Coordinates	37°43′49″N88°55′49″N
{{infobox settlement|- bgcolor	"#BBDDFF"
Name	Subotica
Native name	СуботицаSzabadka
Image shield	Grb subotice.jpg
Map caption	Location of Subotica within Serbia
Coordinates display	inline,title
Coordinates region	RS
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name
Subdivision type1	Province
Subdivision name1
Subdivision type2	District
Subdivision name2	North Bačka
Subdivision type3	Settlements
Subdivision name3	19
Leader title	Mayor
Leader name	Saša Vučinić (DS)
Area land km2	1,008
Area land sq mi	389.2
Population as of	2002
Population total	148,401
Population urban	99,981
Timezone	CET
Utc offset	+1
Timezone dst	CEST
Utc offset dst	+2
Postal code type	Postal code
Postal code	24000
Area code	(+381) 24
Website	www.subotica.rs
Blank name	Car plates
Blank info	SU }}

Subotica (Serbian Cyrillic: Суботица, , , Hungarian: ''Szabadka'', Bunjevac: ''Subotica'', Croatian: ''Subotica'') is a city and municipality in northern Serbia, in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. It is located at 46.07° North, 19.68° East, about 10 km from the border with Hungary.

Formerly the largest city of Vojvodina region, contemporary Subotica is now the second largest city in the province, following Novi Sad. It is also the fifth largest city in Serbia (discounting Kosovo) after Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš, and Kragujevac. It is a multiethnic city, with Hungarians (34.99%), Serbs (27.85%), Bunjevci (10.87%) and Croats (10.43%) as largest ethnic groups. The city's population numbers 99,981 (according to the 2002 census). Linguistically the city has a South Slavic-speaking majority as Serbs, Croats, Bunjevci and Yugoslavs collectively compose 55.94% of the population. The municipality of Subotica numbers 148,401 people. It is the administrative centre of the North Bačka District.

Name

There have been almost two hundred different forms of the name of this city in history. This is because the city has welcomed so many different peoples since the Middle Ages. They all wrote about it, naming it in their own languages, which, for some, did not fix their spelling until modern times. The earliest known written name of the city was ''Zabadka'' or ''Zabatka'', which dates from 1391. This is a variant of the current Hungarian name for the city: ''Szabadka''. The Hungarian name for the city derives from the adjective ''szabad'' meaning "free", and the suffix ''-ka'', an affectionate diminutive. Subotica's earliest designation means, therefore, something like a "small" or "dear", "free place". According to other opinion, medieval name ''Zabatka'' could derive from South Slavic word "zabat", which describe parts of Pannonian Slavic houses.

The name ''Subotica'' derives from the Serbian / Bunjevac word for "Saturday" or "Sabbath" and first appeared in 1653. The Serbian / Bunjevac word for "Saturday" is ''subota'' (субота), thus the name ''Subotica'' means "a little Saturday". Another theory claims that city was named after Subota Vrlić, who was a palatine and treasurer of a Emperor Jovan Nenad, which ruled from this city in the 16th century. An older Serbian name used for the city in the 16th century was ''Sabatka'', while Ottoman Turkish name was ''Sobotka''.

The town was renamed in the 1740s for Maria Theresa of Austria, Archduchess of Austria and Queen of Bohemia and Hungary. The town was officially called ''Sent-Maria'' in 1743, but was renamed in 1779 as ''Maria-Theresiapolis''. These two official names were also spelled in several different ways (most commonly the German ''Maria-Theresiopel'' or ''Theresiopel''), and were used in different languages. This name was abandoned in 1811 (with the Danube Swabians now referring to it mostly as ''Subotica'', and pronouncing it ''Suboditsa''). However a late-19th Century Imperial Land Survey map of the area (Reymann 1:75000 #5563) still shows it as Maria-Theresiopel.

The city's name in the other three official languages of Vojvodina are the same as the official name - Slovak: ''Subotica'', Rusyn: Суботица, Romanian: ''Subotica'' or ''Subotiţa''.

History

Prehistory

A Neolithic Tiszapolgár-Bodrogkeresztúr culture necropolis was found in Subotica.

