CHANGES IN THE LIST OF POPULATED PLACES

Changes made after the approval of the list on December 18, 1997
(VVm = Government regulation, RM = regulation of the Minister for Regional Affairs, RT = Riigi Teataja [State Gazette, official journal of legal acts; links on the issues will direct you to original acts of the official server]):

Note. Estonia is divided into counties (Estonian, maakond), counties are subdivided into municipalities which are of two types: urban municipalitites, or towns (linn), and rural municipalities (vald). (There is no other status distinction between them.) Some rural municipalities consist of one populated place (formerly called the borough, alev) only. If there is also another rural municipality with the same name, in the official use the word "alev" is added in parentheses. After the changes in 2002 there remains only one such pair: Vändra vald and Vändra vald (alev). The main terms used in the names of populated places are linn 'town, city', alev 'borough', alevik 'small borough' and küla 'village'.

• 2015-09-07 RHMm No 31 [RT I, 11.09.2015, 1]
  The list of populated places was supplemented with Hermani küla (detached from Käsukonna küla) in the municipality of Imavere, Järvamaa, and with Mereküla (detached from Reiu küla) in the municipality of Tahkuranna, Pärnumaa.
• 2014-12-02 SMm No 50 [RT I, 05.12.2014, 42]
  The list of populated places was modified after the formation of Lääne-Saare municipality in Saaremaa: in the former Kaarma municipality Kirikuküla was changed to Kaarma-Kirikuküla, Mõisaküla joined to Tahula küla; in the former Kärla municipality Kulli küla was changed to Kärla-Kulli küla, Kirikuküla – to Kärla-Kirikuküla; in the former Lümanda municipality Kulli küla was named Lümanda-Kulli küla, Põlluküla and Kärdu küla were joined to Lümanda küla.
• 2014-08-29 SMm No 36 [RT I, 03.09.2014, 1]
  The list of populated places was supplemented with Pätsavere küla (detached from Lähevere) in the municipality of Koigi, Järvamaa.
• 2014-08-28 VVm No 137 [RT I, 29.08.2014, 15]
  The municipalities of Kaarma, Kärla and Lümanda in Saaremaa were amalgamated as Lääne-Saare municipality (Lääne-Saare vald, came into force after local elections in January 2015).
• 2014-05-12 RMm No 8 [RT I, 15.05.2014, 10]
  Kanama küla in the municipality of Saku, Harjumaa, was renamed as Saue küla.
• 2014-01-10 RMm No 1 [RT I, 17.01.2014, 12]
  In the municipality of Lihula, Läänemaa the list of populated places was supplemented with the following villages (küla): Aruküla (detached from Seira), Jõeääre (from Rumba), Keemu (from Matsalu), Laulepa (from Meelva), Liustemäe (from Metsküla), Mõisimaa (from Võhma), Nurme (from Tuudi), Peanse (from Petaaluse), Rannu (from Kirbla, earlier Kloostri-Rannu), Rootsi (from Seira), Seli (from Pagasi), Soovälja (from Parivere), Uluste (from Võhma), Vanamõisa (from Seira) ja Võigaste (from Metsküla).
• 2013-10-23 RMm No 13 [RT I, 29.10.2013, 7]
  The list of populated places was changed to reflect the mergers of local governments (see below).
• 2013-07-10 RMm No 8 [RT I, 16.07.2013, 1]
  Uuesalu küla (detached from Järveküla and Kurna) was added to the list of populated places in the municipality of Rae, Harjumaa.
