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 Utena
is one of the oldest towns in Lithuania. Its name
is found in historical sources since 1261
there is an act of Lithuanian king Mindaugas,
where he mentions Tauragnai, Utena and Užpaliai.
Utena town name has a water-name origin; perhaps
it comes from the name of river Utenaitė or Utenėlė,
maybe the older rivers name variation was
Utena, because even now there are the lakes and
rivers named Utenas, Utenykštis and Utenėlė
near by Utena town.
Utena was just a little town until the First World
War. After that more than 400 houses were built
here. At that time there were about 700 houses, 34
stone stores, 3 mills, sawmill, leather works and
other little factories.
In 1921 and 1925 the layout projects for Utena
town were made that scheduled its expansion in
north Daugpilis-Kaunas road part. Soon the road
was built up from both sides and became the main
town street.
In 1924 the town started to expand, when it
received the town rights. In 1939 town area was
about 200 ha, and many villages were situated
around it. About 7000 inhabitants were living then,
and there were about 30 km of streets, mostly
cobbly and with sidewalks. In 1928 a garden was
grown in the town, and baths were built in Dauniškis
lake.
 During the Second World War more that a half of
residential and other buildings were ruined and
burned in Utena. The biggest constructions started
in seventh-ninth decade. Aukštakalnis, Dauniškis,
Vyturiai, Krašuona and Ąžuolija residential
districts were built, also a hospital, hotel and
four secondary schools. In 1974 a broad-gauge line
was driven.
The gross companies rose, such as
Utenos trikotažas, Utenos gėrimai,
also meat and milk remaking and other enterprises,
constructional
organizations. The new streets were
driven and etc. At the moment there are over 60 stock companies,
enterprises and shops operating in Utena.
In 1996
we solemnly celebrated a town anniversary of 735
years. Town, which had 53 yards in 1671, grew up.
Number of its inhabitants in 1833 was 586, in 1886
2460, 1897 3250, 1923 4890, 1939
about 7000, 1959 7158, 1970-1975 17000,
1980 24600, 1985 30200, 1999 36554 and
in 2000 36100 inhabitants.
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