Gornje Krajince
Depopulating Leskovac village exemplifying southern Serbia's post-industrial decline—23% population loss since 2002 as working-age residents migrate outward.
Gornje Krajince (Upper Krajince) sits in the Leskovac municipality within the Jablanica District of southern Serbia. The 'Gornje' designation distinguishes it from Donje Krajince (Lower Krajince), a sister settlement with approximately 764 residents—a common pattern in Serbian toponymy where villages split into upper and lower sections along valley gradients.
Leskovac municipality represents one of Serbia's economic challenge zones. Once a major textile manufacturing center, the region has experienced sustained deindustrialization since the 1990s, with working-age residents migrating to Belgrade, Western Europe, or other economic centers. This demographic hemorrhage affects villages like Gornje Krajince directly: population declined from 786 (2002 census) to approximately 604 in more recent counts, a 23% loss reflecting the broader regional pattern.
Despite economic difficulties, the Leskovac region maintains cultural vitality through traditions like the famous Leskovac Barbecue Festival (Roštiljijada) held each August—one of Serbia's largest culinary events celebrating the region's distinctive grilled meat cuisine. The National Museum in Leskovac preserves the historical and cultural heritage of southern Serbia. By 2026, Gornje Krajince will continue navigating the tension between rural depopulation and the cultural resources that give Leskovac identity, with its future depending on whether the region can convert culinary tourism into sustainable economic development.