most important industrial centers of Slovenia and Yugoslavia. Statistical division Lower Styria has no official status as an administrative or statistical unit within Slovenia, although it is widely considered a traditional region. The bulk of Lower Styria is subdivided between the Drava Statistical Region () with its seat in Maribor, and the Savinja Statistical Region () with its seat in Celje. Smaller areas of Lower Styria are included in: The Mura Statistical Region (): the subregion called Prlekija, with the municipalities of Apače, Gornja Radgona, Križevci, Ljutomer, Radenci, Razkrižje, Sveti Jurij ob Ščavnici, and Veržej; The Carinthia Statistical Region (): the municipalities of Mislinja, Muta, Podvelka, Radlje ob Dravi, Ribnica na Pohorju, Slovenj Gradec, and Vuzenica; The Lower Sava Statistical Region (): the Municipality of Bistrica ob Sotli, and the territory on the left bank of the Sava River in the municipalities of Brežice, Krško, Sevnica, and Radeče; The Central Sava Statistical Region (): the territory on the left bank of the Sava River in the municipalities of Hrastnik and Trbovlje. Nowadays, many of these peripheral areas are no longer considered part of Styria. An exception is the Prlekija subregion, which is still widely considered part of Styria. Division into various statistical regions In 2005, Slovenia was divided into 12 statistical regions. Most of the Styria area is now divided into the Drava region (Podravska regija) and Savinja region (Savinjska regija). An area along the Mura region with Ljutomer as its center, known historically as Prlekija, has been incorporated in the Mura region (Pomurje or Pomurska regija), and a number of Lower Styrian municipalities including the town of Slovenj Gradec have been attached to Carinthia, thereby doubling its area. The name Štajerska disappeared from official use in 1922, when the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was administratively divided into oblasts. Nevertheless, the name is still very much alive in both colloquial and media language, and it is part of established cultural and geographical terminology. It also continues to be employed in the promotion of tourism. Cities and towns The cultural and economic centre of Lower Styria has always been the city of Maribor. Other major towns are Celje, Velenje, Ptuj, Brežice, and Slovenj Gradec. The latter two are no longer considered to be a part of Styria proper: Slovenj Gradec has been attached to Carinthia, forming that enlarged region's new cultural and economic centre, whereas Brežice is one of