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Historical chronology of the Administrative-territorial affiliations of the Region of Topolovgrad,

Heads of the Kavaklian district in 1879-1901 and the town mayors for the period 1879-2007.

In the course of the Russian - Turkish War from 1877 to 1878 on the Bulgarian lands were established 8 provinces /Province of Sliven - 19/02/1878./

The town of Edirne/Odrin/ and Edirne Vilayet were under stratocracy, but during the reign of Prince Alexander Dondukov – Korsakov there was introduced a narrow civilian government.

Following the changes stemming from the Berlin contract / 13/07/1878, San Stefano Bulgaria was divided into Principality of Bulgaria and the Autonomous Province of Eastern Rumelia, while Thrace and Macedonia remained within the Ottoman Empire.

The provinces and regions that remained within Eastern Rumelia:

Plovdiv Province – The regionsof Plovdiv, Tatarpazardzhik, Haskovo, Stara Zagora, Chirpan and Kazanlak

Sliven Province – The regions of Sliven, Nova Zagora, Yambol, Burgas, Aytos, Anhial, Mesemvriya

District of Kazalagach from Edirne sanjak.

By Decree No. 55 of 10/05 / 1879 of the governor-general of East Rumelia lieutenant-general Arkady Dimitrievich, the region of Stolipin is temporarily divided into 6 departments/provinces/ and 28 cantons/districts/, "before the boundaries of the departments and cantons were finally defined". It establishes the district of Kavakli /canton/ in the Sliven department /region/.

  1.       Dimitar Harmuziadi - 20/06/1879 - mid-November of 1880.

In the newly created district government has worked also: Sava Mateev – police-officer, born in Zheravna, Yovcho Tepev – clerk, born in Nova Zagora, Nikola Atanasov Pamukov – writer, born in Zheravna, Haralambi Aspiriadi – writer, born in Stanimaka.

  1.       Aleksandar Tomas /Tomaidi, Tomaidis/ - mid-November of 1880 - end of 1883.
  2.       Atanas Papasaul – end of 1883 – autumn of 1885.

List of settlements entering the district of Kavakli from 1879 to 1901:

  1.       Bala Bunar /Meden Kladenets/, 2.Gerdeme /Hlyabovo/, 3. Golyam Manastir, 4.Druganovo, 5. Kavakli /Topolovgrad/, 6. Karapcha /Malomir/, 7. Kozludzha /Oreshnik/, 8. Kazyldzhiklii /Dryanovo/, 9.Minechevo /Orlov dol/, 10. Pazardzhik /Targovishte deleted by the commandment No 57 of 05/02/1965/, 11. Soudzhak /Studena/, 12. Tatarkoy /Radovets/, 13. Shahli /Knyazhevo/, 14. Yavuzdere /Dobroselets/, 15. Vakaf /Ustrem/, 16. Glavan, 17. Dildzhileri /Polski gradets/, 18. Esse-Begli /Pchela/, 19. Kalfakoy /Miladinovtsi/, 20. Kayadzhik /Skalitsa/, 21. Koyun  bunar /Ovchi kladenets/, 22. Malak Manastir, 23. Novo selo /Mramor/, 24. Talashmanli /General Toshevo/, 25. Hasan Begli /Izgrev/, 26. Shevkular /Svetlina/, 27. Kavur alan /Bulgarska polyana/, 28. Kayaly dere /Kamenna reka/, 29. Maya Kurfaliy /Ovchartsi/, 30. Pasha mahle /Voyvoda merged with village of Glavan in 1955/, 31. Sinapli /Sinapovo/, 32. Matsa, 33. Chukarovo, 34. Bitlidzha /Staroselets – deleted by Decree No 2294 of 28/12/1978/, 35. Gyubel /Mezhda/, Gyuneliy /Lyubimets/, 36. Drama, 37. Kurfaliy /Savino/, 38. Kurshumli /Trankovo/, the villages Krushevo /Sakartsi/, Krumovo /Planinovo/, Kunevo and Hadara /Vladimirovo/ were also included in the district.

