2006Definitive Stamp - Rapla County - Set

Rapla County (2,979 square kilometres, 37,000 inhabitants) is situated in North and Central Estonia and lies largely on the North-Estonian limestone bedrock. It is an area of big forests and bogs. The main source of livelihood is agriculture, but glass, paper and other branches of industry are also represented in the county. The county has several prehistoric strongholds and numerous more recent manor halls. Every August Rapla’s imposing twin-steepled Mary Magdalene Church hosts an international church music festival. Rapla is one of the youngest counties in Estonia, formed during a campaign of Soviet reorganization in 1950 when the southern part of Harju County was set off as a separate administrative unit. It was extended in another campaign in 1959–1962 at the expense of territories that had earlier belonged to the neighbouring Järva, Lääne and Pärnu counties. Also the coat of arms of the county symbolizes this amalgamation of four different parts.