The Middle Ages

Subotica probably first became a settlement of note when people poured into it from nearby villages destroyed during the Tatar invasions of 1241-1242. When ''Zabadka'' / ''Zabatka'' was first recorded in 1391, it was a tiny town in the medieval Kingdom of Hungary. Later, the city belonged to the Hunyadis, one of the most influential aristocratic families in the whole of Central Europe. King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary gave the town to one of his relatives, János Pongrác Dengelegi, who, fearing an invasion by the Ottoman Empire fortified the castle of Subotica, erecting a fortress in 1470. Some decades later, after the Battle of Mohács in 1526, the medieval Kingdom of Hungary collapsed and Subotica gradually became a town of the Ottoman Empire. The majority of the Hungarian population fled northward to Royal Hungary. Bálint Török, a local noble who had ruled over Subotica, also escaped from the city.

In the extremely confused military and political situation following the defeat at Mohács, Subotica came under the control of Serbian mercenaries recruited in Banat. These soldiers were in the service of the Transylvanian general John I Zápolya, a later Hungarian king. The leader of these mercenaries, Jovan Nenad the Black, proclaimed himself tsar and founded an ephemeral independent state, with Subotica as its capital. This state comprised entire Bačka, northern Banat and a small part of Srem. When Bálint Török returned with 300 soldier and captured Subotica from the Serbs, Jovan Nenad moved his capital to Szeged. Some months later, in the summer of 1527, the self-proclaimed tsar was assassinated and his state collapsed.

Ottoman administration

The Ottoman Empire ruled the city from 1542 to 1686. At the end of this almost 150 year long period, not much remained of the old town of ''Zabadka'' / ''Zabatka''. Because much of the population had fled, the Ottomans encouraged the settlement of the area by different colonists from the Balkans. The settlers were mostly Orthodox Serbs. They cultivated the extremely fertile land around Subotica. In 1570, the population of Subotica numbered 49 houses, and in 1590, 63 houses. In 1687, the region was settled by Catholic ''Dalmatas'' (called Bunjevci today). It was called "Sobotka" during Ottoman rule and was a kaza centre in Segedin sanjak at first in Budin Eyaleti till 1596, and after that in Eğri Eyaleti between 1596-1686.

Habsburg administration

In 1687, about 5,000 Bunjevci, led by Dujo Marković and Đuro Vidaković settled in Bačka (including Subotica). After the decisive battle against the Ottomans at Senta (Zenta) led by Prince Eugene of Savoy on 11 September 1697, Subotica became part of the military border zone Theiss-Mieresch established by the Habsburg Monarchy. In the meantime the uprising of Francis II Rákóczi broke out, which is also known as the Kuruc War. In the region of Subotica, Rákóczi joined battle against the ''Rac National Militia''. ''Rác'' was a designation for the South Slavic people (mostly Serbs and Bunjevci) and they often were referred to as ''rácok'' in the Kingdom of Hungary. In a later period ''rácok'' came to mean, above all, Serbs of Orthodox religion.

The Serbian military families enjoyed several privileges thanks to their service for the Habsburg Monarchy. Subotica gradually, however, developed from being a mere garrison town to becoming a market town with its own civil charter in 1743. When this happened, many Serbs complained about the loss of their privileges. The majority left the town in protest and some of them founded a new settlement just outside 18th century Subotica in Aleksandrovo, while others emigrated to Russia. In New Serbia, a new Russian province established for them, those Serbs founded a new settlement and also named it ''Subotica''. In 1775 a Jewish community in Subotica was established.

It was perhaps to emphasise the new civic serenity of Subotica that the pious name ''Saint Mary'' came to be used for it at this time. Some decades later, in 1779, Empress Maria Theresa of Austria advanced the town's status further by proclaiming it a Free Royal Town. The enthusiastic inhabitants of the city renamed Subotica once more as ''Maria-Theresiopolis''.

This Free Royal Town status gave a great impetus to the development of the city. During the 19th century its population doubled twice, attracting many people from all over the Habsburg Monarchy. This led eventually to a considerable demographic change. In the first half of the 19th century, the Bunjevci had still been in the majority, but there was an increasing number of Hungarians and Jews settling in Subotica. This process was not stopped even by the outbreak of the Revolutions in the Habsburg Monarchy in 1848/49.

1848/1849 Revolutions

It is remarkable that despite the diversity of their ethnic origins, the citizens of Subotica (mainly Bunjevci and Hungarians) united in defending Subotica in the battle at Kaponya, March 5, 1849. They repulsed the advancing Serbian troops from Sombor in the direction to Szeged. The town's first newspaper was also a result of the 1848/49 revolutionary spirit. It was called ''Honunk állapota'' ("State of Our Homeland") and was published in Hungarian by Károly Bitterman's local printing company. Unlike most Serbs and Croats who confronted with Hungarians, local Bunjevci people mostly supported Hungarian revolution.

