Gornji Milanovac (, ) is a town and municipality located in the Moravica District of central Serbia. The population of the town is 23,109, while the population of the municipality is 38,985 (2022 census data).
The town was founded in 1853 as Despotovica (), after the river passing by the town. In 1859 the name was changed to Gornji Milanovac at the request of Prince Miloà ¡ ObrenoviÃÂ. Its name means Upper Milanovac (there is a Lower Milanovac as well, while Milanovac was named so in honour of revolutionary Milan ObrenoviÃÂ).
The microregion of RudnikâÂÂTakovo (), or simply Takovo (), in the broader sense roughly corresponds to the modern municipality of Gornji Milanovac. It includes the southern foothills of the Rudnik mountain, and northern foothills of Suvobor and Maljen. Some villages in the municipality are part of the KaÃÂer region.
The area of Gornji Milanovac was inhabited by Paleo-Balkan peoples and smaller groups of Celts and Goths in antiquity. There were later Roman settlements in the area. On the mountain Rudnik, besides older miners grove there are remains of a Roman temple dedicated to the Terra Mater ("Mother Earth"). Neolithic sites exist in Gojna Gora and Rudnik.
There are ruins and sites of Byzantine, Serbian and Ottoman origin on mountain Rudnik, in villages Brusnica, mountain Treska, Jablanica, and Gornji Milanovac parts of the mountain Vujan.
The Rudnik nahiya had included two kneà ¾ina (Christian self-governing village groups) prior to 1804, the Crna GoraâÂÂPodgora (which included what is later known as the Takovo area), and the RudniÃÂka Morava (area from Vujan to Western Morava); with the First Serbian Uprising (1804âÂÂ13), the KaÃÂer kneà ¾ina was organized, including the northern and western foothills of Rudnik to the eastern part of the Jasenica river, and the LaziÃÂ's kneà ¾ina (), headed by Jovan LaziÃÂ-Kozeljac, which included twelve villages in the Takovo area. From 1823, LaziÃÂ's kneà ¾ina was known as Brusnica () after its seat at Brusnica. It was later organized as a srez of the Principality of Serbia, part of the Rudnik okrug.
The Rudnik nahiya was liberated at the start of the uprising. The villages of what later became Brusnica/Takovo involved in the uprising were Brusnica, TeoÃÂin, Lunjevica, Berà ¡iÃÂi, Brezna, SvraÃÂkovci, Lozanj, Ozrem, Srezojevci, Majdan, Takovo, Leuà ¡iÃÂi, KlatiÃÂevo, Ljutovnica, VelereÃÂ, Koà ¡tuniÃÂi, Grabovica, Gornji BranetiÃÂi, LoÃÂevci, NakuÃÂani, Sinoà ¡eviÃÂi, BrajiÃÂi, RuÃÂiÃÂi, à  arani, Nevade, Ljevaja, Polom, Pranjani. Among the most notable participants in the Serbian Revolution that hailed from Brusnica/Takovo were the Obrenoviàfamily (Milan, Jovan, Miloà ¡) from Brusnica; MiliàDrinÃÂiàfrom TeoÃÂin; Nikola Lunjevica; Vasa Popoviàfrom Berà ¡iÃÂi; Jovan Laziàfrom SvraÃÂkovci; Jovan Vukomanoviàfrom Srezojevci.
At the Takovo Meeting on 23 April 1815, the Serbian rebels decided to rise up once again. They chose vojvoda Miloà ¡ Obrenoviàto lead them against the Ottoman Empire.
Initially, the settlement that was to become Gornji Milanovac (before 1853) was situated in the area of today's village Brusnica. There was some discussion about the suitability of the site for a settlement. In 1852 Despotovica becomes the first town in Serbia with a completed map of the city and with the streets at an angle of 90ð. The new municipality was to be called Despotovac after the river Despotovica which passes through this municipality (the river name originates from the Serbian despot, ÃÂuraàBrankoviÃÂ). On 22 April 1852, Despotovac (later Gornji Milanovac) was then relocated to a place called Divlje Polje. This decision was taken by Mladen à ½ujoviÃÂ, Trivun NovakoviÃÂ, Stevan KniÃÂanin, and Gaja RizniÃÂ. Notable buildings and roads (for example: "Zgrada starog suda â Old Court building") are the work of German engineer Indià ¾ir Schultz from PanÃÂevo. In 1853 the municipality of Despotovica was established. Today's name Gornji Milanovac was formalized by the warrant of Miloà ¡ ObrenoviàI, Prince of Serbia, in 1859, after his brother Milan ObrenoviÃÂ. The town primary school and library were established in 1857, while the high school was established in 1879. A printing company was opened in 1890. A county hospital was opened in 1892.
