Novi Grad, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina

🇧🇦 Novi Grad, formerly Bosanski Novi, is a town and municipality in Republika Srpska, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Situated in the far north-west of the country, it lies across the Una from the Croatian town of Dvor. Known for its scenic quay, Novi Grad lies at the confluence of the Una and Sana rivers.

Geography Novi Grad is located on the right bank of the Una and both banks of the Sana, between two geographic zones: the slopes of the mountains of Grmeč and Kozara, and the alluvial land surrounding the town's two rivers. The town itself is located 122 m (400 feet) above sea level.

History The town was first mentioned in 1280 under the Latin name Castrum Novum which translated means 'new fort'. In 1483, the Battle of Una was fought near the city. It belonged to the dukes of Blagaj (the Blagaj Japra branch of the Babonić family) and in the early sixteenth century came under power of Nikola Zrinski. Croatian ban Adam Bačan conquered Novi in 1693. Evliya Çelebi on his journey through Bosnia mentions that Croatian nobles built Novi Grad. In 1895, during Austro-Hungarian rule in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the town was officially given the name Bosanski Novi. At the same time, the city included around 3,300 people with 550 households. Wooden bridges existed across the Una and Sana rivers which the citizens had to guard against floods in the autumn and spring. For that reason, a current-day symbol of the town was built in 1906—the Una quay.

In 1872, Novi Grad was the first municipality to have a train station on the new Bosnian railway, which afforded it significant cultural and economic advantages over other Krajina municipalities. The first hospital was established around the same time.

From 1929 to 1941, Bosanski Novi was part of the Vrbas Banovina of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

From 1992 through 1995, the town was ethnically cleansed of its Bosniak and Croat inhabitants, thereby rendering it almost completely Serb-populated. In order to distance the town from its Bosnian history and its cultural roots and in tune with the war politics, the local Serb government renamed the town to Novi Grad, a change criticized by Croat and Bosniak residents. Consequently, the majority of people from Bosanski Novi were misplaced and live all over Europe, the American continent, Australia and elsewhere around the globe.

After the Bosnian War, Kostajnica was split from the municipality.

Settlements Aside from the town of Novi Grad, the municipality includes the following settlements: • Ahmetovci • Blagaj Japra • Blagaj Rijeka • Blatna • Cerovica • Crna Rijeka • Čađavica Donja • Čađavica Gornja • Čađavica Srednja • Ćele • Devetaci • Dobrljin • Donje Vodičevo • Donji Agići • Donji Rakani • Gornje Vodičevo • Gornji Agići • Gornji Rakani • Grabašnica • Hozići • Johovica • Jošava • Kršlje • Kuljani • Lješljani • Mala Krupska Rujiška • Mala Novska Rujiška • Mala Žuljevica • Maslovare • Matavazi • Mazić • Petkovac • Poljavnice • Prusci • Radomirovac • Rakovac • Rašće • Ravnice • Rudice • Sokolište • Suhača • Svodna • Trgovište • Vedovica • Velika Rujiška • Velika Žuljevica • Vitasovci.

Economy The economy is based on a few industries and a number of private firms. Novi Grad has notable potential in tourism, wood processing, food production and management of water resources.

Sport There are several active sports organizations in the town, including football, handball and basketball clubs.

The local football club is FK Sloboda Novi Grad.