In 1849, following the suppression of the Hungarian Revolution, Subotica, together with most of the Bačka region, was separated from the Habsburg Kingdom of Hungary and became a part of a separate Austrian province, named Voivodeship of Serbia and Banat of Temeschwar. The administrative centre of this new province was not Subotica, but Timişoara. This province existed until 1860. During the existence of the voivodeship, in 1853, Subotica acquired its impressive theatre.

Austro-Hungarian administration

After the establishment of the Dual-Monarchy in 1867, there followed what is often called the "golden age" of city development of Subotica. Many schools were opened after 1867 and in 1869 the railway connected the city to the world. In 1896 an electrical power plant was built, further enhancing the development of the city and the whole region. Subotica now adorned itself with its remarkable Central European, fin de siècle architecture. In 1902 a Jewish synagogue was built in the Art Nouveau style.

South Slavic states

Subotica was part of the Austria-Hungary until the aftermath of World War I in 1918, when the city became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. In changed economical and political circumstances, Subotica was now a border-town in Yugoslavia and did not, for a time, experienced again the dynamic prosperity it enjoyed in the years preceding World War I. However, at that time, Subotica was the third largest city in Yugoslavia by population, following Belgrade and Zagreb.

In 1941, Yugoslavia was invaded and partitioned by the Axis Powers, and its northern parts, including Subotica, were annexed by Hungary (This partition of Yugoslavia was not recognized by the international community and city was, from the legal point of view, still part of Yugoslavia, whose only legal representative was Yugoslav government in exile). Hungarian troops entered Subotica on April 11, 1941. During World War II the city lost approximately 7,000 of its citizens, mostly Serbs, Hungarians and Jews. Before the war about 6,000 Jews lived in Subotica. Many Jews were deported from the city during the Holocaust, mostly to Auschwitz. In April 1944 a ghetto was set up. Also, many communists were put to death during Axis rule. In 1944, the Axis forces left city, and Subotica became part of the new socialist Yugoslavia. During the 1944-45 period about 8,000 citizens (mainly Hungarian) were killed by Yugoslav partisans.

In the post-war period Subotica has gradually modernised itself. During the Yugoslav and Kosovo wars of the 1990s, a considerable number of Serb refugees came to the city from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo, whilst many ethnic Hungarians and Croats left the country because of the political pressures of the Milošević period and economical stagnation (Some of the ethnic Serb residents also left the country because of the same reasons). During the break-up of Yugoslavia, local leaders in Subotica were drawn from political parties opposed to the policy of the state government in Belgrade.

Towns and villages

The Subotica municipality comprises the Subotica city, the town of Palić and 17 villages. The villages are:

Bajmok

Bački Vinogradi () Bačko Dušanovo ()

Bikovo

Višnjevac

Gornji Tavankut

Donji Tavankut

Đurđin

Kelebija ()

Ljutovo

Mala Bosna

Mišićevo

Novi Žednik

Stari Žednik

Hajdukovo () Čantavir () Šupljak ()

Note: For settlements with Hungarian absolute or relative majority, names are also given in Hungarian.

City quarters

Prozivka

Ker

Centar 1

Centar 2

Dudova Šuma (Radijalac)

Železničko Naselje

Novo Naselje () Srpski Šor ()

Zorka

Kertvaroš ()

Makova Sedmica

Novi Grad

Mali Radanovac

Teslino Naselje

Veliki Radanovac

Aleksandrovo

Mali Bajmok () Gat ()

Graničar

Centar 3 (Tokio)

Bajnat

Demographics

City demographics - Ethnic groups in the city

Subotica is a multiethnic city and municipality. The population of the Subotica city is composed of (according to 2002 census):

Hungarians = 34,983 (34.99%)

Serbs = 27,838 (27.85%)

Bunjevci = 10,870 (10.87%)

Croats = 10,424 (10.43%)

Yugoslavs = 6,787 (6.79%)

Roma = 1,171 (1.17%)

others

The city serves as the cultural and political centre for the Hungarians, Bunjevci, and Croats in Vojvodina. The largest percent of declared Yugoslavs in Vojvodina is also found in Subotica.