• 2013-06-27 VVm No 102 [RT I, 04.07.2013, 13], VVm No 103 [RT I, 04.07.2013, 14], VVm No 104 [RT I, 04.07.2013, 15], VVm No 105 [RT I, 04.07.2013, 16], VVm No 106 [RT I, 04.07.2013, 17], VVm No 107 [RT I, 04.07.2013, 18], VVm No 108 [RT I, 04.07.2013, 19]: the following decisions were made (these came into force after local elections in October 2013):
  • In Harjumaa the municipalities of Kose and Kõue were merged into the municipality of Kose (Kose vald)
  • In Hiiumaa the town of Kärdla and the municipality of Kõrgessaare were merged into the municipality of Hiiu (Hiiu vald)
  • In Ida-Virumaa the municipalities of Lüganuse and Maidla and the town of Püssi were merged into the municipality of Lüganuse (Lüganuse vald)
  • In Läänemaa the municipalities of Oru, Risti and Taebla were merged into the municipality of Lääne-Nigula (Lääne-Nigula vald)
  • In Põlvamaa the town of Põlva and the municipality of Põlva were merged into the municipality of Põlva (Põlva vald)
  • In Pärnumaa the municipalities of Audru and Lavassaare were merged into the municipality of Audru (Audru vald)
  • In Viljandimaa the municipalities of Paistu, Pärsti, Saarepeedi and Viiratsi were merged into the municipality of Viljandi (Viljandi vald)
• 2013-05-03 RMm No 5 [RT I, 10.05.2013, 14]
  Two villages in the municipality of Ülenurme, Tartumaa were turned into Külitse alevik and Räni alevik.
• 2013-03-14 RMm No 3 [RT I, 19.03.2013, 10]
  Sandimetsa küla (detached from Ebavere and Äntu küla) was added to the list of populated places in the municipality of Väike-Maarja, Lääne-Virumaa
• 2012-12-31 RMm No 9 [RT I, 04.01.2013, 30]
  Vasula küla in the municipality of Tartu in Tartumaa was turned into Vasula alevik.
• 2012-07-16 RMm No 5 [RT I, 18.07.2012, 5]
  A new village, Koidu küla (detached mainly from Alliku küla) was added to the listing of populated places in the municipality of Saue, Harjumaa.
• 2011-12-20 RMm No 11 [RT I, 29.12.2011, 4]
  The following changes were made: Ardu küla was changed into Ardu alevik and Habaja küla into Habaja alevik in the municipality of Kõue, Harjumaa. Peetri küla was changed into Peetri alevik in the municipality of Rae, Harjumaa. A new populated place, Villavere küla (detached from Kutsala küla) was formed in the municipality of Viru-Nigula, Lääne-Virumaa. In the municipality of Kohila, Raplamaa, a new populated place, Aespa alevik (detached from Aespa küla and partly Vilivere küla) was formed, and Aespa küla was renamed into Vana-Aespa küla.
• 2011-07-15 RMm No 7 [RT I, 21.07.2011, 7]
  The list of populated places was supplemented with the following: three villages on Naissaar were added to the list of populated places in the municipality of Viimsi, Harjumaa: Lõunaküla/Storbyn, Tagaküla/Bakbyn and Väikeheinamaa/Lillängin (all three were detached from Naissaare küla which itself was abolished). Paikuse alevik in the municipality of Paikuse, Pärnumaa was changed into Paikuse alev. Vahi küla in the municipality of Tartu, Tartumaa was changed into Vahi alevik.
• 2010-11-18 RMm No 14 [RT I, 26.11.2010, 3]
  The list of populated places were supplemented with the following places: Vana-Sonda küla (detached from Varinurme küla) in the municipality of Sonda in Ida-Virumaa, Helda küla (detached from Hõreda küla), Kalda küla (detached from Härgla küla) and Sadala küla (detached from Järlepa küla and Lõiuse küla) in the municipality of Juuru in Raplamaa. Nasva küla in the municipality of Kaarma, Saaremaa was changed into Nasva alevik and Äksi küla was changed into Äksi alevik in the municipality of Tartu, Tartumaa.
• 2010-04-19 RMm No 6 [RTL, 2010, 21, 380]
  The list of populated places was supplemented by Saviranna küla (detached from Kallavere küla) in the municipality of Jõelähtme, Harjumaa.
• 2010-01-20 RMm No 1 [RTL, 2010, 5, 93]
  The list of populated places was supplemented by Harjuküla (a village) in the municipality of Varstu (detached from Liguri küla).
• 2009-11-19 RMm No 17 [RTL, 2009, 87, 1261]
  In the municipality of Kaarma in Saaremaa Kudjape küla became Kudjape alevik.
