The Monument to Tartu’s 100,000th Resident

On the banks of the Emajõgi River, not far from the Arch Bridge, stands a sculptural composition depicting the number “100000.” This unique monument is dedicated to an important event in the life of Tartu—the birth of its hundred-thousandth resident. The monument itself is represented by a bronze sculpture of a boy sitting on the number “1.”

Monument History

Initially, the sculptural composition was located elsewhere—between the “Kaunas” restaurant and Victory Bridge. However, over time, the restaurant was reconstructed, and the monument had to be moved to another location. Now, it is situated on a high river bank and is visible from a distance.

The population of the Estonian city of Tartu first exceeded the 100,000 mark in 1977. This event was deemed so significant that it was decided to immortalize it. The granite numbers and the bronze figure of the boy were officially unveiled in 1978. However, Tartu did not remain a city of a hundred thousand for very long.

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the city’s population significantly decreased. According to official data, Tartu had a population of 113,977 people in 1989, but by 2000 this number had fallen to just 98,695. In 2002, the number of city residents once again surpassed the 100,000 mark, but by 2011 it had decreased again to 98,561. According to 2012 data, Tartu had a population of 95,074 people.

Map Location

Other Points of Interest

• Near the monument to Tartu’s 100,000th resident is the AHHA Science Center.
• Just cross the Emajõgi River via the Arch Bridge, and you will find yourself at Town Hall Square. It serves as the center of Tartu’s tourist life.
• Walking along the river, you can see a monument to Oskar Luts, an Estonian writer.