Jõhvi

Jõhvi

Jõhvi
—  Town  —

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Coat of arms
Jõhvi is located in Estonia
Jõhvi
Location in Estonia
Coordinates: 59°21′N 27°25′E / 59.35°N 27.417°E / 59.35; 27.417Coordinates: 59°21′N 27°25′E / 59.35°N 27.417°E / 59.35; 27.417
Country  Estonia
County Ida-Virumaa lipp.svg Ida-Viru County
Municipality Flag of Jõhvi.svg Jõhvi Parish
Area
 - Total 7.62 km2 (2.9 sq mi)
Population (2009)
 - Total 16,850
 - Density 2,211.3/km2 (5,727.2/sq mi)
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 - Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Website www.johvi.ee

Jõhvi (German: Jewe) is a town in north-eastern Estonia, and the capital of Ida-Viru County. The town is also an administrative centre of Jõhvi Parish. It is situated 50 km from the Russian border.

Ethnic Estonians are a minority in Jõhvi, as about 58% of the town's population are either ethnic Russian immigrants who arrived in Estonia during the period of Soviet rule of Estonia (1944 - 1991) or their descendants.

History

Jõhvi was first mentioned as a village in 1241 in Liber Census Daniae when it was ruled by Denmark. Historical names of Jõhvi were Gewi and Jewi. In the 13th century a church was built here and Jõhvi became the centre of the local church parish.

On 1 May 1938 Konstantin Päts renamed the Jõhvi borough a town along with nearly all Estonian boroughs. In 2005 the town of Jõhvi was united with the parish of Jõhvi.

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