Municipality demographics

Ethnic groups in the municipality

The population of the Subotica municipality is composed of (according to 2002 census):

Hungarians = 57,092 (38.47%)

Serbs = 37,686 (25.39%)

Croats = 16,688 (11.24%)

Bunjevci = 16,254 (10.95%)

Yugoslavs = 8,562 (5.76%)

others

Settlements by ethnic majority

The places with a Hungarian absolute or relative ethnic majority are: Subotica (Hungarian: Szabadka), Palić (Hungarian: Palicsfürdő), Hajdukovo (Hungarian: Hajdújárás), Bački Vinogradi (Hungarian: Bácsszőlős), Šupljak (Hungarian: Alsóludas), Čantavir (Hungarian: Csantavér), Bačko Dušanovo (Hungarian: Zentaörs), and Kelebija (Hungarian: Alsókelebia).

The places with a Serb absolute or relative ethnic majority are: Bajmok, Višnjevac, Novi Žednik, and Mišićevo.

The places with a Bunjevac and Croat ethnic majority are: Mala Bosna, Đurđin, Donji Tavankut, Gornji Tavankut, Bikovo, Stari Žednik, and Ljutovo.

Bajmok, Višnjevac, and Stari Žednik have over 20% Hungarians, just as in the places with a Hungarian majority (Subotica, Palić, Bačko Dušanovo, and Kelebija) in which over 20% are Serbs, Croats and Bunjevci.

Languages in the municipality

Languages spoken in Subotica municipality (according to 2002 census):

Serbian = 69,155 (46.60%)

Hungarian = 57,608 (38.82%)

Croatian = 8,806 (5.93%)

Note: The Bunjevac language is also spoken in Subotica, but it was not listed separately in the 2002 census results published by the Statistical Office of Serbia; the speakers of this language were listed in category "other languages". The number of those who speak "other languages" (presumably Bunjevac ) in the Subotica municipality is 8,914. Some other members of the Bunjevac ethnic community declared in census that their language is Serbian or Croatian. Bunjevac is likely to be listed separately in the future censa, since the members of the Bunjevac ethnic community expressed the wish for affirmation of their language. They also expressed the wish to have school classes in Bunjevac, so the state is most likely to oblige.

Religion

Religion in Subotica municipality (according to 2002 census):

Roman Catholic = 93,521 (63.02%)

Orthodox = 38,523 (25.96%)

Protestant = 2,794 (1.88%)

other

Subotica is the centre of the Roman Catholic diocese of the Bačka region belonging to Serbia. The Subotica area has the highest concentration of Catholics in Serbia. Nearly 70% of the city's population are Catholics. The liturgical languages used in the city's Catholic churches are mostly Hungarian and Croatian. There are eight Catholic parish churches, a Franciscan spiritual centre (the city has communities of both Franciscan monks and Franciscan nuns), a female Dominican community, and two congregations of Augustinian religious sisters. The diocese of Subotica has the only Catholic secondary school in Serbia (Paulinum).

Subotica had a Roman Catholic Blessed working in it. When the nuns' orphanage and children's dome in Blato has exhausted the food funds for helping poor and hungry children, Blessed Mary of Jesus Crucified Petković went to fertile pleains of Bačka and the seat of Bačka Apostolic Administration, Subotica, to solicit help for the orphans and widows. In return, Bishop Ljudevit Lajčo Budanović asked her to found monasteries of her Order in Subotica and neighbourhood, so the locals can get spiritual gain from that nuns of her Order can provide them... Marija Petković quickly notice that Bačka also had problems of numerous poor and abandoned children, so in 1923, she opened ''Kolijevka'', Children's Home in Subotica. Today this city still has that Children's Home, although the nuns of Marija's Order aren't in that Home anymore.

Among another Christian communities, the members of the Serbian Orthodox Church are the most numerous. There are two Eastern Orthodox church buildings in the city; as well as two Protestant churches, Lutheran and Calvinist, respectively.

The Jewish community of Subotica is the third largest in Serbia, after those in Belgrade and Novi Sad. The astounding proportions and beauty of the Hungarian style art nouveau synagogue are the legacy of a Jewish community that once numbered 6,000 members. About 1,000 of the original Jews of Subotica survived the Holocaust. Today, less than 200 people of Jewish origin remained in Subotica.

