The Varaždin county of Croatia - Varaždinska županija is a county in northern Croatia, near the border with Slovenia and Hungary. It is named after its centre, the city of Varaždin.

Geography

The towns in Varaždin county are: Varaždin, Ivanec, Ludbreg, Lepoglava, Novi Marof and Varaždinske Toplice, there are additionally 22 communities. The county encompasses 1261 km2 of land and has 183,730 inhabitants (2001).

The Varaždin county borders with Međimurje on the north, Krapina-Zagorje county on the southwest, Zagreb county on the south, and Koprivnica-Križevci county on the southeast.

Traffic

The highway A4 passes through the county, connecting the Hungarian border (in the north) with Zagreb (in the south), and which has exits in Varaždin, Varaždinske Toplice and Novi Marof. In the longitudinal (west-east) direction, a magistral road passes along the Drava river, which connects Maribor (Slovenia) and Osijek. The railway (albeit not modernised) connects also the county with the south (Zagreb), north (Čakovec, Budapest) and east (Koprivnica).

Economy

Varaždin county today represents an important Croatian region with intense industrial and commercial activities and a strong financial sector. The high quality of products and services provided by county's firms are guarantors of the county's successful economic development on the global market in the future.

The economy of Varaždin county is focused on the manufacturing industry, particularly on the following industrial branches: milk products processing, beverage production, meat packing industry, clothing and textiles industry, metal manufacturing industry, leather footwear industry, manufacturing of high-quality wood furniture and other lumber products.

Administrative division

City of Varaždin (county seat) ;Town of Ludbreg ;Town of Lepoglava ;Town of Ivanec ;

Town of Novi Marof ;Town of Varaždinske Toplice ;Municipality of Bednja ;Municipality of Beretinec ;Municipality of Breznica ;Municipality of Breznički Hum ;Municipality of Cesticalink title ;Municipality of Donja Voća ;Municipality of Donji Martijanec ;Municipality of Gornji Kneginec ;Municipality of Jalžabet ;Municipality of Klenovnik ;Municipality of Ljubešćica ;Municipality of Mali Bukovec ;Municipality of Maruševec ;Municipality of Petrijanec ;Municipality of Sračinec ;Municipality of Sveti Đurđ ;Municipality of Sveti Ilija ;

Municipality of Trnovec Bartolovečki ;Municipality of Veliki Bukovec ;Municipality of Vidovec ;Municipality of Vinica ;Municipality of Visoko .

The county assembly is composed of 41 representatives, presided by Vladimir Stolnik (HNS), composed as follows:HNS-HSLS-SHUS 22 ;Croatian People's Party (HNS) ;

Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) ;HSS-SDP-HUS-LS 11 ;Croatian Peasants Party (HSS) ;Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP) ;Liberal Party (LS) ;HDZ-HKDU-DC 8 ;

Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) ;Democratic Centre (DC) ;Croatian Christian Democratic Union (HKDU) /Based on election results in 2005/.