About. Klaipėda district is located in the western part of Lithuania by the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon. The Western part of the district lies within the coastal lowlands, while the Eastern part extends to the plateau of West Samogitia (Žemaitija), reaching a height of 148 m on Žvaginiai mound. The district is crossed by one of the most beautiful rivers of Samogitia – the River Minija. The district includes an area of 133,59 ha, consisting of 53,3 % arable land, 23,8 % forests, 9,5 % water banks and 13,4 % urban land. District has a population of 49,279 inhabitants. The administrative centre is Gargždai town with its population of 15,894 inhabitants. Gargždai town territory covers nearly 943,407 ha of land and the town is just 18 km away from Klaipėda city. Klaipėda district is composed of 11 elderships. The most important towns and small-towns are following: Priekulė, Veiviržėnai, Vėžaičiai, Kretingalė, Endriejavas, Dovilai, Judrėnai, Agluonėnai, Karklė and Dreverna.
Economy. In the Klaipėda district there are over 1400 enterprises. About 55 % of all enterprises are engaging in trade and public catering. The largest enterprises function in the oil, building and constructions, food industries. There are a few companies involved in oil processing, such as “Geonafta” and “Minijos nafta”. The joint-stock companies “Gargždų Mida”, “Silmega”, “Master Inc.” and “Polasta” in Gargždai are involved in manufacturing soft roof cover, modern-type windows and silicate bricks. The major producer and processor of row meet is “Agrovet” in Kretingalė town The largest construction companies in the district are ”Hidrostatyba” and “Gargždų statyba”.
History. In the ethnic terms, Klaipėda district is an exception; it is nearly divided into halves by historical and cultural heritage of two Lithuanian ethnic groups, i.e. Lithuanians of Lithuania Minor and Samogitians of Lithuania Greater. Persistent ethnic and cultural differences between Minor and Greater Lithuania that are remarkably visible while travelling across Klaipėda district, It has 439 cultural objects.
Area - 133.59 thousand ha. Of them -53.3% - agricultural areas (23.8% - forests; 9.5% - water; 13.4% - cities, towns and villages).
2009 statistics:
Population - 51 891 thousand.
The urban population - 17 985 thousand.
Rural population - 33 906 thousand.
Female - 26 619 thousand.
Male - 25 256 thousand.
The district administrative center - Gargždai
Gargždai urban area - 943, 407 ha
Gargždai urban population - 16 308 thousand.
Priekulės town - 1 652 thousand.
Elderships: Agluonėnai, Dauparai-Kvietiniai, Dovilai, Endriejavas, Gargždai, Judrėnai, Kretingalė, Priekulė, Sendvaris, Veiviržėnai, Vėžaičiai.
