Kosjerić, Zlatibor District, Šumadija and Western Serbia Region, Serbia

🇷🇸 Kosjeríć (Косјерић) is a town and municipality located in the Zlatibor District of western Serbia. The municipality's area is 359 square km (139 sq mi), with 26 villages mostly placed in the river valleys, though there are also some settlements in the mountains at altitudes of more than 1,000 metres (3,300 feet).

Geography The town is situated on the road between Požega on one end and Valjevo on the other. The town is near the mountain tourist centres: Divčibare and Zlatibor. It lies at the foothill of Drmanovina and Crnokosa and from south Povlen and Maljen mountains.

History The exact date of the town's founding is unclear. Near the town archaeologists have found Roman and Serbian medieval relics, but it is believed that mass immigration occurred before the Serbian Revolution at the beginning of the nineteenth century with people from Montenegro, East Bosnia and the Western Serbian mountains Zlatibor and Tara.

This part of Serbia was under the rule of the Nemanjić dynasty until the Ottoman Empire seized control of the country in 1463. During the next two centuries roads were built and major development began linking the Adriatic Sea to western Serbia and to the east. Wars between Austria-Hungary and the Turks took a toll on the population numbers in Kosjerić.

It is thought that the oldest inhabitants of the town were from the family Kosijer. From legends it is said that Antonije Kosjer came in Kosijer from Montenegro and brought his three sons along with him. After that Jovan Baronim came from the village Bare and his sister accompanied him with seven sons. It is recorded that there was migration from the village of Divci and from Montenegrin Kolašin.

Rapid development began in 1882, but it was suppressed by the faster-growing communities of nearby bigger towns, Valjevo and Požega. Kosjerić reached the status of the town in 1966 and economic development after the completion of the Belgrade-Bar railway in 1972.

Settlements Aside from the town of Kosjerić, the municipality includes the following 27 settlements: • Bjeloperica • Brajkovići • Varda • Galovići • Godečevo • Godljevo • Gornja Pološnica • Donja Pološnica • Drenovci • Dubnica • Makovište • Mionica • Mrčići • Mušići • Paramun • Radanovci • Rosići • Ruda Bukva • Seča Reka • Skakavci • Stojići • Subjel • Tubići • Cikote • Ševrljuge.

Economy Much of Kosjeríć's economy is based on agriculture and processing industry, with local cement factory being the key of economic development in past few decades. The cement factory is one of three Serbian cement factories and it has helped boost the economic prosperity not only for the town but for the whole region. In 2002, TITAN Group and the Serbian Privatization Agency signed an agreement for the transfer of 70% of the share capital of the Kosjerić Cement company, a deal worth $35.5 million. As of 2013, the production capacity of the Kosjerić cement plant was 750,000 tons. With modernization of production processes, the number of employees fell from 680 in 2002 to around 250 in 2013. Many of the town citizens are employed at the factory.

Due to its location and climate Kosjerić has a strong production of fruit and vegetables, most of which are plums and raspberries. The area is well known for its plum brandy (40–45% ABV; "ljuta rakija"). Other successful companies are: concrete pipelines manufacturer "Pim-Grad", electric equipment manufacturer "Elkok" and factories for the manufacture of concrete elements like "Kofeniks" and "Povlen".

Economy: Tourist Industry Kosjerić has developing tourism industry. Kosjerić and the surrounding area are known for their fresh air and beautiful nature. High mountains, fields, wood and water wells surround the town and it is famous for country tourism and the production of healthy food. Fresh air and nice climate are very appropriate for different sports; hence Kosjerić became a famous sport centre equipped with different types of sport fields on 40,000 square metres (430,000 square feet), sports hall with 700 stands, Olympic-sized pool and several football, basketball and handball playgrounds.

It has attracted many people from central Serbia for its famed festivals: "The Shepard Days" (Serbian: Čobanski dani) which is held every July and "Days of Petar Lazić" (Serbian: Dani Petra Lazića) which is held every August. Also, every year an NGO called "K-Town Group" organize an international art camp "Kosjerić", which includes different art workshops with 50 participants from around the world. The development and reconstruction of the "Hotel Olympic" has also further helped increase tourist numbers.