Politics

2004 elections

Seats in the municipal parliament won in the 2004 local elections:

Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (16)

Democratic Party (12)

Serbian Radical Party (9)

Democratic Alliance of Croats in Vojvodina (5)

G17 Plus (4)

Together for Vojvodina (4)

Democratic Party of Vojvodina Hungarians (3)

Serbian Strength Movement (3)

2008 elections

Results of 2008 local elections in Subotica municipality:

For a European Subotica (40.16%)

Hungarian Coalition (27.14%)

Serbian list for Subotica (16.42%)

After the elections, coalition For a European Subotica (with 32 seats), Hungarian Coalition (with 21 seats) and Bunjevac Party (with 1 seat) formed local municipal government. Saša Vučinić from the Democratic Party was elected mayor, and Jenő Maglai from the Hungarian Coalition was elected president of the municipal assembly.

Buildings

Unique in Serbia, Subotica has the most buildings built in art nouveau style. Especially the City Hall (built in 1908-1910) and the Synagogue (1902) are of outstanding beauty. These were built by the same architects, by Marcell Komor and Dezső Jakab from Budapest, Hungary. Another exceptional example of art nouveau architecture is the actual Artistic Encounter building, which was built in 1904 by Ferenc J. Raichle.

The most remarkable church buildings are: the Catholic Cathedral of St. Theresa of Avila from 1797, the Franciscan Monastery from 1723, the Orthodox churches also from the 18th century, the Hungarian Art Nouveau Subotica Synagogue from the turn-of-the-century.

In recent years there has been an effort to restore the synagogue. Over $400,000 has been raised for the cause by 2004.

Theatre

The historic National Theatre in Subotica, which was built in 1854 as the first monumental public building in Subotica, was demolished in 2007, although it was declared a historic monument under state protection in 1983, and in 1991 it was added to the National Register as a monument of an extraordinary cultural value. An international campaign was organized both in Serbia and in Hungary to save the historic building. ICOMOS and INTBAU also protested against the decision, but with no avail. The historic centre of Subotica was severely damaged visually. Some scanty remains of the destroyed building will be allegedly incorporated into the new theatre.

Education

Subotica is not a university city but has some widely respected secondary schools and faculties.

Secondary Schools

Teachers' College, founded in 1689, the oldest college in the country and region

"Svetozar Marković" grammar school web-site

"Dezső Kosztolányi" Philological grammar school web-site

"Paulinum" Grammar school of ancient languages of the Catholic Diocese of Subotica

Music School

"MESŠC" Electro-mechanical school, recently renamed to "Tehnička Škola - Subotica" (en. "Technical School") web-site

"Bosa Milićević" School of Economics

Polytechnic school

"Lazar Neśić" Chemistry school

Medical school

Notable faculties

Civil Engineering faculty web-site

Electro-Mechanic-Programming faculty "VTŠ" web-site

Economics faculty web-site

Teachers faculty in Hungarian language web-site

Kindergarten Teacher Training College web-site

Newspapers and magazines

Newspapers and magazines published in Subotica:

''Subotičke novine'', main weekly newspaper in Serbian (web-site).

''Magyar Szó'', in Hungarian, founded 1944, published in Subotica since 2006.

''Bunjevačke novine'', in Bunjevac.

''Hrvatska riječ'', in Croatian.

''Zvonik'', in Croatian

Economy

Surroundings of Subotica are mainly farmland but the city itself is an important industrial and transportation centre in Serbia.

Because of the surrounding farmlands Subotica has some of the most famous food producer industries in the country, with brands such as the confectionery factory "Pionir", "Fidelinka" the cereal manufacturer, "Suboticka mlekara" a milk producer and "Simex" producer of strong alcohol drinks.

There are a number of old socialistic industries that survived the transition period in Serbia.The biggest one is the chemical fertilizer factory "Azotara" and the rail wagon factory "Bratstvo".

Currently the biggest export industry in town is the "Siemens Subotica" windmill factory and it is the biggest brownfield investment so far. The other big companies in Subotica are: Fornetti, ATB Sever and Masterplast.

The most recent companies to come to Subotica are Dunkermotoren, and NORMA Group.

The main reason why foreign industry is usually interested in Subotica are (according to the local economic development office (web-site)):

Perfect strategic location for business development

Efficient and business friendly administration

Free zone and logistic center

Well trained, hardworking and easy to come by labour

Great tourist recognition

The city received the NALED award for being the one of five best cities in Serbia for investors in 2010 and also has the NALED business-friendly certificate.

