Anija Parish
Anija Parish is a rural municipality in the eastern part of Harju County, Estonia.
The parish has one town - Kehra, which is the administrative center of the parish. The parish also has a small borough of Aegviidu, where the municipality also has an office, and 33 villages, including Anija.
As of 18th June 2025, the parish had a population of 6,429 people.
Early history
According to the Danish Census Book of 1241, the western part of the modern Anija Parish was split between the Ancient-Estonian counties of Revala and Harju.More specifically the northern parts of the modern parish were located in the ancient of Revala county and included the villages of Aavere, Anija, Kõlu, Soodla, Kihmla, Pirsu, Kehra, and Parila. Kaersoo, which is also mentioned in the book, was divided between the modern villages of Sambu and Salumäe in 1977. It is speculated that some parts of the modern Linnakse were once a part of the relatively large ancient village of Saintakæ, which eventually became the modern Raasiku.
Also according to the book, the southern parts of the modern parish were located in the ancient of Harju county and included the villages of Pikva, Rooküla, Kaivere, Alavere, Mõisaaseme, Rasivere, and Voose. Kiviloo, whose historic center is located in the modern village of Lükati, is also mentioned.
The south-eastern part of the parish has historically been a part of of Järva county, while the north-eastern part of the parish was a part of, both being sparsely populated. There have been several historic settlements on the lands of modern Pillapalu and Aegviidu, including Kosenõmme, Rekka, Kaikvõhma, Koolma, Koonukõrve, and Laudisalu, all of which were mentioned in 1379 as belonging to the. The historic Koitjärve, first mentioned in 1518, is located on the lands of modern Pillapalu.
History
Russian Empire
Anija Parish was formed as a result of the, signed by Alexander II of Russia on, and in force since. The law was a part of reforms that were aimed at curbing the powers of local feudal lords, and paved the way towards Estonian independence in 1918. The parish was formed on the grounds of the some time after the law came into force. Other parishes that incorporated parts of the modern Anija Parish in the Harju-Jaani Church Parish include Kehra-Kaunissaare, Paasiku, Kambi-Raasiku, Kiviloo, and Haljava.Kaunissaare became a part of Kiviloo Parish in 1880, leaving behind Kehra Parish. Kehra, Haljava, and Paasiku Parishes became a part of Anija Parish on, while Kiviloo, Kambi-Raasiku, and Perila-Rätla Parishes became a part of Peningi Parish. The areas of the former Kambi-Raasiku, Paasiku, and Haljava Parishes became Raasiku Parish on.
Alavere-Pikva-Rooküla Parish was formed on the grounds of the in 1866, only to disintegrate into three separate parishes in 1870: Alavere, Pikva, and Rooküla. The three parishes became a part of Palvere Parish on. Palvere Parish was renamed to Nikolai Parish on. The areas of the former three parishes were separated from Nikolai Parish on and became Alavere Parish.
Lehtse and Kärevete Parishes were formed on the grounds of the in 1866. The areas east of Mustjõe train stop and south of Koitjärve bog were all part of Lehtse Parish, except the Nelijärve area in Aegviidu, which was a part of Kärevete Parish. Kärevete Parish was renamed to Ambla Parish in 1892.
Kolga Parish was formed on the grounds of the in 1866. There are also records of a Koitjärve Parish that existed sometime between 1866 and 1879 and eventually became a part of Kolga Parish but it is unclear if it included any parts of the modern day Anija Parish. South of the Soodla River, the historic village of Kõrveveski and Kivijärv belonged to Kolga Parish, both of which are currently part of the village of Pillapalu.
Interwar period
1910s
The areas around Kaunissaare manor were transferred from Peningi Parish to Alavere Parish on August 15, 1919. Additionally some forested areas were transferred from Raasiku Parish to Alavere Parish on the same day.1920s
The populated areas south of Koitjärve bog, around the village of Pillapalu, were transferred from Jõelehtme and Nehatu Parishes to Anija Parish on July 1, 1923, with the forested areas being transferred on January 1, 1925. Verioja area was also gradually transferred as part of the same agreements.According to the 1922 Estonian census data, released in 1924, Anija Parish consisted of the villages of Aavere, Härmakosu, Kehra, Kõrve, Loo, Oja, Otsa, Pillapalu, Pirga, Pirsu, Soodla, Vikipalu, Ülejõe, and of Anija, Kehra manors. Additionally, the 1923 list of Estonian settlements released by the Estonian postal authority also mentions the village of Pringu and Lilli, Mullikmäe settlements. The village of Kõrve was located where the Ruunoja River flows into the Soodla River, in the modern-day village of Raudoja. The villages of Otsa and Pirga were located just north and north-east of Lilli, respectively, and are today part of the village of Soodla. The village of Pirsu was located just west of Lilli, on both shores of the Jägala river, and is presently split between the villages of Lilli and Kuusemäe. The village of Oja was located on the shores of the Aavoja River, in the southern part of the modern village of Ülejõe. Mullikmäe was located north of Aavere, on the road that connects the village of Anija with the Piibe road, and is presently part of the village of Partsaare. The relatively unknown village of Pringu was home to the local municipal hall and has usually been counted as a part of the village of Pirga.
