Mustamäe (Estonian for 'black hill') is one of the 8 administrative districts (Estonian: linnaosa) of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. The smallest by area (it covers only 8.1 km2), it is at the same time the second largest district by population with 66,305 inhabitants (As of 1 November 2014[update]). It is located 5 km from the centre of Tallinn and is bordered by the districts of Haabersti, Nõmme, and Kristiine. Local housing is mostly represented by panel blocks of flats five to nine storeys high, built in the 1960 to 1970s.

Geography

Mustamäe covers 8.1 km2 and is located 5 km from the centre of Tallinn. Mustamäe is bordered by the streets Tuuliku, Kadaka tee, Tildri, Siili, Nõmme tee, Retke tee, Ehitajate tee, Üliõpilaste tee, Raja, Soone, Lossi, Mäepealse, Kadaka puiestee, Järveotsa tee. Mustamäe is bordered by Nõmme hill (part of the Baltic Klint) in the south and Tallinn Zoo in the northwest.

Mustamäe is divided into four subdistricts (Estonian: asum):

History

Established in 1962 and completed in 1973 as a microdistrict, Mustamäe was Tallinn's first large district. Similar districts, Õismäe and Lasnamäe were completed later.

Population

Mustamäe has a population of 68,548 (As of 1 January 2025[update]).

Ethnicity1989200020112021
amount%amount%amount%amount%
Estonians4221053.94049359.73765760.53825657.7
Russians2838736.32158431.82030732.62023730.5
Ukrainians----15922.5621423.23
Belarusians----8551.378291.25
Finns----3210.524450.67
Jews----2560.412020.30
Latvians----760.121680.25
Germans----630.101480.22
Tatars----1420.231490.22
Poles----1180.191300.20
Lithuanians----1150.181380.21
unknown10.005070.751580.254590.69
other76729.8052587.755950.9630304.57
Total78270100678421006225510066333100
Population development
Year20042005200620072008200920102011201220132014
Population64,91865,83765,69264,50064,24364,33964,11364,59764,23764,42565,866

Landmarks and institutions

Tallinn University of Technology
Magistral shopping mall
Apartments on Mäepealse street

Schools

View of Mustamäe from Nõmme
  • Tallinna Arte Gümnaasium (former School No. 49)
  • (former School No. 44)
  • (former School No. 52)
  • (former School No. 51)
  • (former School No. 54)
  • (former School No. 43)

Transportation

Bus stop on Sõpruse puiestee

Mustamäe is connected to the rest of Tallinn via three main streets: Mustamäe tee and Sõpruse puiestee lead to the centre of Tallinn, and Ehitajate tee crosses Mustamäe while connecting Nõmme and Õismäe. Other major streets include: A. H. Tammsaare tee, Kadaka tee, Ed. Vilde tee, and Akadeemia tee. Most of the public transportation operates on these streets. Mustamäe is serviced by buses and trolleybuses. Out the 4 trolleybus lines of Tallinn, all 4 operate (partly) in Mustamäe. However, trolleybuses are being replaced currently, and they are replaced by buses.

Government

List of District Elders (linnaosavanem) of Mustamäe:

YearsNameParty
1993Ain Lillepalu
1993–1999Jevgeni TombergUnited People's Party
1999Vladimir IvanovUnited People's Party
1999–2000Pavel StarostinUnited People's Party
2000–2001Voldemar TrummUnited People's Party
2001–2004Helle KaldaCentre Party
2004Aivar RiisaluCentre Party
2004–2005Mario SootnaPeople's Union
2005–2009Kalle MihkelsCentre Party
2009–2011Lauri LaatsSocial Democrats
2011–presentHelle KaldaCentre Party

Cultural significance

Books:

  • "The Autumn Ball: Scenes of City Life" (1979) by Mati Unt (translated from Estonian by Mart Aru)
  • "Mustamäe armastus" (1978) by Arvo Valton
  • "Minu Mustamäe" (2013) by Armin Kõomägi

Songs:

  • "Mustamäe valss" (Mustamäe Walz), composed by Avo Tamme; lyrics by Heldur Karmo
  • "Kus on mu kodu"' (Where is my home?), by Agent M

External links

  • by Piret Viires