In the World War I occupation, the population in Gornji Milanovac was subjected to war terror and crimes by the forces of Austria-Hungary, German Empire and Bulgaria, while during World War II the infrastructure was destroyed and the population of this town suffered as before. At the time of sanctions and breakup of Yugoslavia, the industry of municipality exported their products to the Western and Eastern markets through offshore companies. In 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, Gornji Milanovac was bombed once (only television repeater was damaged). People from nearby towns and municipalities in-joke said, that when NATO planned which town to bomb, they put a cup of coffee at the Gornji Milanovac location on the map.
Cultural Monuments of Great Importance in Gornji Milanovac are:
The first library in Gornji Milanovac was established in 1857 and is called "BraÃÂa NastasijeviÃÂ" (English: "Brothers NastasijeviÃÂ"). Headquarters is in the building of Old District Administration. It has separate classes in Rudnik (the oldest), Pranjani, Brdjani, and VraÃÂeà ¡nica. Librarian fond has over 100,000 books. Also "BraÃÂa NastasijeviÃÂ" library is engaged in the publishing business.
The main theater in this municipality is "MilanovaÃÂko amatersko pozorià ¡te (Milanovac amateur theater)". Milanovac amateur theater, GM cinema, art gallery and administrative center of all settlements cultural clubs has headquarters in the center of municipality witch satisfy modern standards for one cultural institution. In the area of photography and cinema, Gornji Milanovac is represented with a big number of art members of the Photo-cinema club Gornji Milanovac.
The Museum of Rudnik and Takovo area is a subsidiary of the culture center of Gornji Milanovac. It has established the Gallerie of Arts in 2008, and a modern gallery in the building of old district administration.
In this municipality there are two folklore groups: "Tipoplastika"-Folklore ensemble and Culture-Arts Community "à  umadija". There are also rock bends that were established in this town, like: "Bjesovi", "An Fas", â³Pastir Panâ³, "GM Undergrounders", "Skarlet" and "ÃÂudna à  uma". As for punk-rock bands in '90s and 80's there are: "Trula koalicija", In '00s there were established new rock and reggae music bands and groups: "Plià ¡ani malià ¡an", "Morbid Cow", "Parnasus", "Strah od Dà ¾eki ÃÂena", IMT 666 (Featuring Bjesovi band's singers child, Stevan Marinkovic), etc.
Whilst part of Yugoslavia, Gornji Milanovac was known as the "economic miracle" and "Beli Labud" (English: "White Swan") as the ecologically cleanest city. There is great potential for further rural and spa (SvraÃÂkovci, BrÃÂani, Mlakovac and Savinac) tourism progress in future times. Today's Gornji Milanovac on its territory has a lot of small, categorized rural hotels, one hostel and motels. Close to Gornji Milanovac is a spa and resort "Atomska Banja" Donja TrepÃÂa. Major Hotels in this town are newly opened hotel "IG Hotel" (4 stars) and "MD Neda" (3 stars) in the settlement Rudnik. In the past, there was one of the biggest hotels "Ã Â umadija" (3 stars) bankrupted in 2004.
Gornji Milanovac was a pioneer in the application of sorting waste, recycling and water purification in Serbia and previously in Yugoslavia. Also, Gornji Milanovac is a great antagonist of GM food why it has adopted declaration and municipality statute about prohibition of this type of food.
Tourists from around the world visit this municipality for its clean air, small and quiet places, inner and family vacations. Gornji Milanovac every other year is the host of International Biennial of miniature Art, founded in 1989. In village Takovo is the host of the World Music Festival, every May, June or July. Known trip places are: Takovo, Grabovica (peak of à ½dreban), Savinac and Rudnik. These places are popular during the celebration of 1 May (International Workers' Day) as a collegial picnic in union organization. Other significant cultural and tourism events on its territory are World Testicle Cooking Championship, the "Milanovac bowl tournament" (Fish soup cooking) and the Goulash tournament ("Gulaà ¡ijada"). In some settlements are held various art colonies. Also, there are held and village gymnastic competition in some disciplines during the celebration of some patron day of that village.