According to the 1922 Estonian census data, the villaged of Alavere Parish consisted of Arava, Jõeääre, Kuusiku, Laksu, Palu, Pikva, Rasivere, Rooküla, Soo-otsa, Taganurga, Uuearu, the settlements of Alavere, Rooküla, and of Kaunissaare, Nõmbra, Pikva manors. In addition, the 1923 list of Estonian settlements released by the Estonian postal authority also mentions Mõisaaseme settlement, Jõeääre, Pikaveski, and Vetla watermills on the Jägala river, and Pirgu watermill on the Jõelähtme river, near the border of Peningi parish. The village of Jõeääre was located directly east of Pikva, on the shores of the Jägala River, in the modern-day village of Arava, while the village of Laksu was located directly west of Pikva, near the modern Laksu main ditch, and is currently also part of Pikva. The village of Kuusiku was located just south-west of the modern day Kaunissaare reservoir. The village of Palu was located north of the village of Voose, and south of the Perila-Jäneda road in the modern village of Rasivere. The village of Soo-otsa was located just north-west of the village of Palu, along the Perila-Jäneda road in the modern village of Rasivere. The village of Mõisaaseme was located just south of the village of Soo-Otsa, and east of the original Rasivere, and is also part of Rasivere in modern times. Taganurga was located east of the Vetla watermill, on the eastern bank of the Jägala River. Nõmbra is nowadays part of Kose Parish.
According to the 1923 list of Estonian settlements released by the Estonian postal authority, the areas of Lehtse Parish that lied on the grounds of modern Anija Parish consisted of the villages of Aegviidu borough, Koolme, Pruuna-Kõrve, and of the historic settlement of Kosenõmme. Koonukõrve is listed as a farmstead and Mustjõe is listed as a train stop. The villages of Koolme and Pruuna-Kõrve were located northeast of the village of Jäneda, in the southeastern-most part of the modern-day village of Pillapalu. Nowadays, Kosenõmme makes up the northern part of Aegviidu borough. Koonukõrve was located east of Pillapalu and north of Jäneda, on the banks of the Soodla River, and on the grounds of the modern-day villages of Pillapalu and Koitjärve. The Nelijärve area belonged to Ambla Parish and was sparsely populated.''''''
1930s
As a result of the 1939 Estonian parish reform, effective since April 1, 1939, Anija Parish:- gained the villages of Alavere, Arava, Jõeääre, Kuusiku, Pikva, Soo-otsa, Uuearu from Alavere Parish, splitting Alavere Parish between Anija, Ravila, and Peningi Parishes in the process
- gained the settlement and village of Paasiku from the villages of Raasiku Parish
- gained Soo-otsa farmstead and a forested area south of it from Peningi Parish
- lost the village of Aavere and the western parts of the settlement of Anija to Raasiku Parish
- lost the western part of Pillapalu settlement to Lehtse Parish
Soviet occupation
1940s
On August 8, 1945, the following rural councils were established on the lands of the previous parishes:- Anija Parish: Anija, Kehra, and Pikva Rural Councils
- Lehtse Parish: Aegviidu Rural Council
- Raasiku Parish: Läti, and Haljava Rural Councils
- Ravila Parish: Voose Rural Council
1950s
Parishes existed in parallel to rural councils until September 26, 1950, when rural councils were split among the newly created regions:- Harju Region: Haljava, and Läti Rural Councils
- Kose Region: Anija, Kehra, Pikva, and Voose Rural Councils
- Tapa Region: Aegviidu Rural Council
- Aegviidu Rural Council: Aegviidu Rural Council
- Alavere Rural Council: Pikva, and Voose Rural Councils
- Anija Rural Council: Anija, and Kehra Rural Councils
- Raasiku Rural Council: Aruküla, Haljava, and Läti Rural Councils
When the Estonian Central Polygon was established in 1952, many villages and farmsteads were forcefully left abandoned or destroyed in the area, including what is now eastern Anija Parish: Apuparra, Koitjärve, Kõrveveski, Kulli, Lepasilla, Pruunakõrve, parts of Pillapalu. The former villages and farmsteads lay mostly on the grounds of the modern-day village of Pillapalu.