Blagoevgrad
Bulgaria
Blagoevgrad
Blagoevgrad, town, southwestern Bulgaria, in the Struma River valley. An ancient Thracian settlement, Scaptopara, existed around its warm mineral springs, which still function as a spa. During the Turkish occupation (1396–1878), the town was called Dzhumaya (Džumaja), later Gorna Dzhumaya; it was renamed in 1950 for Dimitŭr Blagoev, founder of the Bulgarian Communist Party.
The chief centre of Bulgarian Macedonia, it trades mostly in Oriental tobacco. Wood, canning, textile, and craft industries also have been developed. Blagoevgrad has a number of cultural institutions, including an opera house, historical museum, and theatre. Among its educational facilities are American University in Bulgaria and Southwestern University. Pop. (2004 est.) 70,999.
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