Gornji Milanovac has a reputation for offering a "vibrant nightlife" which is more developed and safer than in the rest of Serbia. On 7 January ( Orthodox Christmas) Gornji Milanovas Tourist organization and its citizens (transport operators companies, local company owners, farmworkers, musician and orchestra artist, motorcycle and ATV clubs, taxi drivers, firefighters, police and military) every year organize the one-day festival, because it's believed that if they start something on that holiday they will succeed in all days in that year.
Also in Gornji Milanovac are 3 fairs per year, on 22 May, 2 August and 15 October. After 70 years Gornji Milanovac as municipality celebrates its Patron day. It is Trinity, where on that day is being held pageant. Locals are advocating to build a mini cable car system for Rudnik and biathlon stadium on the Ravna Gora, given that project had failed during the 90's economical and international political problems of Yugoslavia and Serbia as a federal republic.
Gornji Milanovac lies between mountains Rudnik to the north and Vujan to the south. Relief of this area is hilly and mountainous. Gornji Milanovac with all his territory is located between these mountains: Rudnik (), Maljen (), Jesevac (), Suvobor (), Rajac () and Vujan (). Gornji Milanovac boundaries with: Ljig (on the North) and Mionica (on North-West), Topola and AranÃÂelovac (both on the North-East) ÃÂaÃÂak (on the South) and LuÃÂani (on the South West), Poà ¾ega, Serbia (on the West), Kragujevac (on the East) and Knià(on theSouth-East).
The center of the city is situated along the western side of European route E763 (motorway), between the cities Ljig to the north and ÃÂaÃÂak to the south and the villages Majdan to the north and Preljina to the south.
Main city crossroad branches:
Rivers that flow through Gornji Milanovac are: Despotovica, Gruza, DiÃÂina, ÃÂemernica, and Kamenica. There is a variety of groundwater sources and thermo-mineral water sources like in village areas, like in: Svrackovci, Brdjani, Mlakovac, Trepca, and Savinac.
Gornji Milanovac is instructed to use civil and military airport in nearby Morava Airport-Lajdevci, Kraljevo , Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport and Uà ¾ice-Ponikve Airport . Also, in September 2018, Swisslion-Takovo Concern established Heliport for business and civilian purpose. Gornji Milanovac does not have conditions for development of water traffic transportation. In 1969 narrow and regional railway ÃÂaÃÂak-Gornji Milanovac â Topola was abolished because it was unprofitable. In 2014, Government of Serbia will consider the spatial plan of new electrified railways line BelgradeâÂÂSarajevo, where Gornji Milanovac could be one of regional centers.
Gornji Milanovac has Humid continental climate. Mildest parts (Sub-Humid) of Gornji Milanovac are Brdjani, Trudelj and Dragolj. The coldest parts (humid) are peaks of Rudnik, Rajac, parts of villages Majdan, Svrackovci, Gojna Gora, Gornji Branetici, Brajic, Polom and in the north-west part of village Bogdanica. Moderately humid parts of the municipality are in parts of Majdan and the rest parts of mountain Rudnik, Rajac, and peaks of Suvobor.
The average annual temperature of air are in range of in the parts of Rudnik and Suvobor and at . Average daily (in %) humidity 78.5% during the year, in winter 85%, in summer periods 75% (excluding Rudnik mountain where it is 65%, which is good for relaxation and vacation). The hottest month of the year is July, and the coldest is January. Autumn is warmer than the spring for .
The average annual precipitation height are in the range of . Minimum mean wind speed is 1.7âÂÂ2.6 m/s (3.11âÂÂ5.05 knots) and maximum 13.8âÂÂ20.7 m/s (26.83âÂÂ40.24 knots). This maximum speed occurs in the southeastern, southwestern and southern winds. On the territory of Gornji Milanovac prevails southeastern, northern and eastern winds.
Vegetation period lasts 220âÂÂ260 days. During these period precipitation rate is 55% which is favorable for plants.
