Kamenica, Kosovo


Kamenica or Dardana, or Kosovska Kamenica, is a town and municipality located in the Gjilan District of Kosovo. According to the 2024 census, the municipality of Kamenica has 22,868 inhabitants, while the town has 5,206 inhabitants.

History

The Kamenica area, like the rest of Kosovo, was historically inhabited by the Dardani tribe, an Illyrian people. Archaeological evidence of their presence has been found at the Dardana Fortress site, which was later reconstructed during the late Roman period.
During the Yugoslav era, Kamenica was known for maintaining relatively strong inter-ethnic relations. Today, tensions remain low, largely because the area experienced less violence than many other regions during the Kosovo War.

Geography

The municipality of Kamenica is situated in eastern Kosovo, characterised by hilly and mountainous terrain. It forms part of the geographical and ethnographic region of Gollak and shares borders with Ranillug to the southwest, Novobërda to the west, Pristina to the northwest, and Serbia to the north and east. Gjilan is located away, while Pristina is around away from Kamenica.

Demographics

According to the 2024 census conducted by the Kosovo Agency of Statistics, the municipality of Kamenica has a population of 22,868. The ethnic composition is predominantly Albanian, accounting for 89.9% of residents, followed by Serbs at 8.2%, with other ethnic groups making up the remaining 1.9%.

Politics

Elections for the Mayor and the Municipal Assembly are held every four years. Voters receive two separate ballots: one to select a candidate for Mayor from various political parties, and another to choose a representative for the Municipal Assembly from a specific party or independent list.

Notable people