 

Prior to the liberation, Kavakli (Topolovgrad) was a large settlement, shaped as a significant commercial, craft and agricultural center of a large area. Before the liberation, Kavakli had an urban look and functions, but was officially mentioned as town in the early 1980s. In 1882 there was an article in newspaper "Savetnik"  from 23-24/05 in which is announced the celebration of the day of "St. St. Cyril and Methodius "by the Bulgarian officials in the town of Kavakli. In the same newspaper in issue No 56 of 19. XII. 1882, was published a report, which informed about the visit of the provincial governor of East Rumelia – Prince Alexander Bogoridi to Kavakli, after receiving the “Osmanie” order. On his return from Constantinople prince Bogoridi passed through Harmanli, Tarnovo Seimen, Karabunar, Minechevo, Kavakli and so on. For his welcome in Kavakli, he wrote: "... The town was lit up as a day, with countless multicolored  lanterns. There were also many triumphal doors with congratulatory inscriptions. The lighting was perfect and it was an fascination picture." The town was run by a city mayor and city council formed from 9 to 11 people who were elected for three years. It was divided into neighborhoods, the Bulgarian neighborhood was called "Bulgaria", the other two neighborhoods were” Beshirska” and “Gornata mahala”. Thereafter the Bulgarian neighborhood was named "Agios Georgios" (St. George).

 

After its announcement as a district center, the administrative facilities necessary for the proper functioning of the area and the life of people in it, began to be built. At 1.VIII.1880 post office was opened and the area was served by two inter-country postmen, one superior and one clerk. Telegraph and telephone lines were opened in 1881. In Kavakli was created a court, which began operating from 01.II.1880. The court was in second order with judge – Matey Hadzhipetrov, secretary – Atanas Vazharov, clerk – Zhelyazko Stoyanov and attendant, with freelance lawyers. In 1879, police commissar was appointed in all district centers and settlements with population of over 4000 inhabitants, who was assistant to the district superior of public order. The orderliness in border areas was also observed by the gendarmerie, which was located along the border and in the district center. In village of Tatarkoy /Radovets/ there was a fifth-class custom-house called  “Aktarma”. The command station was next to the village in so-called “State Field’’, which served the road from Yambol to Edirne. At 1882 in the district there were 28 Bulgarian schools in which there were 896 boys and 140 girls. These students were trained by32 men and 3 woman. There were 11 Greek schools in the district, where 678 boys and 7 girls were trained by 19 teachers. A district doctor cared for health services for population in the area. In 1882 in Kavakli /Topolovgrad/ was created a branch of the charity society “St. Panteleymon”, which was intended primarily to support sanitary personnel as doctors, mercy nurses, doctor`s assistant and midwives.

According to the statistics of the Eastern Rumelia Directorate of finance in 1880, there were 5544 houses in the District of Kavakli, which was the first place in the Sliven department (district) and the 11th place in East Rumelia. In numbers of households, the district also ranks first in the department with 6934 families, while among districts in East Rumelia was ranked 9th. The total number of inhabitants of the district for 1880 was 29,557, as in the Sliven District there was only Sliven region with 30,597 inhabitants. According to this indicator, the district was on the 12th place in the region of Eastern Rumelia. Of the total number of inhabitants of the district - 15,547 people (7,884 men, 7,663 women) were Bulgarians. The Greeks were 11,844 people (6,014 men, 5,830 women). By this indicator the district of Kavakli was the first in the region. At that time, in East Rumelia there were 42,451 Greeks (21,664 men, 20,787 women). There were 1 237 Turks (666 men, 571 women) in the region, ranking last in the Sliven Department and 26th out of a total 28 districts in East Rumelia. The gypsies in the district were 460 people (230 men, 230 women). Bulgarian refugees at that time were 97 families (409 people, of whom 220 men, 183 women), and there were refugees from Greece - 60 people.