According to the last measuring of Air quality in 2019, the result was satisfying, because they showed an average of 35 US AQI to moderate quality 70 US AQI in the winter periods.
Annual average daily global sun radiation energy on a horizontal surface on territory of municipality Gornji Milanovac is between 3.8âÂÂ4.0 kWh/m<sup>2</sup> (0.33âÂÂ0.35 BTU/ft <sup>2</sup>). Daily mean values of the ambient dose rate ( background radiation) on the area around this municipality are â 100 nSv/h.
On the territory of Gornji Milanovac there is represented the following type of soil:
According to Serbian Geology Institute, on Gornji Milanovac territory has solid reserves of Antimony, Mercury, Copper, Lead, Zinc and Gold (in small amounts).
Gornji Milanovac and the villages of Varnice, Zagradje, Dragolj and Trudelj are dominated by the Ostrvica Massif. The elevation of Ostrvica is . Ostrvica is actually the remains of a destroyed volcanic cone. In May 2009, Ostrvica was declared a natural monument. In the middle of the last century, this massif was significant for its military fortifications and watchtower.
Land that is not cultivated makes 14.6%, arable land 47%, barren land makes 4.4%. The erosion process was active in the past, which is why today some parts of the territory have barren land. These processes have caused the degradation of the land. According to the Republic Seismological Institution of Serbia, Gornji Milanovac is on the scale 8ð-8.9ð magnitude of an earthquake and the probability that this can happen once in 50âÂÂ1000 years is 63%. In the major territory there is good protection from erosion process and solid protection from floods. The population doesn't have good protection from wind storms and radiation, but new standards in house and building construction stipulates even that. Most of the population has good thermal insulation in their homes and companies.
Forest vegetation is various: willow, poplar, oak, ash, etc. Forest plantations make 10% of his territory and 90% are natural wood. Meadow grass vegetation occupies 26,656 hectares (11,960 ft<sup>2</sup>) which is 32%, meadows 15% and grasslands 17%.
The terrain of Gornji Milanovac is highland. Total terrain is divided by rivers Kamenica, ÃÂemernica, Gruà ¾a, and Despotovica. It is of volcanic origin. Today the terrain is a result of the combined effects of tectonic movements and fluvial erosion processes in the past.
Morphological traits of municipalities, we can distinguish two different zones:
Dominant position in the municipality and à  umadija have mountain Rudnik. As the specific shape of terrain have Ostrvica which has a conical shape and it is positioned north-western from mountain and settlement Rudnik. Mountain massif Jeà ¡evac is positioned on the east side of the municipality. Mountain Vujan is lying southwards from river Despotovica to Brdjani pit. Western parts of the area covers Rajac, Suvobor and Maljen. Westernmost parts include Pranjani pit.
According to the 2011 census, the municipality of Gornji Milanovac had 44,406 inhabitants, 21,802 males (average age 42.4 years), 22,604 females (43.7 years). The overwhelming majority were ethnic Serbs (97.85%), Serbian Orthodox Christian by religion, and Serbian-speaking. Population density on the territory of the municipality is 53.1 inhabitants per square kilometer. Since the census of 1981 when the total population was 50,651 people, there is a population decline due to the bad economic conditions in Serbia, negative natural increase rate and the majority of the older population. As of 2011, in Gornji Milanovac there are 637 migrants.
1890 was significant as journalism began in this area. After World War I, Gornji Milanovac was connected with other important areas and cities in Yugoslavia thanks to the narrow gauge railway. Before World War II the population was involved in mining, agronomy and with a few industrial workers (conditory and graphic-printing industry). During World War II the town was destroyed, but in the 1950s it saw a rapid progress dubbed "economic miracle".
In that time there were established two industrial zones (in the South and South-West parts). Companies and corporations that were established in these zones were: Zvezda (now known as Zvezda-Helios), Metalac, PIK Takovo (now known as Swisslion-Takovo), MK Rudnik (Fashion Stationery), FAD (automotive parts for all European cars), Tipoplastika (plastics, paper production), Metal Seko (now known as Mersteel), GRO Graditelj (construction company), Minos (railway equipment), Rudnik Flotation (mining production), DeÃÂje novine (popular youth newspaper and publisher in SFR Yugoslavia), Proleter (department store), Kablar (cooperative agronomy company), Sigma (cardboard producer), Ã Â ipad Sarajevo-Gornji Milanovac (construction carpentry), Imlek (dairy products; subsidiary), Mlinsko-Pekarska Industrija Beograd (food industry; subsidiary), JTv Gornji Milanovac (local broadcasting company), KDS "Despotovica" (cable TV distribution systems).
