History
This is the history of the municipality. For the history of Vilnius city itself, please see History of Vilnius.
During the Soviet era, Vilnius was given the unique status of a city, that was not controlled by local governments, but was responsible directly to the central government of the Lithuanian SSR. Officially, it remained a part of the Vilnius district.
After independence the system of districts and republican administered cities was reorganized into that of municipalities. Therefore the territory that formerly included Vilnius, became the Vilnius city municipality, while the remaining areas of Vilnius district became Vilnius district municipality. Although whole area is considered Vilnius, it has some areas that are actually suburbs, separated from the city by forests and such.
Under the municipality reform of 2000, the town of Grigiškės was separated from the Trakai district municipality, and made part of the Vilnius city municipality. It became an elderate (a unique Lithuanian designation) of this municipality. However, Grigiškės is not considered part of Vilnius, only of the municipality. That is because joining it with Vilnius, would require renaming many streets in both cities, and it would be too costly at this time.
The government of Vilnius city municipality also would like that the town of Lentvaris, currently part of Trakai district municipality, would be attached to the Vilnius city municipality (which is allegedly supported by people of Lentvaris, according to surveys done by Vilnius city municipality). This is opposed by the government of Trakai district municipality.
Read more about this topic: Vilnius City Municipality
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“In nature, all is useful, all is beautiful. It is therefore beautiful, because it is alive, moving, reproductive; it is therefore useful, because it is symmetrical and fair. Beauty will not come at the call of a legislature, nor will it repeat in England or America its history in Greece. It will come, as always, unannounced, and spring up between the feet of brave and earnest men.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)