Idvor


Idvor is a village in northern Serbia. It is located in the Kovačica municipality, South [Banat District], Vojvodina province. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population numbers 1,198 people.

Name

In Serbian, the village is known as Idvor, in German as Idwor, and in Hungarian as Torontáludvar. The town's name originates from Hyd Var, which means "Guard near border crossing" in Hungarian.

Geography

Idvor is situated near the Tamiš river, 35km from Zrenjanin and 43km from Pančevo, in the Banat region of Serbia.

History

During Ottoman rule, Idvor was populated by ethnic Serbs. Another wave of Serbs came to the town near the end of the 17th century during the Great Migrations, led by Arsenije III Crnojević. The Serbs arrived from Patriarchate of Peć region to serve as guardians of the Austrian military frontier against the Ottomans. Until 1795 the village was situated at location known as "Staro selo", and in that year it was moved to its current position to take advantage of a more favorable terrain.
The Serbian Orthodox Church in Idvor was built in 1803, with additions of clock, bells, and improvements to the tower over following decades. The iconostasis was installed in 1871 and painted by Stevan Todorović during 1876-1879.

Historical population

  • 1961: 1,823
  • 1971: 1,621
  • 1981: 1,442
  • 1991: 1,308
  • 2002: 1,198

    Notable residents

Serbian physicist, inventor, and philanthropist Mihajlo Pupin was born in Idvor. The Memorial Complex in Idvor is dedicated to his life and work. It consists of Mihajlo Pupin's home, the Old School, and the National Home that he endowed to ldvor and its people, which was supposed to become a National University. The Complex gained the status of a Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance in 1990.