Economically, the district was an important area for the department and the region. For the farm in the region in 1880 the data are as follows - in the district were produced: wheat - 125 125 kilos, which placed it at second place in the Sliven department and fourth place in the region. Also were grown: rye - 22,294 kilo, barley - 61,570 kilo, oats - 23,195 kilo, maize - 43,856 kilo, which was on first place in the department and 11th in the region of producing a maize. Many vineyards were grown in the area - more than 1000 hectares, were produced lots of wine and rakiya. In 1882, 1,793,710 ocher wines were produced (1,28 kg) in the district, while wine production in the Region of Kavakli was second in Eastern Rumelia after the Konushka district with produce of 1 843 004 ocher wines. The rakiya produced was 143,496 oaks, with only one larger production area in Eastern Rumelia - Stara Zagora district, where 180,019 ocher rakiya was produced. First in the Sliven department and 6th place in the region was the production of silk cocoons - 4 620 oaks. In the district were raised sheep - 82 026, goats - 27 411, in Eastern Rumelia were raised more goats only in Burgas district, pigs - 4 254 and other animals. From the data on the working land in the district at that time it is evident that it was - 304 874 uvrats (uvrat - dyulyum) - 2500 sq. archines. - 1160.30 sq. m, by this indicator the region was second in the Sliven department (after the Yambol district) and fourth place in Eastern Rumelia. Besides the aforementioned branches of agriculture in the region, craftsmanship was relatively well developed. As important craftsman centers in the region were formed - Kavakli (Topolovgrad), Kozludzha (Oreshnik), Minechevo (Orlov dol). Trade in the area was still directed to the traditional local commodities markets, used before the liberation. Local tradesman used most often the nearby customs office at Tatarkoy village to go to the market in Edirne. It was mainly traded with agricultural and craft commodities.

Administrative - territorial division of the Principality of Bulgaria 1885г. - 1901 - The Kavakli district was part of the Sliven Region. /district commanders/

  1.       Zhelyazko Petkov – Autumn of 1885 – 30/05/1886.
  2.       Stanko Razboynikov – 30/05/1886 – 28/02/1890
  3.       Todor Nikolaev – 08/03/1890 – 28/10/1893
  4.       Nikola Tsvetkov – 07/11/1893 – 12/02/1894
  5.       Dimitar Boev – 12/02/1894 – 08/06/1894
  6.       Georgi Nikolov /Nikolaev/ - 08/06 – 12/06/1894
  7.   Georgi St. Zahariev – 12/06/1894 – 12/11/1894
  8.   Nacho Tomov – 12/11/1894 – 09/07/1898
  9.   Todor Tenev – 09/07/1898 – 13/03/1899
  10.   Angel Stoychev – 13/03/1899 – 15/11/1899
  11.   Mihail Ivanov Mihaylov – 17/11/1899 – 19/06/1900
  12.   Enyu Petkov – 19/06/1900 – 25/12/1900
  13.   Georgi S. Palenkov – 11/01/1901 – 22/01/1901 – he did not take up the position
  14.   Zhelyu Mladenov – 22/01/1901 – 26/01/1901 – he refused the position
  15.   G. Atanasov – 07/02/1901 – 13/02/1901 – he did not take up the position
  16.   Georgi S. Palenkov – 15/02/1901 – 28/03/1901
  17.   Valcho T. Kostov – 28/03/1901 – 01/06/1901.