• 2009-10-15 RMm No 15 [RTL, 2009, 79, 1145 ]
  The populated places of the municipality of Kaisma were transferred to the list of populated places in the municipality of Vändra (the decision came into force after local elections in October 2009).
• 2009-07-28 RMm No 11 [RTL, 2009, 64, 947]
  In the municipality of Noarootsi in Läänemaa a new populated place (village) was added to the list: Telise/Tällnäs.
• 2009-06-12 VVm No 97 [RT I, 2009, 32, 204 ]
  The municipality of Kaisma in Pärnumaa was incorporated into the municipality of Vändra (Vändra vald, decision came into force after local elections in October 2009)
• 2008-08-07 RMm No 6  [RTL, 2008, 69, 990]:
  In the municipality of Kiili in Harjumaa the following changes to the generic terms in populated places were made: Kiili alevik (small borough) became Kiili alev (borough), Kangru küla became Kangru alevik and Luige küla became Luige alevik
• 2008-07-01 RMm No 5  [RTL 2008, 59, 828]:
  In the municipality of Viru-Nigula in Lääne-Virumaa Viru-Nigula küla (village) became Viru-Nigula alevik (small borough)
• 2008-01-29 RMm No 1  [RTL 2008, 13, 172]:
  In the municipality of Kohila in Raplamaa Pukamäe küla (a village) was added to the list (detached from Lohu küla)
• 2007-07-18 RMm No 5  [RTL 2007, 61, 1105]:
  In the municipality of Sõmeru in Lääne-Virumaa Näpi küla was changed into Näpi alevik and Uhtna küla was changed into Uhtna alevik. In the municipality of Palupera in Valgamaa Makita küla (detached from Lutike küla) was added to the list
• 2007-01-25 RMm No 1  [RTL 2007, 11, 174]:
  The list was supplemented: in the municipality of Kadrina in Lääne-Virumaa Orutaguse küla and Saukse küla were added to the list (detached from Vandu küla) and in the municipality of Saarde in Pärnumaa Oissaare küla (detached from Kanaküla) was added
• 2006-12-22 RMm No 9  [RTL 2006, 93, 1729]:
  According to the revised version of the Act on the Administrative Division of the Estonian Territory the Minister for Regional Affairs reapproved the official list of populated places in Estonia. (Earlier the Government was entitled to approve and revise the official list.)
• 2006-03-02 VVm No 62  [RT I, 2006, 12, 87]:
  The list was changed: Saare küla (a village) in the municipality of Saare in Jõgevamaa was changed into Kääpa küla; new Rebase küla (detached from Pirmastu küla) was added to the list in the municipality of Paistu in Viljandimaa
• 2005-10-21 VVm No 273  [RT I, 2005, 56, 448]:
  The list was changed: Kiiu küla (a village) was changed into Kiiu alevik (small borough) and Kolga küla was changed into Kolga alevik in the municipality of Kuusalu in Harjumaa; Maarja küla was renamed as Maarja-Magdaleena küla in the municipality of Tabivere in Jõgevamaa; new names added to the list were Kuluse küla in the municipality of Martna, Läänemaa (detached from Martna küla), and Pille küla in the municipality of Lasva, Võrumaa (detached from Tsolgo küla)
• 2005-06-30 VVm No 152 [RT I, 2005, 38, 305], VVm No 153 [RT I, 2005, 38, 306]: the following changes were decided (these came into force in October 2005, after the municipal elections):
• The municipalities of Kuusalu and Loksa in Harjumaa were amalgamated into the municipality of Kuusalu (Kuusalu vald)
• The municipalities of Kabala, Oisu and Türi and the town of Türi in Järvamaa were amalgamated into the municipality of Türi (Türi vald), its list of populated places included the town of Türi.
