Development of Tržič during Ivan Lončar’s mayoralty

Abstract

The article depicts the development of Tržič in the 1920s, during the mayoralty of Ivan Lončar. What was otherwise an important industrial town at the time was beset by backward public infrastructure, combined with an acute housing crisis and related healthcare issues. The mayor Ivan Lončar appears to be the first who obligated the local industry to finally start contributing to the municipal budget. In so doing, he established the Municipality of Tržič as an important and independent figure deciding on public matters. Before that, this segment was largely left to the good will of factory owners. In parallel, or perhaps in correlation to this process, Lončar consolidated his role in the Independent Democratic Party, which, too, he was able to translate into fostering the development of Tržič, also by elevating it from a market town to a town.