Darjums

Darjums is a rural settlement located within Pāvilosta Municipality in the Courland region of western Latvia. The village lies on the western coast of the country, overlooking the Gulf of Riga, and is situated approximately 12 kilometres west of the municipal centre, Pāvilosta, and about 60 kilometres north‑west of the capital city, Riga. The area is characterised by flat low‑land terrain, interspersed with pine forests and sandy soils that have traditionally supported small‑scale farming and timber production.

The earliest surviving written record of Darjums dates to the early sixteenth century, when it was referenced in a land survey conducted by the Livonian Order. Throughout the centuries it remained a modest agricultural community, with its residents largely engaged in crop cultivation, animal husbandry and forestry. Following the reforms of the Russian Empire in the nineteenth century, the village became part of the Courland Governorate, and later, after Latvian independence in 1918, it was incorporated into the newly established Rangali Parish.

According to the most recent national census data available from 2011, Darjums had a population of roughly 130 inhabitants, a number that has remained relatively stable over the past decades. The local economy is largely based on agriculture, with some residents employed in nearby coastal fishing operations or commuting to larger towns for work. Tourism has also begun to play a minor role, particularly during the summer months when visitors seek the village’s quiet seaside environment.

Culturally, Darjums retains several historical landmarks, including a late‑eighteenth‑century stone‑walled farmstead that now serves as a heritage site, and a small wooden chapel that commemorates a local saint commonly revered in the region. The village school, established in the early 1900s, continues to function as the primary educational institution for the surrounding rural communities. The local governance structure places Darjums under the jurisdiction of the Pāvilosta Municipality council, which oversees matters such as infrastructure maintenance, cultural events, and environmental protection in line with national policies.