Kvartalis

Kvartalis is a term used in several Baltic languages to denote a city quarter or district. In Latvian it appears as kvartālis, in Lithuanian as kvartalas, and in related usage the unaccented form kvartalis may appear in transliterated or anglicized texts. The concept refers to a subdivision of a city that groups together a neighborhood of blocks and streets sharing common urban characteristics.

Etymology and related terms are linked to the broader idea of a quarter or district found in many languages, with cognates in Slavic, Germanic, and Romance languages. The term is typically derived from historical and linguistic roots meaning a division or portion of a town.

Usage and scope vary by country and city. In urban planning and geography, a kvartalis can function as a planning unit for land use, housing, transport, and public services. Boundaries may be formal or informal, reflecting historical neighborhoods, administrative changes, or development patterns. In some cases, kvartalis denotes an officially recognized administrative district within a city, while in others it describes a conventional or cultural neighborhood rather than a legal entity.

See also: Quarter, District, Neighborhood, Urban district.