálne stránky mesta: Partnerské mestá Žiliny [Žilina: Official Partner Cities]''|publisher=[[copyright|©]] 2008 MaM Multimedia, s.r.o..|access-date=2008-12-11|archive-date=2017-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924155802/http://www.zilina.sk/mesto-zilina-o-meste-partnerske-mesta|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|}

== Main Sights ==

* Old Town, the Varosha Quarter
* Drama Theatre "N. Vaptsarov"
* Blagoevgrad History Museum
* Blagoevgrad Opera House

[[File:Bachinovo's Lake.jpg|thumb]]

* Historic House Museum "Georgi Izmirliev"
* Park "Bachinovo"
* Park "Skaptopara"
* Aqua park Blagoevgrad
* Blagoevgrad zoo
* Cross site

[[File:The Cross at Blagoevgrad's Top Hill. .jpg|thumb]]

* Todor Alexandrov Street
* Attractions in the surrounding area include the resort [[Bodrost]].

==Honours==
[[Blagoevgrad Peninsula]] in [[Graham Land]], [[Antarctica]] is named after the city,<ref>[https://data.aad.gov.au/aadc/gaz/scar/display_name.cfm?gaz_id=137487 Blagoevgrad Peninsula.] [[Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research|SCAR]] [[Composite Antarctic Gazetteer]].</ref> and [[Skaptopara Cove]] in [[Greenwich Island]] in the [[South Shetland Islands]], [[Antarctica]] is named after its ancient ancestor Skaptopara.<ref>[https://data.aad.gov.au/aadc/gaz/scar/display_name.cfm?gaz_id=134650 Skaptopara Cove.] [[Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research|SCAR]] [[Composite Antarctic Gazetteer]].</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Blagoevgrad}}
* [http://www.blgmun.com Blagoevgrad Municipality website]
* [http://www.Blagoevgrad.eu - Новини от Благоевград ]

{{Cities of Bulgaria}}
{{Blagoevgrad Municipality}}

{{Authority control|state=expanded}}

[[Category:Blagoevgrad| ]]
[[Category:Spa towns in Bulgaria]]
[[Category:Aromanian settlements in Bulgaria]]