Tourism is significantly important to the city due to Palić and the Palić Lake being near by, which is by itself a tourist destination. In the past few years, Palić has been famous for the Palić Film Festival.

Subotica is also a festival city, hosting more than 17 festivals over the year. (web-site)

Transportation

The Subotica tram, put into operation in 1897, ran on electricity from the start. While neighbouring cities' trams at this date were often still horse-drawn, this gave the Subotica system an advantage over municipalities including Belgrade, Novi Sad, Zagreb, and Segedin. Its existence was important to the citizens of Subotica, as well as tourists who came to visit. Subotica has a bus system. The Subotica buses transport people via nine city, six suburban, and ten interurban, as well as two international lines of bus operations. Per year the buses pass some 4.7 million kilometers, and carry about ten million people. The city used to have a tram system, the Subotica tram system, but it was discontinued in 1974.

Communication

Southwest of Subotica at , there is a 218.5 metres tall guyed mast for FM-/TV-broadcasting. It may be the tallest of its kind in Serbia.

Famous citizens

György Arnold (1771–1848), composer

Sava Babić (b. 1934), writer, translator and university professor

József Bártfay (1812–1864), lawyer, writer

Géza Csáth (1887–1919), a tragic physician-writer

Gyula Cseszneky (b. 1914), poet, voivode

Sreten Damjanović (b. 1946), wrestler

Oliver Dulić (b. 1975), politician

Vlatko Dulić (b. 1943), actor

Dr. Kalmar Elemer (1887–1947), lawyer

Yehuda Elkana, b.1934. Israeli philosopher of science

Pierre Jovanović (b. 1960), French writer and reporter

Zoran Kalinić (b. 1958), table tennis champion

Danilo Kiš (1935–1989), possibly the most well-known Serbian writer alongside the Nobel laureate Ivo Andrić

Juci Komlós (b. 1919), actress

Dezső Kosztolányi (1885–1936), Hungarian poet and prose-writer

Félix Lajkó (b. 1974), a "world music" violinist and composer

Péter Lékó (b. 1979), Hungary's number one chess player

Szilveszter Lévai (b. 1945), Hungarian composer

Aleksandar Lifka (1880–1952), a central-European cinematographer

Bela Lugosi (1882–1956), actor

Bruck Matija (Bruk Matjas), chemist, creator of Kosan

Refik Memišević (b. 1956), wrestle champion

Gyula Mester, born in 1972, volleyball player

Jovan Mikić Spartak (1914–1944), the leader of the Partisans in Subotica, and a national hero who was killed in 1944

Dr. Vinko Perčić (1911–1989), authority in gastroenterology and internal medicine

Momir Petković (b. 1953), wrestle champion

Bojana Radulović (b. 1973), handball player

Eva Ras (b. 1941), actress, painter and Serbian writer

Magdolna Rúzsa (b. 1985), Hungarian pop singer

Ivan Sarić (1876–1966), aviation pioneer and cyclist

Tibor Sekelj (Tibor Székely) (1912–1988), explorer, esperantist, writer

John Simon, American theatre critic

Đuro Stantić (1878–1918), a world champion in racewalking

International cooperation

Subotica is a pilot city of the Council of Europe and the EU Intercultural cities programme.

Twin towns - Sister cities

Subotica is twinned with the following cities:

	* Szeged, Hungary	* Dunajská Streda, Slovakia	* Olomouc, Czech Republic	* Odorheiu Secuiesc, Romania

Partner Cities

Subotica is a partner city with the following:

Baja, Hungary>Baja, Hungary

* Budapest, Hungary

* Izola, Slovenia

* Kecskemét, Hungary

* Kiskunhalas, Hungary

Prizren, Kosovo

* München, Germany

Namur (city)>Namur, Belgium

* Osijek, Croatia

* Tilburg, Netherlands

* Turku, Finland

* Ulm, Germany

* Wolverhampton, United Kingdom

* Zagreb, Croatia

* Zirc, Hungary

See also

List of mayors of Subotica

List of cities in Serbia

Intercultural cities

References

Recent (2002) statistical information comes from the Serbian statistical office.

Ethnic statistics: , САОПШTЕЊЕ СН31, брoј 295 • год. LII, 24.12.2002, YU ISSN 0353–9555. Accessed 17 Jan 2006. On page 6–7, Становништво према националној или етничкој припадности по попису 2002. Statistics can be found on the lines for "Суботица" (Subotica).

