Shkodër County in the context of "Shkodra"

Shkodër (/ˈʃkoʊdər/ SHKOH-dər, Albanian: [ˈʃkɔdəɾ]; Albanian definite form: Shkodra; historically known as Scodra or Scutari) is the fifth-most-populous city of Albania and the seat of Shkodër County and Shkodër Municipality. Shkodër has been continuously inhabited since the Early Bronze Age (c. 2250–2000 BC), and has roughly 2,200 years of recorded history. The city sprawls across the Plain of Mbishkodra between the southern part of Lake Shkodër and the foothills of the Albanian Alps on the banks of the Buna, Drin and Kir rivers. Due to its proximity to the Adriatic Sea, Shkodër is affected by a seasonal Mediterranean climate with continental influences.

An urban settlement called Skodra was founded by the Illyrian tribe of Labeatae in the 4th century BCE. It became the capital of the Illyrian kingdom under the Ardiaei and Labeatae and was one of the most important cities of the Balkans in ancient times. It has historically developed on a 130 m (430 ft) hill strategically located in the outflow of Lake Shkodër into the Buna. The Romans annexed the city after the third Illyrian War in 168 BC, when the Illyrian king Gentius was defeated by the Roman force of Anicius Gallus. In the 3rd century AD, Shkodër became the capital of Praevalitana, due to the administrative reform of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. With the spread of Christianity in the 4th century AD, the Archdiocese of Scodra was founded and was assumed in 535 by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I.

Pukë District (Albanian: Rrethi i Pukës) was one of the 36 districts of Albania, which were dissolved in July 2000 and replaced by 12 newly created counties. It had a population of 34,454 in 2001, and an area of 1,034 km (399 sq mi). It is located in the north of the country and its capital was the town of Pukë. Its territory is now part of Shkodër County: the municipalities of Fushë-Arrëz and Pukë.

Kukës County (Albanian pronunciation: [kuːkəs]; Albanian: Qarku i Kukësit) is a landlocked county in northeastern Albania, with the capital in Kukës. The county spans 2,374 square kilometres (917 sq mi) and had a total population of 61,998 people as of 2021. The county borders on the counties of Dibër, Lezhë and Shkodër and the countries of Montenegro, Kosovo and North Macedonia. It is divided into three municipalities: Has, Kukës and Tropojë. The municipalities are further subdivided into 290 towns and villages in total.

The human presence in the lands of modern Kukës County can be traced back to the Bronze Ages, when ancient Illyrians, Dardanians and Romans established settlements in the region. Several Illyrian tombs were discovered in the villages of Këneta and Kolsh close to Kukës.

Fushë-Arrëz (Albanian: [ˈfuʃə ˈarəz]; Albanian definite form: Fushë-Arrëzi) is a municipality and town in Shkodër County, northwestern Albania. The municipality consists of the administrative units of Blerim, Fierzë, Iballë, Qafë-Mali with Fushë-Arrëz constituting its seat. As of the Institute of Statistics estimate from the 2011 census, there were 2,513 people residing in Fushë-Arrëz and 7,405 in Fushë-Arrëz Municipality. The area of the municipality is 540.42 km. The etymology of Fushë Arrëz from the Albanian language translates to in English as “Field of nutlets”.

Northern Albania (Albanian: Shqipëria Veriore) is one of the three NUTS-2 regions of Albania, along with Central Albania and Southern Albania (Toskeria). It consists of the counties of Dibër, Durrës, Kukës, Lezhë and Shkodër.

Historically and in ethnography, Northern Albania has been called Ghegeria (also spelled Gegeria; Albanian: Gegëria, Gheg Albanian: Gegnia), a name derived from a subgroup of Albanians known as the Ghegs.

Malësi e Madhe (Albanian pronunciation: [maˈləsi ɛ maˈðɛ]) is a municipality in Shkodër County, in northwestern Albania. The municipality consists of the administrative units of Gruemirë, Kastrat, Kelmend, Qendër, Shkrel with Koplik constituting its seat. As of the Institute of Statistics estimate from the 2011 census, there were 30,823 people residing in Malësi e Madhe Municipality. The area of the municipality is 951.01 km.

Vau i Dejës (Albanian pronunciation: [ˌvau i ˈdɛjəs]; 'Deja's Ford') is a town and a municipality in Shkodër County, northwestern Albania. It was formed at the 2015 local government reform by the merger of the former municipalities Bushat, Hajmel, Shllak, Temal, Vau i Dejës, and Vig-Mnelë, that became municipal units. The seat of the municipality is the town Vau i Dejës. The total population is 30,438 (2011 census), in a total area of 499.35 km. The population of the former municipality at the 2011 census was 8,117.

Vau i Dejës (or Vau Dejës or Vau-Dejës) also refers to the city center for the municipality, which is sometimes referred to as Laç or Laç-Vau i Dejës. Located in the northern region of Zadrima, Vau i Dejës is intersected by the Drin and Gjadër rivers. It is also strategically about 41 kilometres from the Adriatic Sea. Settlements in the area can be dated back to the 15th century, while the main city of Vau i Dejës was developed to house workers during the construction of the Vau i Dejës hydroelectric dam from 1971- 73. After the completion of the dam, families displaced from the floodwaters began to inhabit the city. Today Vau i Dejës is composed of 8 villages and a city center. The population in 2008 was 12,345. The municipality covers a total of 31 km and is composed of 1 city center and 8 villages. The villages of Vau i Dejës are Mjedë, Spathar, Shelqet, Kacë, Narac, Dush, Gomsiqe and Karmë. It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sapë.

Mes (Albanian: [ˈmɛs]; Albanian definite form: Mesi) is a village in the former municipality of Postribë in Shkodër County, Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became part of the municipality of Shkodër.