Gornji Milanovac in the '80s and '90s was a real "nursery" of a mixed economy. Despite the 90's break up of SFR Yugoslavia and UN sanctions, Gornji Milanovac was the only city in that time in newly formed FR Yugoslavia whose companies were operated with a profit. New date companies are: "9. September", "Tetra Pak", "Papir Print", "Spektar", "Flint Group Balkan", "Planeta raÃÂunari", "FOKA", "S-group", "Semix Techno", "Interplet Gradnja", "Rapid", "AzVirt", "Rolopast", "RM Pak", "RGM Pak", "Apex", "MetalMont","Kej komerc", "Neven","Agrouniverzal", DAM 93", "RP Ã Â tamparija", "PCM Graf", "CIS Ecopoint", "Maksimil", "Jomla Group","Digitel", "Alfa Support", etc.
After 2001 and 2002, most "workers organizations" (name for state- or worker-owned companies) from the period of 1950âÂÂ1990 (mentioned above) were privatized. Only a few bankrupted: GRO Graditelj, Mlinsko-Pekarska Industrija Beograd (subsidiary), Imlek (subsidiary), DeÃÂje novine, Minos and JTv Gornji Milanovac.
Here department stores, two mini-supermarkets, elegant boutiques, and restaurants can be found. Also, there is a flea markets, where local farmers are selling vegetables, products, and a market of farm animals.
Today Gornji Milanovac valid for the biggest exporter of goods, services and products in the Republic of Serbia and one of the few cities and municipalities with the budget surplus. During the period of June 2014 unemployment rate in Gornji Milanovac was 25.28%. Most of municipality economy relies on 329 Small business, 22 Medium size business and 9 Big business.
Human Poverty Index (HPI) in Gornji Milanovac, according to the 2011 Census of the Republic of Serbia and World Bank is 24.00%, while GINI ratio is 0.336 and Poverty gap index is 0.039.
The following table gives a preview of total number of registered people employed in legal entities per their core activity (as of 2022):
Gornji Milanovac has four primary schools: Oà  "Sveti Sava", Oà  Desanka MaksimoviÃÂ, Oà  "Kralj Aleksandar I" (before "Takovski-Partizanski bataljon") and Oà  "MomÃÂilo NastasijeviÃÂ". Also it has one high school: Gimnazija "Takovski ustanak. Two professional schools (four or three-year): ETà  "Knjaz Miloà ¡" and Tà  "Jovan à ½ujoviÃÂ". As regard as kindergarten and nurseries in this municipality there is three of these.
Gornji Milanovac had one department for higher education from Novi Sad, which was private owned and this department dissolved. In future periods was planned to open new departments of University of Kragujevac Faculty of Economics for business administration, taxes and accounting. Also and Faculty of Architecture University of Belgrade had negotiations about opening new departments for local students.
Health protection in Gornji Milanovac is widespread on all territory. Citizens can reach basic health protection even in rural parts of municipality. Health care is organized like: General Hospital, Neurology Hospital, Gynaecology department, Intensive care unit, Labour health protection unit (there are departmans and units in two industrial zones), Surgical and physiatrically department, Dentistry, Dermatology, Psychiatric ward, Rehabilitation services, Village Health Protection Units and Physical therapy. Common support units include a dispensary, pathology, and radiology, and on the non-medical side, there are medical records departments, release of information departments, financial and HR department, Patient lawyers, Clinical Engineering, Facilities Management, Dining Services and Security Departments. There is an emergency service in place. On the property of Gornji Milanovac Hospital, there is built infrastructure for mini spa and rehabilitation center for skin and musculoskeletal diseases from water resources, mentioned above (see section Geography and Infrastructure). As for health protection of animals, Gornji Milanovac has several privately owned veterinary stations.