* Language and religion statistics: Popis stanovništva, domaćinstava i stanova u 2002, ISBN 86-84433-02-5. Accessed 17 Jan 2006. On page 11–12: СТАНОВНИШТВО ПРЕМА ВЕРОИСПОВЕСТИ, СТАНОВНИШТВО ПРЕМА МАТЕРЊЕМ ЈЕЗИКУ. Statistics can be found on the lines for "Суботица" (Subotica).

External links

The official website of Subotica

JP Subotica Trans - Public Transport Official Site

Subotica.com - Most popular Website of Subotica

GradSubotica.co.rs - News from the city

The official website of the Roman Catholic diocese of Subotica

Subotica's official website for tourism and travel information

Subotica on Wikitravel

History of Subotica

Panoramic pictures from Subotica

Medija Centar Subotica - (najnovije vesti) News from Subotica

Category:Places in Bačka Category:Populated places in Vojvodina Category:Municipalities of Vojvodina

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Coordinates	37°43′49″N88°55′49″N
alt	A mid-twenties African American man wearing a sequined military jacket and dark sunglasses. He is walking while waving his right hand, which is adorned with a white glove. His left hand is bare.
background	solo_singer
birth name	Michael Joseph Jackson
alias	Michael Joe Jackson, MJ, King of Pop
birth date	August 29, 1958
birth place	Gary, Indiana, U.S.
death date	June 25, 2009
death place	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
instrument	Vocals
genre	R&B;, pop, rock, soul, dance, funk, disco, new jack swing
occupation	Singer-songwriter, musician, composer, dancer, choreographer, record producer, actor, businessman, philanthropist
years active	1964–2009
label	Motown, Epic, Legacy
associated acts	The Jackson 5
relatives	Janet Jackson (sister)
website	}}

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Often referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records. His contribution to music, dance, and fashion, along with a much-publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades. The seventh child of the Jackson family, he debuted on the professional music scene along with his brothers as a member of The Jackson 5, then the Jacksons in 1964, and began his solo career in 1971.

In the early 1980s, Jackson became a dominant figure in popular music. The music videos for his songs, including those of "Beat It", "Billie Jean", and "Thriller", were credited with transforming the medium into an art form and a promotional tool, and the popularity of these videos helped to bring the relatively new television channel MTV to fame. Videos such as "Black or White" and "Scream" made him a staple on MTV in the 1990s. Through stage performances and music videos, Jackson popularized a number of complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk, to which he gave the name. His distinctive musical sound and vocal style have influenced numerous hip hop, post-disco, contemporary R&B;, pop and rock artists.

Jackson's 1982 album ''Thriller'' is the best-selling album of all time. His other records, including ''Off the Wall'' (1979), ''Bad'' (1987), ''Dangerous'' (1991), and ''HIStory'' (1995), also rank among the world's best-selling. Jackson is one of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. He was also inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame as the first (and currently only) dancer from the world of pop and rock 'n' roll. Some of his other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records; 13 Grammy Awards (as well as the Grammy Legend Award and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award); 26 American Music Awards (more than any other artist, including the "Artist of the Century"); 13 number-one singles in the United States in his solo career (more than any other male artist in the Hot 100 era); and the estimated sale of over 750 million records worldwide. Jackson won hundreds of awards, which have made him the most-awarded recording artist in the history of popular music.

Life and career

Early life and The Jackson 5 (1958–1975)

Michael Jackson was born on August 29, 1958, the eighth of ten children in an African American working-class family who lived in a small 3-room house in Gary, Indiana, an industrial city near Chicago. His mother, Katherine Esther Scruse, was a devout Jehovah's Witness, and his father, Joseph Walter "Joe" Jackson, was a steel mill worker who performed with an R&B; band called The Falcons. Jackson had three sisters: Rebbie, La Toya, and Janet, and five brothers: Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Randy. A sixth brother, Brandon, died shortly after birth.

Jackson had a troubled relationship with his father, Joe.

The group's sales began declining in 1973, and the band members chafed under Motown's strict refusal to allow them creative control or input. Although they scored several top 40 hits, including the top 5 disco single "Dancing Machine" and the top 20 hit "I Am Love", the Jackson 5 left Motown in 1975.

