Population: 2136                                               

Area: 143.9 km²

Density: 14.8 per km²

Administration of Lībagi Rural Territory: “Pagastmājā”, Mundigciems, Lībagi Rural Territory, Talsi Municipality, LV-3258

Phone/Fax: 63237872 Email: libagi.parvalde@talsi.lv

Chairperson of Administration of Lībagi Rural Territory: Sandra Pētersone

Lībagi Rural Territory shares its borders with Towns of Talsi, Stende and Sabile, and also with Rural Territories of Strazde, Ģibuļi, Laidze, Lauciene and Virbi. 55% from the total area of Lībagi Rural Territory are forests, 33% are usable agricultural land, but 10.5 % are covered by Talsi Hillock Nature Park with the highest point in Northern Courland – Hill Kamparkalns (174.8 metres above sea level).

Many main traffic arteries cross Lībagi Rural Territory, like motorways Rīga – Ventspils, Talsi – Kuldīga, Stende – Mērsrags and railroad Rīga – Ventspils. The distance between Talsi and the centre of the Rural Territory – Mundigciems is four kilometres. Population of the rural territory increases each year, but it’s not evenly populated, because during the course of history population dispersed amongst many villages: large villages – Dižstende and Mundigciems; medium sized villages – Lībagi; small villages – Ābeļi, Andumi, Birzmaļi, Bungciems, Dārznieki, Gailīšciems, Kalnmuiža, Mazstende, Purgalciems and Sukturi; ‘less sparse’ villages - Brancas, Buļnieki, Čumalas, Indrāni, Jukumi, Kampari, Kursakciems, Linejciems, Mariņi, Mežvidi, Putniņciems, Vīceži, Vecleiši.

In 1979 Stende Municipality’s rural territories and its historical centre – Stende Manor, as well as, church, pub and school, were added to Lībagi Parish. Nowadays this second populous place in the rural territory is called Dižstende, so that it would not be mixed up with Town of Stende, which is located six kilometres away from the historical centre, next to the railroad.

Youngest inhabitants of Dižstende are receiving their education in local primary school and kindergarten. People of Mundigciems and Dižstende can use their modern libraries, equipped with computers and public Internet access. The cultural life in Lībagi Rural Territory is very active. Until 1983, when it was moved to Stende Manor in Dižstende, the Culture House of Lībagi Rural Territory was located in Lībagi, the old building is still used for some cultural events. Women’s ensemble „Alba”, men’s ensemble „Trubadūri”, senior’s ensemble „Kamene”, amateur theatre group, ballroom dancing groups for children and adults, line dancing and hip hop dancing groups operate in the Culture House of Lībagi Rural Territory. 

Women’s club “Magnolija” and senior’s club „Paparde” are becoming more and more active each year. After a short break the Culture House again offers children to take part in singing classes. Most experienced groups still continue to successfully participate in cultural festivals organized in their rural territory, Talsi Municipality, Latvia and abroad.

Lībagi Rural Territory also is familiar with organizing events of a larger scale. Already for ten years, each year in February, the local amateur theatre group has invited non-professional theatre groups from whole region to gathering called „Meteņa laikā”. Every two years, in July, drama festival „Lai top” is held here in Lībagi Rural Territory, were collectives from the whole country are taking part. In 2006, for the second time, Latvian folk song festival „Sadziedam Dižstendē” took place and it brought together thirty vocal ensembles from Talsi Municipality, and even participants from Rēzekne and Balvi Municipalities.

Senior’s club „Sarma” from Mundigciems is very active in the local social life.

With the construction of a local sports stadium physically active lifestyle has become increasingly popular and interested persons also can attend gyms in Mundigciems and Dižstende. Each year, in the summer Sport Games of Lībagi Rural Territory are being held, as well as, friendly matches between neighbouring rural Territories, but during the winter – the Novuss Cup (Novuss, similar to pool, is a national sport in Latvia). Athletes from Lībagi Rural Territory perform very well in sports games organized by Talsi Municipality.

Largest Companies in Lībagi Rural Territory:

• State Stende Cereals Breeding Institute
  www.stendeselekcija.lv

In 1922 in buildings of Stende Manor and its fruitful lands State Stende Cereals Breeding Institute was founded. During these years it has given to the Latvian agriculturalists more than 60 varieties of field crops.

Nowadays 16 species of field crops, which are registered in Common Catalogue of Varieties of Agricultural Plant Species, developed in Stende are grown in Latvia, including barley, oats, wheat and red clover. Most popular of them are: barley “Abava” and “Ansis”, oats “Laima” and red clover “Stendes agrais”.

It is the only field crops research institute in Courland and it is well known for its knowledgeable specialists, seminars and traditional Field days in Stende.  Institute gladly shares its experience and latest discoveries with young agriculturalists.

Institute is persistent in their traditions (J.Liemaņa Prize), always ready to use given opportunities and to accept new challenges.

State Stende Cereals Breeding Institute is engaged in selection of field crops, crop cultivation and in other fields of conventional and biological agriculture, while creating expanding knowledge basis for long-term development and improving competitiveness of Latvian agriculture.    
State Stende Cereals Breeding Institute uses 155 ha state-owned land and employs 50 specialists to achieve their goals.

• Stende Breeding and Experimental Station Ltd

The main are of business is dairy farming.

• Road construction company “Talce” Ltd

The main are of business for “Talce” Ltd is connected with road infrastructure of Latvia, it includes construction of national motorways and their maintenance, bridge construction and their maintenance, as well as, manufacturing of raw materials (crushed stone, sand, gravel) and manufacturing of other road construction materials (asphalt).

• MB BETONS

MB BETONS Group by investing in new production units and introducing innovative technological solutions offers a full nomenclature in compliance with all European standards for the construction of buildings and infrastructure. For four consecutive years MB BETONS is the leader of ready-mixed concrete manufacturing in Latvia.

•  ANZE Ltd (road construction and their maintenance)

• STONERS Ltd (manufacturer of concrete pavers)

STONERS Ltd is located in Vecozoli, Lībagi Rural Territory, Talsi Municipality, right next to motorway Ventspils - Rīga. They manufacture interlocking concrete pavers, basic header blocks and ceramsite blocks.

• Agricultural production is manufactured by almost 600 farms, unfortunately their numbers are decreasing each year