During the period under review, the Kavakli district, although it was a border region in economic terms, was an important region for the country. The district was part of Sliven region and occupied an area of 1 396,6 sq. km, which represented 1.37% of the territory of the Principality and 20% of the territory of the region. In the census of the population in 1888, the district had a population of 34,759, after five years in the census in 1893 the district already numbered 36,555 inhabitants. The average population density per square kilometer in the region was 28 people / sq. km, with 34.6 people in the country. In 1893 there were 18,476 men and 18,079 women. Orthodox were - 35,676 people, and Muslims - 750 people; in Kavakli town there were 96 Protestant people. At that time in the district lived: 20 776 - Bulgarians, 14 899 - Greeks, 418 - Turks, 335 - Gypsies, 127 - Other nationalities. In 1900 the births in the district were 1717, the marriages were 331, the deaths were 945. From whole country, only in Kavakli district there was a group of pure Greek villages according to the official statistics: the village of Golyam Manastir - 1518 inhabitants, the village of Duganovo - 786 inhabitants,  the town of Kavakli (Topolovgrad) - 7456 Greeks and 127 Bulgarians, Kozludzha (Oreshnik) - 2161 inhabitants, the village of Malak Manastir - 1295 inhabitants, Chukarovo village - 225 inhabitants, village of Sinapovo - 1669 inhabitants. Other larger settlements in the region were: Minechevo (Orlov dol) - 1660 inhabitants, Village Gerdeme (Hlyabovo) - 1284 inhabitants, Vakaf village (Ustrem) - 1045 inhabitants, village of Karapcha (Malomir) - 1481 inhabitants, Village of Soudzhak (Studena) - 1189 inhabitants, Village of Glavan - 1575 inhabitants, Village of Dildzhileri / Polski Gradets / - 1817 inhabitants, Village of Kayadzhik (Skalitsa) - 1317 inhabitants, Koyun bunar (Ovchi kladenets) - 1269 inhabitants, Talashmanli (General Toshevo) - 1018 inhabitants, Novo selo (Mramor) - 819 inhabitants, village of Tatarkoy (Radovets) - 859, Village of Srem - 1347, village of Shahli (Knyazhevo) - 819, the village of Shevkular (Svetlina) - 660 inhabitants, the village of Yavuzdere (Dobroselets) - 958, which were inhabited mainly by Bulgarian population. Let us look only at the comparison of how the population of neighboring district and region centers was in the same 1893: Kazalagach (Elhovo) - 1549, Yambol - 13 588 inhabitants, Harmanli - 4039, Sofia - 46 593 inhabitants. During this census in Kavakli (Topolovgrad) there were 1222 houses, and in the 36 villages of the district there were a total number of 4699 houses. In 1893 there were - fields, gardens, melon fields and similar others - 31 000 ha. - 27% of the whole territory of the district, vineyards - 1 140 ha. - 0.87%, meadows - 1000 ha. - 0.77%, forests and district forests - 10 600 ha. - 8.1%, measures, pastures, rivers, swamps, settlements, roads and land unfit for cultivation 86 920 ha. - 66.2% of the territory of the district. In 1891 in the Kavaklian district were harvested: wheat - 15 222 160 kg, rye - 2 015 150 kg, maize - 1 586 420 kg. For this period, one inhabitant of the county had 292 kg of cereals, and for the country this average index was 265 kg per person. For the population's livelihood in the district in 1890, 10 568 375 kg of cereals were necessary and 3 175 141 kg more from that were produced. In addition to the above-mentioned cereals, for the feed of the population for fodder and fot market in 1891 were produced also: barley - 2 755 890 kg, oats - 1 030 650 kg, spelt - 704 990 kg, millet - 168 000 kg, potatoes - 101 000 kg, legumes - 78 000 kg, sesame - 17 340 kg. At that time in the Kavaklian district, there were 467 domestic animals per 100 inhabitants, and for the country the number was 328. In 1892 the district was grown: horses - 3 277, mule - 276, donkeys - 3 084, cattle - 21 683, sheep - 120 916, goats - 17 234, pigs - 4 552. During this period in the district on every 1000 inhabitants there were: 472 cattle in the district and 430 in the country, 3307 sheep in the district and 2 075 in the country, 221 buffalo in the district, and 103 in the country, goats for the district - 371 and 382 for the country, pigs for the district - 102 and for the country - 129 pcs. In 1900 Kavakli had a Hunting and Fishing Company with 256 members. In 1900 in district was grown: cows - 5 368, oxen - 6 812, calves - 2 566, sheep - 112 770, rams - 8 322, lambs - 50 636 , goats - 19,117, pigs - 2,243 pcs.

The second administrative-territorial entirely reform in the country took place in 1901, when by decree No 236 of 16/05/1901 /SG No 104 from 17/05/1901/ the Law on the administrative division of the territory of the state (adopted by the 11th National Assembly on 04/05/1901) was promulgated. Under the new statute, the country was divided into 12 regions, 71 districts and municipalities.

Kavaklian district was closed in 17/05/1901, the settlements in it were distributed between districts of Kazalagach /Elhovo/, Yambol, Nova Zagora and Harmanli. Topolovgrad and most settlements from the former district passed to the district of Kazalagach /Elhovo/, region of Burgas. Formally, the last district superior of Kavakli /Topolovgrad/ remained in post until 01/06/1901.