• 2005-06-16 VVm No 138 [RT I, 2005, 37, 289], VVm No 139 [RT I, 2005, 37, 290], VVm No 140 [RT I, 2005, 37, 291], VVm No 141 [RT I, 2005, 37, 292], VVm No 142 [RT I, 2005, 37, 293], VVm No 143 [RT I 2005, 37, 294]:
  the following changes were decided (these came into force in October 2005, after the municipal elections):
• The town of Tamsalu and the municipality of Tamsalu in Lääne-Virumaa were amalgamated into the municipality of Tamsalu (Tamsalu vald), its list of populated places contained the town of Tamsalu
• The town of Tapa and the municipality of Saksi (excluding three villages – see further) in Lääne-Virumaa and the municipality of Lehtse in Järvamaa were amalgamated into the municipality of Tapa (Tapa vald) that as a whole belonged to the county of Lääne-Virumaa, its list of populated places included the town of Tapa. Three villages of the municipality of Saksi – Kiku, Pariisi and Salda – were annexed to the municipality of Kadrina
• The town of Jõhvi and the municipality of Jõhvi in Ida-Virumaa were amalgamated into the municipality of Jõhvi (Jõhvi vald), its list of populated places included the town of Jõhvi
• The municipalities of Avanduse and Väike-Maarja in Lääne-Virumaa were amalgamated into the municipality of Väike-Maarja (Väike-Maarja vald)
• The municipalities of Olustvere, Suure-Jaani and Vastemõisa and the town of Suure-Jaani in Viljandimaa were amalgamated into the municipality of Suure-Jaani (Suure-Jaani vald), its list of populated places included the town of Suure-Jaani
• The town of Kilingi-Nõmme and the municipalities of Saarde and Tali in Pärnumaa were amalgamated into the municipality of Saarde (Saarde vald), its list of populated places included the town of Kilingi-Nõmme.
• 2005-06-02 VVm No 113 [RT I 2005, 32, 238]:
  Järva-Jaani alev (borough) is the new name (status) of the former Järva-Jaani alevik (small borough) in the municipality of Järva-Jaani, Järvamaa
• 2005-05-13 VVm No 99 [RT I 2005, 28, 204]:
  Sookaera-Metsanurga küla (a village, detached from Tõdva küla) was added to the list of populated places in the municipality of Saku, Harjumaa.
• 2003-12-19 VVm No 328 [RT I 2003, 83, 566]:
  Mõisaküla (a village) was added to the list of official names of populated places in the municipality of Oru, Läänemaa.
• 2002-12-17 VVm No 387 [RT I 2002, 105, 620]:
  Sae küla (a village) was added to the list of official names of populated places in the municipality of Rägavere, Lääne-Virumaa
• 2002-07-11 VVm No 224 [RT I 2002, 62, 382], VVm No 225 [RT I 2002, 62, 383], VVm No 226 [RT I 2002, 62, 384], VVm No 227 [RT I 2002, 62, 385] and VVm No 228 [RT I 2002, 62, 386]:
  the following changes were decided (these came into force in October 2002, after the municipal elections):
  • The town of Kehra and the municipality of Anija in Harjumaa amalgamated into the municipality of Anija (Anija vald), its list of populated places contains the town of Kehra
  • The town of Rapla and the municipality of Rapla in Raplamaa amalgamated into the municipality of Rapla (Rapla vald), its list of populated places contains the town of Rapla
  • The town of Räpina and the municipality of Räpina in Põlvamaa amalgamated into the municipality of Räpina (Räpina vald), its list of populated places contains the town of Räpina
  • The municipality of the borough of Kohila and the rural municipality of Kohila in Raplamaa amalgamated into the municipality of Kohila (Kohila vald), its list of populated places contains the borough of Kohila (Kohila alev)
  • The municipality of the borough of Märjamaa and the rural municipalities of Märjamaa and Loodna in Raplamaa amalgamated into the municipality of Märjamaa (Märjamaa vald), its list of populated places contains the borough of Märjamaa (Märjamaa alev), the lists of Loodna and Märjamaa were merged
• 2001-12-19 VVm No 421 [RT I 2001, 100, 652] and VVm No 422 [RT I 2001, 100, 653]:
  The list of populated places was supplemented with the following village names: in the municipality of Oru Niibi (VVm 421) and in the municipality of Oisu Metsaküla (VVm 422).