"DeÃÂje novine" was the largest publishing house of books, comics, magazines and sticker albums in former Yugoslavia, based in this municipality. They had exclusive copyrights to publish comics of Walt Disney, Marvel and DC Comics. This publisher bankrupted in the 90's and then the remains of company assets were divided among creditors. Creditors established new companies in the sector of publishing books, newspapers, design and art, graphical services and enigmatic-revival editions. But these independent companies did not have the same success as "DeÃÂje novine" had.
This town had 3 private owned radio stations and 1 local broadcasting station. In the '80s at Gornji Milanovac was established experimental radio station for travelers highway information services and among the first cable television systems in Yugoslavia, called Cable Distributive Systems "Despotovica". Due to the technological advancements, this radio station was called off during 1990. At the time of NATO bombing of Yugoslavia (during 1999), former JTv Gornji Milanovac broadcast television and radio signal to the world (because Radio Television of Serbia was bombed and destroyed on 23 April 1999.) for the short time until NATO air force bombed radio and television repeater at mountain Rudnik and nearby Kablar. Now Gornji Milanovac has 2 radio stations, "Gogi" and "Stari Milanovac" radio local broadcasting company, which both broadcasts folk music, information, and news in the Serbian language. Meanwhile, the radio station "Stari Milanovac" bankrupted.
Until 2014, Gornji Milanovac did not have television broadcasting, after series of unsuccessful privatization of former JTv Gornji Milanovac. Now, this municipality has regional television and cable television broadcasting company "Telemark Systems". Telemark bought old cable television KDS Despotovica. This television company provides: cable television, regional television broadcasting for several municipalities ( besides Gornji Milanovac there are providing in ÃÂaÃÂak, LuÃÂani, Arilje, Poà ¾ega, Kosjeriàand Kraljevo), broadband internet, IT services, advertising services, fixed telephony, MMDS, dealership of digital and cable TV equipment and other services. Also, Gornji Milanovac has newspaper company "Takovske Novine", while "GM Press" bankrupted. In 2019, Telekom Srbija bought Telemark Systems and municipality Gornji Milanovac wanted new business partners for joint ventures in the media area. In August 2019, license for television media coverage is given to newly formed RTV GM Info Group.
There is one police station, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia administration unit, Military post, Post office, branch of FedEx for Serbia, Customs substation and Fire-Rescuers department. The settlements are organized as Council of Settlements and Gornji Milanovac is divided into 63 settlements. Each of them has responsibility (infrastructure, election/referendum, and legal obligations) for that part of the territory.
Aside from the town of Gornji Milanovac, the municipality of Gornji Milanovac includes the following 60 settlements and 3 smaller towns :
Gornji Milanovac from its establishment had modern district court. Today it has Basic People Court and Magistrates Court. Also, it is among the safest municipalities in Serbia. According to National Statistical Institute of Serbia in 2013 Gornji Milanovac had 148 convicted adults and 16 juvenile. Safety index of this municipality is among the highest than in other municipalities in Serbia 98.63%.
According to the Law on Local Self-Government head of municipality (for this status they need population 10,000âÂÂ99,000 citizens) is called "president" and for larger cities (100,000 and above population), they are called "mayors". Gornji Milanovac has/had 29 presidents in his history. In the following table are named presidents and not precise dates of their mandate:
First adopted representative solution for Gornji Milanovac was at the beginning of the '60s, with gray flag and complex emblem which consist of green and white colors. Symbols and colors are :
The second adopted solution was adopted after the 2000s. This Coat of Arms and Flag was a political and heraldic problem between Socialists Party of Serbia on one side and other political organizations in this municipality on the other side. It was adopted three times: 2000âÂÂ2004 (municipality government led by DOS), last quarter of 2004âÂÂ2008 (municipality government led by DSS, SRS, NS, SPO, G17+, DS, LDP) and 2016âÂÂpresent (municipality government led by SNS, NS, PUPS, PS, SDPS and ZS). This coat of arms consists of two lions (red who is holding Serbian civil flag and yellow who is holding the flag of the municipality) with crowns and swords which represented royalty through history and courage of the citizens. In the center of the coat of arms it is positioned heater shield with golden oak and red cross in the middle of the shield. The purpose of these two symbols is to represent ancestors on this lands and red cross to represent rebellion flag from the Second Serbian Uprising and " Zapis" or literally inscription who were there in the moment of gathering all rebellions in that time. Above the heater shield is a stone crown which represents forts and the city history. The flag is a blue background with a wreath of willow flowers and nettle leaves which symbolizes Palm Sunday (on that holiday, 24 April 1815, Serbian rebels gathered and begin the Second Serbian Uprising) and Serbian custom of knitting wreaths for health, luck and love purpose. In the center of the flag is a white background with red Greek Orthodox Cross which symbolizes above mentioned Second Serbian Uprising flag. The motto is positioned on the bottom of this coat of arms: "ÃÂÃÂõüõ ø üþÃÂõ ÿÃÂðòþ (Time and my right)".