Town mayors 1879 – 2007

  1.       Petar Dimov – 1879 – 1884
  2.       Nikola P. Georgiadis – 1884 – 29/11/1887
  3.       Hristo Chichiadis – 29/11/1887 – 05/05/1888
  4.       Petar Dimov – 06/05/1888 – 00/09/1890
  5.       Atanas Vlaykidis – 00/09/1890 – 14/10/1893
  6.       Nikola P. Georgiadis – 14/10/1893 – 30/07/1894
  7.       Dimitar Paskalev Ikonomidis – 30/07/1894 – 26/02/1896
  8.       Velko Iliev – 26/02/1896 – 01/10/1896
  9.       Dimitar Hristov Zografos – 01/10/1896 – 01/05/1897
  10.   Georgi Hristov Terziev – 01/05/1897 – 13/09/1899
  11.   Dimitar Paskalev Ikonomidis – 13/09/1899 – 28/08/1900
  12.   Dimitar Paskalev Ikonomidis – 28/08/1900 – 20/07/1901
  13.   Konstantin Valchev Hadzhipetrov – 20/07/1901 – 12/07/1902
  14.   Konstantin Valchev Hadzhipetrov – 12/07/1902 – 20/09/1905
  15.   Georgi Hristov Terziev – 20/09/1905 – 15/10/1908
  16.   Ivan Petrov Kalpakchi – 15/10/1908 – 02/04/1912
  17.   Niko Michev – 02/04/1912 – 26/11/1918
  18.   Konstantin Stoev – 26/11/1918 – 07/04/1920
  19.   Niko Michev – 07/04/1920 – 00/07/1923

During the periods 1905-1907 and 1923-1926, the Greeks from Kavakli /Topolovgrad/ and the surrounding villages Kozludzha /Kariez, Oreshnik/, Duganovo, /Kapitan Petko voyvoda/, Sinapli /Sinapovo/, Chikurovo /Chukarovo/, Golyam and Malak Manastir are moving to Greece. At the first emigration wave, the emigrants were settled in the area of the town of Larissa, and secondly mainly in northern Greece.

Bulgarian refugees from Eastern Thrace /areas of Malgar, Keshan, Uzunkyopriya, Odrin/, Western Thrace /areas of Dedeagach, Gyumyurdzhen, Sofia/, Aegean Macedonia /areas of Enidzhe Vardar, Kukush, Voden, Solun, Demir Hissar/ were settled in their place.

 

  1.       A three-member committee manages the town from 00/07/1923 to 21/06/1924 :
  2.       Niko Michev – head of committee
  3.       Mosko Petrov Hadzhimihaylov
  4.       Haralampi Nikolov Pamukov
  5.       A municipal three-member committee manages the city from 21/06/1924 to 12/07/1924

Mosko Petrov Hadzhimihaylov – head of committee

Georgi D. Ikonomidis

Ivan Petrov

  1.       Mosko Petrov Hadzhimihaylov – 12/07/1924 – 30/11/1926
  2.       Georgi Petkov Lafchiev – 30/11/1925 – 00/00/1926
  3.       Georgi Petkov Lafchiev – 00/00/1926 – 23/08/1929
  4.       Georgi Tumbev – 23/08/1929 – 13/11/1929
  5.       Georgi Petkov Lafchiev – 13/11/1929 – 01/09/1931
  6.       A three-member committee manages the town from 01/09/1931 – 00/05/1932

Vasil Hristov Kalaydjiev – head of committee

Haralampi Nikolov Pamukov

Belyu Georgiev – up to 03/12/1931

Vasil Sevov – from 03/12/1931

  1.       Niko Popnikolov – 00/05/1932 – 00/05/1934

 

In 1934, the town of Kavakli was renamed with ministerial order No 3008 /published on February 1, 1934 in town of Topolovgrad. At that time the town counted 6422 inhabitants, of which 6295 Bulgarians, Greeks - 44, Turks - 4, Roma - 46 and other nationalities - 37. Of the Bulgarians 4700 were the Thracians from Western and Eastern Thrace, about 1000 people were Macedonians, the rest inhabitants were natives, migrants from Dobroudja, teachers, clerks, and others - about 400 people.

 

Topolovgrad was a municipal center of the Elhovo region and after 1934 to the district of Burgas, under the new administrative division of the country. What was the number of the population in the area in 1934? Topolovgrad - 6422 people, Bulgarska polyana - 1014 people, Vladimirovo - 283 people, Dobroseletz - 725 people, Duganovo - 777 people, Kamenna reka - 947 people, Knyazhevo - 1233 people, Novo selo /Mramor/ - 915 people, Oreshnik - 1583 people, Orlov dol - 2423 people, Krumovo /Planinovo/ - 550 people, Prisadetz - 442 people, Konstantinovo /Radovets/ - 1528 people, Krushevo /Sakartsi/ - 131 people, Svetlina - 1338 people, Sinapovo - 2223 people, Srem - 1831 people , Ustrem - 1831 people, Filipovo - 385 people, Hlyabovo - 1474 people, Chukarovo - 763 people.

