Mali Beograd is a small but lively village in the municipality of Bačka Topola, on the main road between Belgrade and Subotica, at about 108 m above sea level. It was founded in 1920, when 54 families of Salonika Front volunteers from Lika each received five hectares of land. They carved the name “Mali Beograd” (“Little Belgrade”) into the bark of an old poplar, which became the symbol of the village. The village grew with the support of the landowning Vojnić and Lelbach families, and its development accelerated in the mid-1930s when a road was built connecting it with Subotica and Bačka Topola.
According to the 2011 census, Mali Beograd has about 456 inhabitants with a Serbian majority; the average age is about 42, with around 178 households and a population density of 28 people/km². Over seven decades the population has fluctuated slightly – it peaked at 616 in 1961 and has gradually declined since.
Mali Beograd is a typical farming village, but as it is close to larger towns, most residents now work outside the village – in Bačka Topola or the industrial zone in Subotica. Running water and electricity arrived after the Second World War; the primary school, opened in 1931, operated until 1972. Today the village has a post office, a health clinic and a local community office, while the inn and the school have closed.
Mali Beograd at a glance:
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Founded: 1920 – settled by 54 Salonika Front volunteer families from Lika, who gave the village its name.
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Growth: supported by local landowners and the road to Subotica built in the 1930s.
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Population: 456 (2011), mostly Serbian, average age 42.1.
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Economy: a farming village whose residents often commute to nearby towns.
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Infrastructure: running water, electricity, post office and health clinic; the school and inn closed down.
Today Mali Beograd is an example of a small but enduring village – it keeps the story of its founding by the poplar and of shared struggle, while adapting to modern times thanks to its good road connections and nearby jobs in town.