Vangaži

Vangaži
Town
Lutheran church in Vangaži
Coat of arms
Vangaži Location in Latvia
Coordinates: 57°5′33″N 24°32′47″E
Country	Latvia
Municipalities	Ropaži Municipality
Town rights	1991
Area [1]
• Total	5.19 km^2 (2.00 sq mi)
• Land	5.10 km^2 (1.97 sq mi)
• Water	0.090000000000001 km^2 (0.034749194268821 sq mi)
Population  (2024)[2]
• Total	3,192
• Density	620/km^2 (1,600/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code	LV-2136
Calling code	+371 67
Website	www.vangazi.lv

Vangaži (pronunciation^ⓘ) is a town in Ropaži Municipality in the Vidzeme region of Latvia.

History

The name Vangaži (German: Wangasch) was first mentioned in the 17th century as the name of a local manor. The name itself is a combination of two words in the Livonian language - vang (field) and aži (place). Since the 17th century there was also a Lutheran church in Vangaži. Close to the modern town of Vangaži there were several manufactures which produced paper, glass and copper products.^[3]

The modern town started in the 1950s when the concrete factory was founded. In 1957 the village Oktobra ciemats was founded which in 1961 was renamed to Vangaži. In 1992 Vangaži was granted the status of a town.^[4]

Sports

From 1968 to 1991 Vangaži had a relatively strong football club - known at first as Celtnieks Vangaži, then renamed to Betons Vangaži. From 1989 to 1991 the club coached by Vladimirs Serbins played in the top Latvian football league. With the bankruptcy of the concrete factory the football club was disbanded. Latvia national football team footballer Viktors Morozs is the most notable footballer from Vangaži.^[5]

See also

• List of cities in Latvia

References

1. "Reģionu, novadu, pilsētu un pagastu kopējā un sauszemes platība gada sākumā". Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
2. "Iedzīvotāju skaits pēc tautības reģionos, pilsētās, novados, pagastos, apkaimēs un blīvi apdzīvotās teritorijās gada sākumā (pēc administratīvi teritoriālās reformas 2021. gadā)". Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
3. Ancient history of Vangaži (in Latvian)
4. History of Vangaži (in Latvian)
5. History of football in Vangaži (in Latvian)