 

Economically speaking, Topolovgrad and the region were undeveloped agricultural edge of Bulgaria. ¾ of the population of the town and the region were engaged in stock farming and tobacco production.

 

After the coup on 19/05/1934, an administrative-territorial reform was carried out in the country, and the existing counties were united in 7 new districts, headed by district directors / Decree No 179 of 19/05/1934. / SG. No. 38, Supplement, 19/05/1934 /. Topolovgrad and the region remained within the boundaries of the district of Burgas, region of Kazalagach.

 

  1.       Atanas Popov – 00/05/1934 – 00/06/1934
  2.       Georgi Petkov Lafchiev – 00/06/1934 – 27/09/1934
  3.       Vasil Ivanov Budakov – 27/09/1934 – 00/09/1938
  4.       Krastyu Yordanov Zhelezarov – 00/09/1938 – 00/08/1940
  5.       Georgi Bozhilov Klochkov – 00/08/1940 – 00/00/1943

 

In 1944 town of Topolovgrad was a typical provincial, comparatively not a small border town for this period, and famous tobacco-producing center. The administrative structure was relatively well developed. The town was the center of a municipality in the district of Elhovo, region of Burgas, in which there were a court, a tax administration, a police station, a post office and a telegraph, a junior high school, three banks, a center of a prelatic in the Sliven Eparchy, three churches and eight chapels. In 1944, the population was 6534 people, of whom Bulgarians - 6428, Greeks -31, Turks - 28, Roma - 40 and others - 10. Almost all the Thracians and Macedonians who in 1942 went to Thrace, returned to region, because of the new political and military situation in Bulgaria and the Aegean. In addition to tobacco production, the population was also engaged in stock farming. In 1944 in Topolovgrad there were: sheeps - 6000, goats - 5500, cattle - 2000, camels - 45, horses - 650 and many domestic birds. In limited quantities and mainly for the local market, the population cultivated: cereal-fodder crops, vegetables, grapes, melons, pumpkins, sunflower, cotton. The town was an important craft and trade center for the area in 1944. In Topolovgrad there were about 400 craftmans and trademans, who were united in the Association of General Crafts. Such was Topolovgrad and the region as of September 1944 in general.

 

  1.       Ivan Petkov Dimitrov – 00/00/1943 – 09/09/1944
  2.       Mircho Georgiev Mirchev – 09/09/1944 – 09/03/1948

70 years ago with Decree No 19 of the Regents of Bulgaria dated April 19, 1945, published in State Gazette No. 99 / from 29.04.1945. the Topolovgrad administrative district was restored in the Burgas region.

  1.       Mircho Georgiev Mirchev – 09/03/1948 – 29/05/1949

Administrative Division of the People's Republic of Bulgaria 1949- 1956 By Decree No 794 of 24/09/1949 /SG No 224 from 28/09/1949/ the country was divided into 14 regions and 101 districts. District of Topolovgrad was part of region of Yambol.

  1.       Krastyu Lambov Karakashev – 29/05/1949 – 10/10/1949
  2.       Mircho Georgiev Mirchev – 10/10/1949 – 00/00/0000
  3.       Manol Valkov Toychev – 00/00/0000 – 14/05/1951
  4.       Krastyu Lambov Karakashev – 14/05/1951 – 00/12/1952
  5.       Valcho Vasev Karachobanov – 00/12/1952 – 00/02/1956

Region of Yambol was removed after change in the administrative division of the People`s Republic of Bulgaria 1956. District of Topolovgrad became a part of Region of Stara Zagora.

  1.       Kostadin Mihalev Karapachov – 21/02/1956 – 01/11/1957
  2.       Slavcho Stanilov Budakov – 01/11/1957 – 00/00/1959

 

Administrative division of the People's Republic of Bulgaria for the period 1959 - 1987 Town of Topolovgrad and the area became a part of Region of Yambol .

