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{{Infobox settlement (Albanian)
| type = m
| name = Peqin
| flag = Flag of Peqin.gif
| emblem = Stema e Bashkisë Peqin.svg
| skyline = 
| caption = [[Clock Mosque|Mosque]] and clocktower in Peqin
| county = Elbasan
| mayor = Bukurosh Maçi
| party = [[Socialist Party of Albania|PS]]
| coordinates = {{coord|41|2|45|N|19|45|00|E|type:city_region:AL|display=inline}}
| elevation = 48
| area munic = 197.90 
| area unit = 17
| population as of = 2023<ref name="pop23">{{cite web|title=Main Results of the Population and Housing Census 2023|url=https://www.instat.gov.al/en/themes/censuses/census-of-population-and-housing/publications/2023/main-results-of-the-population-and-housing-census-2023/|publisher=[[Institute of Statistics (Albania)|INSTAT]]}}</ref>
| population munic = 16580 
| population unit = 4753
| demonym = Peqins/e
| postal code = 3501
| area code = (0)512
| website = {{URL|https://peqini.gov.al/}}
}}
'''Peqin''' ({{IPA|sq|pecin|IPA}}, {{lang-sq-definite|Peqini}}) is a town and municipality in [[Elbasan County]], central [[Albania]]. The municipality was formed at the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities [[Gjoçaj]], [[Karinë]], [[Pajovë]], Peqin, [[Përparim, Peqin|Përparim]] and [[Shezë]], that became municipal units. The seat of the municipality is the town Peqin.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vendime.al/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/137-2014.pdf |title=Law nr. 115/2014 |language=sq |pages=6368–6369|access-date=25 February 2022 }}</ref> The total population is 16,580 as of the 2023 census,<ref name="pop23" /> in a total area of 197.90&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name="LAU">{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/345175/501971/EU-28-LAU-2019-NUTS-2016.xlsx |title=Correspondence table LAU – NUTS 2016, EU-28 and EFTA / available Candidate Countries |access-date=2019-09-25 |publisher=[[Eurostat]]|format=XLS }}</ref> The population of the municipal unit as of the 2023 census is 4,753.<ref name="pop23" />

{{historical populations|1955|3069|1960|3492|1969|4700|1979|5800|1989|6568|2001|7267|2011|6353|2023|4753|align=right|cols=1|source=<ref>{{cite web |title=Cities of Albania|url=http://pop-stat.mashke.org/albania-cities.htm}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Albania: All places/communes|url=http://pop-stat.mashke.org/albania-census1989.htm}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Census of Population and Housing|url=https://www.instat.gov.al/en/themes/censuses/census-of-population-and-housing/|publisher=Institute of Statistics Albania}}</ref>}}

==History==
[[File:Peqin, Albania – Castle 1995 01.jpg|thumb|left|240px|[[Peqin Castle]]]]
The city dates back 2700 years, it is mentioned as [[Illyrians|Illyrian]] fortress.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blue-albania.com/GeneralInfo15-Peqini.htm|title=Blue Albania - We help you to explore Albania... - Portali me i madh turistik Shqiptar|website=BlueAlbania|access-date=19 April 2018}}</ref> The ancient name of Peqin was [[Claudiana/Clodiana]]. The city's modern name derives from the Ottoman form ''Bekleyin'', which means a place of hospitality. During Ottoman rule Peqin belonged to the [[Sanjak of Elbasan]]. The Ottoman [[Peqin Castle]] still exists, along with some original parts of the mosque of [[Abdi Pasha the Albanian|Abdurrahman Pasha]], who had been the governor of [[Wallachia]] and [[Moldavia]] (former [[Bogdania]]). This castle was also constructed during the [[Via Egnatia]] road being made. On the [[Via Egnatia]] road Peqin was another stop on the road and a settlement for soldiers and there were Pashas in the castle. The last remaining resident in the castle was Demir Pasha.

===Historic places===
*[[Peqin Castle]]
*[[Via Egnatia]]
*Orthodox church
*Protestant church
*Moschue of Peqin

==Transport==

===Bus===
There are buses available at the center of the city which run to many places in and out of [[Albania]].

===Train===
There is a train station in the city and trains pass by on the [[Durrës]]-[[Pogradec]] line.

===Highway===
There is the SH7 stateroad on the outer city ring of Peqin and starts in [[Rrogozhinë]] and ends in [[Bradashesh]], [[Elbasan]].

==Sports==
{{main|KS Shkumbini}}
The football team of Peqin is [[KS Shkumbini]]. The team was founded in 1951 and its home ground is [[Shkumbini Stadium]] with a capacity of 9,000 spectators. KS Shkumbini currently plays in the [[Albanian Second Division]]. KS Shkumbini is famous for its fans, called Besnikët, known as Faithful.

== Notable people ==
* [[Mustafa Gjinishi]], activist during National Liberation War
* [[Hekuran Isai]], post-World War II communist politician
* [[Gugash Magani]], football player and manager
* Murat Manahasa, [[veterinary]] researcher and professor<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.al/lajme/artikull/iden/1046942126/titulli/Presidenti-Topi-ngushellon-familjaret-e-Profesor-Murat-Manahases|title=Presidenti Topi ngushellon familjaret e Profesor Murat Manahases (in Albanian)|website=news.al|access-date=19 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231002229/http://news.al/lajme/artikull/iden/1046942126/titulli/Presidenti-Topi-ngushellon-familjaret-e-Profesor-Murat-Manahases|archive-date=31 December 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Abdurrahman Pasha]], former governor of [[Wallachia]] and [[Moldavia]] within Ottoman Empire

== See also ==
* [[Clock Mosque]]

== References ==
{{commons category|Peqin (municipality)}}
{{reflist}}

{{Municipalities of Albania}}
{{Elbasan County}}
{{Peqin div}}

[[Category:Peqin| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities in Elbasan County]]
[[Category:Administrative units of Peqin]]
[[Category:Towns in Albania]]


{{Elbasan-geo-stub}}