Another scientific meeting of the Pazin Memorial was held for the 49th time, organized by the State Archives in Pazin and the Chair of the Chakavian Parliament for the History of Istria from Pazin. In the first part of the lecture, the topic was ‘Population of Central Istria according to civil registers and official censuses’. Presentations were opened by Josip Šiklić on ‘Demographic developments in central Istria from 1857 to 2021’.

Population is getting older
– The characteristics of the period 1857-2021 are two different phases: population growth until 1921, and then the depopulation phase that lasts from 1931 to the last census 2021, stated Šiklić. The average age of the population of central Istria increased from 32.8 years in 1961 to 42 years in 2011 and to 43.6 years in 2021. – In Central Istria, according to the results of the 2021 census, the majority of the total population was Croats, with 86 percent (17,493 persons) in 2021, which is more than the share of 76.7 percent (16,367 persons) in the previous census in 2011. This means that the number of regionally declared (Istrians), part of national minorities, those who declared themselves in terms of religious affiliation in the inter-list period 2011-2021 decreased in absolute and relative terms. The number of Croats increased by 9.3 percent, and the number of regionally declared Croats decreased in the same proportion, Šiklić said. Marko Jelenić spoke about the ‘Crisis of mortality in 1817 in the parishes of central Istria. Selected examples’. – The 1817 mortality crisis is a general phenomenon across Istria, caused by successive crop declines over several consecutive years, in particular after 1815. When the food disappeared, hunger appeared, which turned into increased mortality. The most severe condition was in Pićan, where mortality increased by almost six times. The number of deaths in Stari Pazin and Žminj has doubled, says Jelenić. ‘The population of Trviž in the 19th century according to the civil registers’ was the subject of Mirela Mrak Kliman, while the epidemic of ‘blue death’ in Pazin in 1855 was observed by Iva Kolić.

The theme of the Istrian railway
Nikola Ardalić covered the topic of ‘Baptism in Pazin in the period from 1850 to 1870’ and ‘Pazinski kler 17th century: names and services’ was a topic presented by Elvis Orbanić. In the second part of the lecture, the topic was ‘150 years of the idea and reality of the Istrian railway’, on the occasion of the 120th anniversary of Parenzana. Josip Orbanić thus gave “Representation of the 150 years of the railway in Istria (comparison between the countries that managed them)”.
– Efforts have been ongoing for more than a decade to connect Istria to the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy’s rail network. Finally, in 1873, a law was passed, a railway was built and on September 20, 1876, the regular operation of Divača-Pula began with the Kanfanar-Rovinj branch. 150 years is a long period and the railway in Istria is one of the oldest operating systems in Croatia. (…) During the time, railways were built in Istria towards Trieste, Poreč, Raša and Koper. There have been several projects that have not been realized, including a railway through a tunnel through Učka that would connect with the Pivka-Rijeka railway, Orbanić said. “Economic changes in Istria until 1918 and the link with the railway” was a presentation by Alida Perkov. Nada Prodan Mraković gave her vision on the topic ‘Tourist valorisation of the Parenzana narrow-gauge railway’, which, she said, also motivated her arrival in Istria. Over 100,000 visitors pass through it, which benefits cyclists, pedestrians and through its tourist valorization all areas, cities and places it passes along with its facilities. “The Istrian railway in the funds of the State Archives in Pazin” was the subject of Maja Milovan, and “The museumization of the Istrian railway on the example of the Museum of the City of Pazin” was the subject of Ivana Smoljan and Maja Zidarić Pilat.

Digitalized edition of the Pazin Memory Collection
A digitized edition of the Pazinski memorijal collection was also presented. Digitisation was carried out as part of the Istrian Historical Society’s project ‘Digitisation of Historiographic Literature’, in cooperation with the publisher – the Cakavian Council’s Cathedral for the History of Istria. The current 31 volumes, published in 1971, have been fully digitised and searchable. – 2021, available on the Company’s website (ipd-ssi.hr).

(Downloaded from: Voice of Istria, Anđelo DAGOSTIN, 3.10.2022., https://www.glasistre.hr/kultura/na-pazinstini-u-10-godina-povecan-broj-hrvata-821642)

 

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