The third adopted solution is now replaced emblem and flag of Gornji Milanovac. It is also and the flag of a political coalition called "Pokret za opà ¡tinu Gornji Milanovac-POGM (Movement for Municipality of Gornji Milanovac)". The flag is white with some form of inverted Iberian shield. In the shield there are territorial map of municipality as treetop (positioned with blue background which represents sky), in the middle is oak stump which also symbolizes Zapis and Second Serbian Uprising (positioned with green background which represents grass and clean environment) and on the bottom of this emblem, there is inscription "ÃÂÿÃÂÃÂøýð ÃÂþÃÂÃÂø ÃÂøûðýþòðà(Municipality of Gornji Milanovac)" (positioned in brown background, which represent fertile soil. First flag version of the municipality, in the period of 2004âÂÂ2008 was a horizontally oriented flag with red, blue and gold colors. In the center of this first solution flag was wreath and Paja JovanoviÃÂ's painting of Second Serbian Uprising in the center of it. This first solution was abolished and replaced with the second version and also the flag of a political movement. First version was approved for ceremonial purpose. The motto of the municipality was:,, ãÃÂÃÂôøÃÂø ÃÂõ, ÃÂþ ÃÂõ ÃÂõýð ÃÂÃÂÿõàð (Venture is the price of success)".
In November 2016, new municipality authorities adopted Statute of Municipality Gornji Milanovac with previous, second solution. Problems about flag, motto and coat of arms is in political nature. Above mention political Movement of Municipality Gornji Milanovac is adopting the third solution (now previous emblem). In the 2008 opposition parties suggest referendum about Municipality Statute, but referendum never held. Litigation continues even today and remains to see the next composition of municipality authorities.
The most popular sport in the city, besides Basketball, Handball and Volleyball, is definitely football (soccer). The governing body for the sport is Sportski Savez Opà ¡tine Gornji Milanovac (engl. Sport Union of Municipality Gornji Milanovac-SSOGM). Besides New Metalac Stadium, Gornji Milanovac have: Sport Hall "Breza" (multi-purpose); Indoors Sport Swimming pool "Tipoplastika" (currently under reconstruction); Sport and recreative centers for workers, students and public in industry zones of Tipoplastika, Autoprevoz and Swisslion-Takovo companies; Outdoors Olympic pool; two sport halls in Pranjani and at Rudnik; Sport Hall in Primary schools at Gornji Milanovac; two bowling hall (one at Metalac Stadium and one in area of professional school "Jovan à ½ujoviÃÂ"); one beach soccer (football) and volleyball ground; Ice skating rink and one outdoors gym (nearby Sport Hall "Breza"); and "Takovo" Stadium (multipurpose).
Notable sport society from Gornji Milanovac are shown in following table:
Also there are multisport activities and organizations in this municipality. Such as: DTV Partizan (physical training club for children/school children and workers) and four junior football (soccer) clubs: "Poletarac", "Junior soccer", "Srpski orlovi" and "Sportic". As far as municipality association football (soccer) league, Gornji Milanovac has 12 members: Majdan, Jablanica, Ã Â umadija, Ozrem PMH, Ã Â ilopaj, VelereÃÂ '94, Ozremica, Mladi Rudar, Mladost '09, Takovski ustanak, Brezak, Sparta Grabovica and Omladinac. Every municipality football senior game is well covered by local residents. In Morava District league (5th level in Serbian Football league system) there are some Gornji Milanovac clubs, as: FK Napredak SvraÃÂkovci, FK Backovac United, FK Donja Vrbava and FK Lunjevica.
This municipality has numerous of deserving citizens who have contributed to the progress of Serbia and Yugoslavia.