Bileća () is a town and municipality located in Republika Srpska, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As of 2013, the town has a population of 7,476 inhabitants, while the municipality has 10,807 inhabitants. History The first traces of civilization in Bileća date from the Neolithic period, although archaeological sites are insufficiently explored. During the Middle Ages, Bileća was located on the boundary of the župa of Vrm and the nearby Vlach necropolis was often mentioned as an important crossroad location for caravans on the way from Dubrovnik to Nikšić and Ključ, near Gacko. The town became part of the Bosnian state for the first time in 1373, after the defeat of Nikola Altomanović, but the first mention of the town under its present name is from 25 January 1387, while it appears as Bilechia in 1438. A document dated 8 September 1388 mentions that the army of the duke Vlatko Vuković defeated the Turkish army at the Battle of Bileća. The period from the 13th to the 16th century was marked by the building of a large number of stećci, monolith markers that weigh up to 5 tons. Bileća was held by the Turks from 1466, although it was a rebellious area that was difficult to control. Nearby lies the town of Vučji Do, in which the Battle of Vučji Do took place in 1876. The Congress of Berlin included Bileća in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which brought economic development to the region. The first primary school in Bileća was opened in 1880. Settlements Aside from the town of Bileća, the municipality includes the following settlements: Baljci Bijela Rudina Bijeljani Bodenik Bogdašići Brestice Čepelica Deleuša Divin Dlakoše Dola Donja Meka Gruda Donji Davidovići Đeče Fatnica Golobrđe Gornja Meka Gruda Gornji Davidovići Granica Hodžići Kačanj Kalac Korita Krivača Krstače Kukričje Kuti Lađevići Milavići Mirilovići Miruše Mrežica Narat Njeganovići Oblo Brdo Orah Orahovice Pađeni Panik Plana Podgorje Podosoje Preraca Prijevor Prisoje Rioca Selišta Simijova Skrobotno Šobadine Todorići Torič Trnovica Vlahinja Vranjska Vrbica Zasada Zaušje Zvijerina Žudojevići Demographics Population Ethnic composition According to the 1910 census, the absolute majority in the Bileća municipality were Orthodox Christians (82.27%). According to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia 1931 population census, the majority was held by Orthodox Christians 81.27%. Economy The following table gives a preview of total number of registered people employed in legal entities per their core activity (as of 2018): Sports Local football club FK