  1.       Slavcho Stanilov Budakov – 00/00/1959 – 00/00/1962
  2.       Slavcho Stanilov Budakov – 00/00/1962 – 00/00/1966
  3.       Slavcho Stanilov Budakov – 00/00/1966 – 03/07/1971
  4.       Slavcho Stanilov Budakov – 03/07/1971 – 18/01/1974
  5.       Slavcho Stanilov Budakov – 18/01/1974 – 08/06/1976
  6.       Kiril Lambov Atanasov – 08/06/1976 – 25/03/1979
  7.       Kiril Lambov Atanasov – 25/03/1979 – 11/06/1981
  8.       Kiril Lambov Atanasov – 11/06/1981 – 13/12/1983
  9.       Kiril Lambov Atanasov – 13/12/1983 – 12/02/1986
  10.   Petar Monev Pashov – 12/02/1986 – 13/06/1986

 

Administrative division of Bulgaria 1987г. - 1998 the country was divided into 9 regions. The municipality of Topolovgrad comes out of the former district of Yambol and became a part of region of Haskovo administratively (which also included former districts of Haskovo, Stara Zagora and Kardzhali).

 

  1.       Petar Monev Pashov – 13/06/1986 – 07/02/1988
  2.       Petar Monev Pashov – 07/02/1988 – 17/09/1990
  3.       Petar Monev Pashov – 17/09/1990 – 20/10/1991
  4.       Petar Monev Pashov – 20/10/1991 – 00/10/1995
  5.       Stoyan Gospodinov Stoyanov – 00/10/1995 – 00/06/1998
  6.       Yovka Dimitrova Beleva – 00/06/1998 – 00/10/1998
  7.       Kosta Ivanov Kostov – 00/10/1998 – 00/10/1999

Since 1999 Bulgaria is administratively divided into 28 districts and 264 municipalities. The Municipality of Topolovgrad is part of Haskovo District.

  1.       Dancho Dimitrov Trifonov – 00/10/1999 – 00/10/2003
  2.       Nikolinka Dimitrova Valcheva – 00/00/2003 – 00/00/2006
  3.       Petar Monev Pashov – 00/00/2006 – 00/00/2006
  4.       Petar Monev Pashov – 00/00/2006 – 00/10/2007
  5.       Evtimiya Petrova Karacholova /Spasova/ - 00/11/2007 – 00/11/2011
  6.       Bozhin Petrov Bozhinov – 00/11/2011 – 00/11/2015
  7.       Bozhin Petrov Bozhinov – 00/11/2015 -

 

 

The water is the source of life for Kavakli

 

Planet Earth, also called the "Blue Planet" and its covered with 70% water, from which only 3% is drinking water.

Our land is a giant pot of water, in which everything alive can exist.

Water is the most familiar substance on Earth. It accompanies every moment of our lives, but do we know what a secret lies in this amazing element? Where did the water come from, who and why gave it to our planet? Each of the properties of the water is unique. So far, science has no answer why water is the only substance on the planet, which can be found in three states: liquid, solid and gaseous. Why is it the most powerful solvent on Earth and how it rises along the trunks of the trees, overcoming dozens of atmospheric pressures?

Everyone knows that life without water on Earth is impossible. People do not do enough to protect water, and this has negative effect on protection of human race and nature. In recent decades, due to global pollution, climate change, population growth, growing freshwater consumption, rapid deforestation, scientists and politicians predict that by 2025 the world will enter into a global water crisis. This will affect most of humanity and we will see the results from it, when our children become grown up persons.

Let`s look at the problem on a local level.

About Kavakli, Topolovgrad, the water and the people. Is it possible not to waste what the Lord has given us, to use water rationally and with love, so that the song of water and town of Topolovgrad continue to exist.

For centuries the song of water filled the five gullies, bubbling through the rocks and along the poplars, moving merrily on the northern slope of the Sakar Mountain, and it gathered in a law, in a small lush and merry river, took its long and gracious way. And this treasure flowed continually, lavishly irrigated with water the motherland, giving an refreshing moisture to poplars, willows, osier-bed and enchanting flowers.

How long ago it was…

Nearly a hundred years after passing the black devastating wave of the Ottoman hordes, this place was filled with human speech.

The first information about settlement in this place dates back to 1493, from where we learn that here was the settlement Kavakli /Topolovo/. They named the town after the many poplars that rose and rumbled past the sparkling springs, and the poplar is a water-loving tree.

Topolovgrad is situated on trias, shale, sandstone and limestone from Synclinala of Topolovgrad.

In the high southern part of the syncline of the triassic slate, flows a significant number of springs. Around those springs was created and has evolved the settlement of Kavakli (nowadays known as town of Topolovgrad).

