Historical-Geographical Development of Vrbovec

U radu se razmatra historijsko-geografski razvoj grada Vrbovca na koji je osobito utjecalo upravljanje i djelovanje obitelji Zrinski u 17. stoljeću i obitelji Patačić u 18. stoljeću. Suvremeni geografski razvoj grada započinje u drugoj polovici 20. stoljeća, a očituje se u promjenama koje su zahvatile područje 1960-ih godina. Tada ovaj prostor zahvaća proces industrijalizacije i deagrarizacije, sa svim posljedicama koje procesi za sobom nose. Projekcije budućeg razvoja užeg i šireg prostora nisu povoljne, a negativne tendencije razvoja očituju se u funkcionalnom i demografskom smislu. Razvoj posljednjih 10 godina karakterizira poticanje poljoprivrednih djelatnosti i ruralni razvoj koji karakterizira duga tradicija, poduzetništvo te razvoj kulturnih i društvenih djelatnosti.The paper discusses the historical and geographical development of Vrbovec, which was particularly affected by the rule and activity of the Zrinski family in the 17th century and the Patačić family in the 18th century. Its modern geographic development began in the second half of the 20thcentury, and it is reflected in the changes that affected the area in the 1960s. At that time this area was affected by the processes of industrialization and land reclamation, together with all the consequences those processes carry. The projections of future development of both central and wider area are not favorable, and negative tendencies of development are reflected in the functional and demographic way. The development in the past 10 years is characterized by the promotion of agricultural activities and rural development, which is characterized by long tradition, small and medium entrepreneurship, and the development of cultural and social activities