• 2000-11-30 VVm No 396 [RT I 2000, 91, 596]:
  The list of populated places was supplemented with the following village names: in the municipality of Loksa Kalme, Loksa and Nõmmeveski, in the municipality of Jõgeva Lõpe and Väljaotsa.
• 1999-06-29 VVm No 208 [RT I 1999, 57, 606]:
  The town of Antsla and the rural municipality of Antsla were amalgamated as the municipality of Antsla (Antsla vald) and the town of Antsla (Antsla linn) was termed as a town within a municipality. The decision took effect in October 1999 after the municipal elections.
• 1999-06-15 VVm No 195 [RT I 1999, 53, 579]:
  The municipalities of Kaarma and Kuressaare were united into one single municipality of Kaarma (Kaarma vald) and, consequently, all populated places of the municipality of Kuressaare became those of the municipality of Kaarma. The decision took effect in October 1999 after the municipal elections.
• 1999-06-08 VVm No 184 [RT I 1999, 52, 568]:
  The town of Karksi-Nuia and the municipality of Karksi were amalgamated as the municipality of Karksi (Karksi vald) and the town of Karksi-Nuia (Karksi-Nuia linn) was termed as a town within a municipality. The decision took effect in October 1999 after the municipal elections.
• 1999-06-08 VVm No 180 [RT I 1999, 52, 564]:
  The municipality of Vihula and the municipality of Võsu were amalgamated as the municipality of Vihula (Vihula vald). Two populated places were added to the list of the municipality of Vihula: Võsu alevik (a small borough) and Käsmu küla (a village). The decision will took in October 1999 after the municipal elections.
• 1999-05-13 VVm No 151 [RT I 1999,45,522]:
  The town of Lihula and the municipality of Lihula were amalgamated as the municipality of Lihula (Lihula vald) and the town of Lihula (Lihula linn) was termed as a town within a municipality. The decision took effect in October 1999 after the municipal elections.
• 1999-03-17 VVm No 100 [RT I 1999,31,427]:
  The town of Otepää and the municipality of Pühajärve were amalgamated as the municipality of Otepää (Otepää vald) and the town of Otepää (Otepää linn) was termed as a town within a municipality. The decision took effect in October 1999 after the municipal elections.
• 1999-02-23 VVm No 69 [RT I 1999,22,345]:
  In connection with the change of boundary between the municipalities of Halliste and Karksi the village of Muri was was transferred from Halliste to Karksi municipality.
• 1998-12-16 VVm No 283 [RT I,1998,112,1853]:
  The new version of the list was approved. There were 97 additions to the list (1 "small borough", 96 villages), 9 names were changed and 1 deleted. For details see the list of new names and the list of changed or deleted names.
• 1998-10-20 VVm No 235 [RT I,1998,96,1516]:
  The municipality of Raja in Jõgevamaa was renamed as the municipality of Kasepää.
• 1998-06-30 VVm No 139 [RT I 1998,60,955]:
  1) The following villages in Võrumaa were transferred from the municipality of Meremäe to the municipality of Vastseliina: Hinniala, Indra, Kornidsa, Kõrvõ, Mutsu, Raadi, Savioja and Tallikõstõ.
  2) The following names of the villages of Vastseliina municipality were changed: Kapõra (former name) – Kapera (new name), Kornidsa – Kornitsa, Kõrvõ – Kõrve, Tallikõstõ – Tallikeste, Telläste – Tellaste, Vastseliina – Vana-Vastseliina.
• 1998-06-11 VVm No 133 [RT I 1998,56,842]:
  The town of Abja-Paluoja and the municipality of Abja were amalgamated as the municipality of Abja and following that the town was termed as a "town within a municipality" (or incorporated town, i.e a town without an independent council). The title of the list of populated places was modified to include a reference to "towns within municipalities".
• 1997-12-23 VVm No 248 [RT I 1997, 99, 1604]:
  The following villages in Võrumaa were transferred from the municipality of Meremäe to the municipality of Vastseliina: Kapõra, Kerepäälse, Möldri, Plessi, Telläste, Vastseliina.

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