The first mentioned settlers were Yurush /33 families/, who were mainly stock-breeders. They founded good pasture and water for their animals on this land. /The Yuruks are a Turkic ethnic group, inhabited mostly mountainous areas in Asia Minor, Thrace, And Epirus from the 14th to 20th centuries. It is believed that the yuruks are original from oguz. They are Muslims and speak Turkish, their main distinction from the Turkish population is their nomadic way of life/.

The Yuruks were nomads and in their blood was the movement. Soonly they disappeared, or just continued on their way. As memories of them remained only the names of some places.

And the settlement continued its life ..

The settlement grew and spread to the north. This is due to the fact, that in the area there was plenty of water, that could easily be used for agriculture and craftsmanship. The town was situated between small rivers, formed by these permanent water sources that started the Kayadzhik river, which goes to the Korudzha gully. The end of the Kayadzik river path is in the Tundzha river.

At the beginning of the seventeenth century in 1617, Kavakli was a village of vacuff of Bayadzid II, with 104 Christian families, from which it can be seen that, even then, the settlement had already acquired a Christian appearance.

The time was running, the water has been singing its song continuously and attracting more and more people to it, because the Water is a source of life.

In 1877 town of Kavakli had 5250 inhabitants, in 1893 - 7583 inhabitants, in 1900 - 8136 inhabitants, and in 1905 Kavakli was the most populous for its entire history as a settlement with 8416 inhabitants. Water was asset indeed and a valuable gift. Water created and developed the town, because of it Kavakli became a prestigious settlement. In 1900 there were: 30 ironwares, 25 tailor shops, 14 shoe shops, 10 goldsmith shops, 1 clockwork shop, 6 dyehouses, 20 butcher shops, 3 saddle-maker, 16 leather shops, 18 grocery shops. In Kavakli worked some of the best masters of the widely used until 1920 type of female kaltsunes called "lapchini". In the surrounding settlements, goods made by masters of Kavakli were preferred- slippers, sandals, fur caps, etc. There was also a bigger development in the production of vegetables (garlic, cabbage), eggs, hemp, viniculture and livestock breeding, due to plenty of water sources.

Here are the words of Konstantin Irechek who visited Kavakli in 1885. in conformation of the above. "At last we came out of a big shady oak forest and descended from it down to Kavakli. I thought I would find only a village, but suddenly, as I came out of the woods, I saw in front of me a significant town (year of 1885 - 1120 houses with 7064 inhabitants), situated between vineyards, gardens with mulberry and hemps, placed on slope bent in north ".

And how do we use the water? It was valuable resource, which should not be wasted, but should be used rationally for the good of each person and for overall good. 

On these local water sources were built stone fountains with troughs. Later, with the expansion of the town northwards along the slope, the enterprising people from Kavakli began to construct systems of ceramic watercourses into which they pushed the water. New fountains, water mains and ponds were built for public use throughout the town, using the significant water flow and tilt of the slope - the gravity water path. From the spouts of 36 fountains the water sang her song and donated the people with life.

For hundreds of years this system has been operating efficiently and without problem. In the middle of the 20th century the construction of today's sewerage system of Topolovgrad began.

The water that is now used by people of Topolovgrad is supplied by pumps situated in nearby village Petko voyvoda which is 6 km away. Gradually, the local water assets was disregarded, neglected and almost unused which is not in benefit of the people; The water created Topolovgrad, why did we forget it?

Nowadays, when water in our latitudes is decreasing more and more, and many water sources disappear, it is irresponsible to waste that asset, not to notice it and to forget about it. Because we have to respect what nature provides to us, appreciate it and use it wisely. What is your opinion, because this asset is yours and it can bring you benefits?

How about we start to think practically, as the old people of Kavakli did, and to take advantage of the natural assets that the city has? Water and her gravity slope. The lowest part of the town at Ponka has an altitude of 274 meters, and the altitude of the fountain at the church of St. Iliya is 353m above sea level or deviation of 77 m or if you make a fountain it can raise the water to a height of 77 m. - only under the influence of deviation. And why we don`t make fountains in several places? Why do not Topolovgrad become the town of the fountains, why we do not make a water wall, some nice fountains to supply schools, kindergarten, hospital, green areas, urban Parks and gardens, other administrative buildings for technical needs? Why we do not open water pipelines, water reservoirs for agricultural purposes, etc? Think about this idea, the water has created Topolovgrad, Water is a spring of life, maybe it will revive Topolovgrad.