Move to Epic and ''Off the Wall'' (1975–81)

In June 1975, the Jackson 5 signed with Epic Records, a subsidiary of CBS Records and renamed themselves the Jacksons. Younger brother Randy formally joined the band around this time, while Jermaine left to pursue a solo career. In 1980, Jackson won three awards at the American Music Awards for his solo efforts: Favorite Soul/R&B; Album, Favorite Soul/R&B; Male Artist, and Favorite Soul/R&B; Single for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". That year, he also won Billboard Year-End for Top Black Artist and Top Black Album and a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B; Vocal Performance, also for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". Jackson again won at the American Music Awards in 1981 for Favorite Soul/R&B; Album and Favorite Soul/R&B; Male Artist. Despite its commercial success, Jackson felt ''Off the Wall'' should have made a much bigger impact, and was determined to exceed expectations with his next release. In 1980, he secured the highest royalty rate in the music industry: 37 percent of wholesale album profit.

''Thriller'' and ''Motown 25'' (1982–83)

In 1982, Jackson contributed the song "Someone In the Dark" to the storybook for the film ''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial''; the record won a Grammy for Best Recording for Children in 1984. In the same year he won another seven Grammys and eight American Music Awards (including the Award of Merit, the youngest artist to win it), making him the most awarded in one night for both award shows. The album topped the ''Billboard'' 200 chart for 37 weeks and was in the top 10 of the 200 for 80 consecutive weeks. It was the first album to have seven ''Billboard'' Hot 100 top 10 singles, including "Billie Jean", "Beat It," and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'." ''Thriller'' was certified for 29 million shipments by the RIAA, giving it Double Diamond status in the United States. The album won also another Grammy for Best Engineered Recording – Non Classical in 1984, awarding Bruce Swedien for his work. Thanks to the ''Bad'' album, Bruce Swedien and Humberto Gatica won one Grammy in 1988 for Best Engineered Recording – Non Classical and Michael Jackson won one Grammy for Best Music Video, Short Form for "Leave Me Alone" in 1989. ''HIStory'' received a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. However, the sales for ''Invincible'' were lower than those of his previous releases, due in part to a lack of promotion, no supporting world tour and the label dispute. The album also came out at a bad time for the music industry in general. Jackson rehearsed in Los Angeles in the weeks leading up to the tour under the direction of choreographer Kenny Ortega. Most of these rehearsals took place at the Staples Center, which was owned by AEG. With ''Thriller'', Christopher Connelly of ''Rolling Stone'' commented that Jackson developed his long association with the subliminal theme of paranoia and darker imagery. Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted this is evident on the songs "Billie Jean" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'". In "Billie Jean", Jackson sings about an obsessive fan who alleges he has fathered a child of hers. In "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" he argues against gossip and the media. "Beat It" decried gang violence in an homage to ''West Side Story'', and was Jackson's first successful rock cross-over piece, according to Huey. He also observed that the title track "Thriller" began Jackson's interest with the theme of the supernatural, a topic he revisited in subsequent years. In 1985, Jackson co-wrote the charity anthem "We Are the World"; humanitarian themes later became a recurring theme in his lyrics and public persona. ;Bibliography

George, Nelson (2004). ''Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection'' booklet. Sony BMG.

Further reading

External links

Michael Jackson Live: Best Pics – slideshow by ''Life magazine''

Michael Jackson at MTV

FBI file on Michael Jackson

Category:1958 births Category:2009 deaths Category:African American dancers Category:African American male singers Category:African American record producers Category:African American singer-songwriters Category:American beatboxers Category:American businesspeople Category:American child singers Category:American choreographers Category:American dance musicians Category:American dancers Category:American disco musicians Category:American male singers Category:American boogie musicians Category:American pop singers Category:American rhythm and blues singers Category:American rock singers Category:American soul singers Category:American tenors Category:American vegetarians Category:Boy sopranos Category:Brit Award winners Category:Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) Category:Child pop musicians Category:Drug-related deaths in California Category:English-language singers Category:Epic Records artists Category:Expatriates in Bahrain Category:Former Jehovah's Witnesses Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Grammy Legend Award Michael Jackson Category:Manslaughter victims Category:Motown artists Category:Musicians from Indiana Category:People acquitted of sex crimes Category:People from Gary, Indiana Category:People from Santa Barbara County, California Category:Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Category:Songwriters from Indiana Category:Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees Michael Jackson Category:World Music Awards winners Category:Young Artist Award winners

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