Remigijus Šimašius became the first directly elected mayor of the city. Subdivisions Elderships, a statewide administrative division, function as municipal districts. The 21 elderships are based on neighbourhoods: Verkiai – includes Baltupiai, Jeruzalė, Santariškės, Balsiai, Visoriai Antakalnis – includes Valakampiai, Turniškės, Dvarčionys Pašilaičiai – includes Tarandė Fabijoniškės – includes Bajorai Pilaitė Justiniškės Viršuliškės Šeškinė Šnipiškės Žirmūnai – includes Šiaurės miestelis Karoliniškės Žvėrynas Grigiškės – a separate town Lazdynai Vilkpėdė – includes Vingis Park Naujamiestis – includes bus and train stations Senamiestis (Old Town) – includes Užupis Naujoji Vilnia – includes Pavilnys, Pūčkoriai Paneriai – includes Trakų Vokė, Gariūnai Naujininkai – includes Kirtimai, Salininkai, Vilnius International Airport Rasos – includes Belmontas, Markučiai District municipality Vilnius District Municipality () is one of the largest municipalities in Lithuania. It occupies 2129 square kilometres and has 23 civil parishes. There are 1163 villages and 5 towns (Nemenčinė, Bezdonys, Maišiagala, Mickūnai and Šumskas) in the district. Vilnius district surrounds the Lithuania's capital and has developed public, business rural infrastructure and offers high standard of living with clean environment. Vilnius district borders with the Republic of Belarus and neighbours with Švenčionys, Moletai, Širvintos, Elektrėnai, Trakai and Šalčininkai districts. Vilnius district has a multinational population, of which 52% are Poles, 33% are Lithuanians and the rest of 16% are Russians, Belarusians and other nationalities residents (e.g. Ukrainians, Lipka Tatars, Jews). Vilnius district has over 100,000 residents. Most of the population (95%) live in villages and 5% live in towns. Vilnius district has the highest terrains of Lithuania – Aukštojas, Juozapinė and Kruopinė Hills, which are raised over 290 metres above sea level and are considered very high in the country's flatlands. Palm Sunday is widely celebrated in the district and the unique and colorful Vilnian Easter palms (verbos) are made there from dried flowers and herbs. The tradition of making Vilnius palms is dated to the times of St. Casimir, who is a patron saint of Lithuania and Lithuanian youth. Medininkai Castle, Liubavas Manor mill and Bareikiškės Manor are the most famous historical landmarks of the district. Vilnius Voivodeship from 1769 surrounded a completely independent microstate Republic of Paulava, known for its Age of Enlightenment values, with its own president, peasants parliament, army and laws. As a result of its large Polish population, Vilnius District Municipality Council mostly consists from members of the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania. Lithuanian Pole Marija Rekst is a long-term mayor