Slovenska Bistrica

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Občina Slovenska Bistrica
Location of Slovenska Bistrica in Slovenia
Area: 334.5 km²
Population 29,285
 - males 14,399
 - females 14,886
Mayor: {{{mayor}}}
Average age: 39.78 years
Residential areas: 28.04 m²/person
 - households: 9,754
 - families: 8,344
Working active: 14,398
 - unemployed: 2,420
Average monthly salary (August 2003):
 - gross: 225,294 SIT
 - net: 144,901 SIT
College/university students: 1,005
Source: Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, census of 2002.

Slovenska Bistrica (German: Windisch-Feistritz) is a town and a municipality south of Maribor, Slovenia. It was established in the 13th century on a trade road between Maribor and Celje. The early settlement had only one church and a small number of inhabitants, but even still, it gained rights for a market town in 1313. The town was originally called Bistrica. The present-day name of Slovenska Bistrica (German: Windisch-Feistritz) appeared in records dating from 1565.

Today Slovenska Bistrica is a town of about 6000 inhabitants with an increasing population that often commutes to Ljubljana for work as the towns are a bit less than an hour drive from one another. The city offers several interesting sights including: a castle, two churches, a Roman road, Ančnikovo fort (from Roman times) and more. It is also a good jumping off point for people wishing to hike on Mount Boč, a nearby mountain peak and park.

As a municipality it unites several small towns and villages, including:

Famous natives from the municipality of Slovenska Bistrica include the politician and intellectual Jože Pučnik and writer Anton Ingolič.

Coordinates: 46°24′N, 15°34′E