There are traces from
Neolithic and
Roman periods in this area. An older settlement named Želj existed at this locality during medieval
Hungarian and later
Ottoman administration. During Hungarian administration it was part of the
Kovin county and during Ottoman administration part of the
Temeşvar Eyalet. Southern part of modern Opovo is still called Želj by local inhabitants. According to historical sources, modern Opovo was mentioned first in 1672-1690 and it was populated by
Serbs. They lived in the houses made from mud. During
Ottoman administration, settlement had 27 houses and, after
Habsburg conquest, in 1717, it had 64 houses. During
Habsburg administration, Opovo firstly was part of the
Banat of Temeswar (until 1751) and then part of the Habsburg
Military Frontier. In 1753, Opovo was recorded as ethnic
Serb settlement. In the second half of the 18th century (in 1769),
Germans and
Hungarians settled in Opovo. Serb elementary school in Opovo was opened in 1768, while German school was opened around 1773-4. Construction plan from 1776 predicted that 225
Serb and 60
Catholic houses would be built in the settlement. In 1782, settlement had population of 1,497 people. In the first half of the 19th century (1829–1831),
Serbian Orthodox church of
Saint Nikolaj was built. In 1848-1849, Opovo was part of autonomous
Serbian Vojvodina, but was returned under military administration in 1849. With the abolishment of Military Frontier in
Banat (in 1873), Opovo was included into
Torontál County, which was part of the Habsburg
Kingdom of Hungary and
Austria-Hungary. In 1885, new elementary school was elevated in the settlement. In 1910,
Serbs were in an absolute majority in Opovo, while other ethnic groups that lived in the settlement included
Germans,
Croats and
Hungarians. In 1918, following the collapse of
Austria-Hungary, Opovo firstly became part of the
Kingdom of Serbia and then part of the newly formed
Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later renamed to
Yugoslavia). In 1918-1919 it was part of the
Banat, Bačka and Baranja region. From 1918 to 1922 Opovo was part of
Veliki Bečkerek county, from 1922 to 1929 part of
Belgrade oblast, and from 1929 to 1941 part of
Danube Banovina. From 1941 to 1944, it was occupied by
German Axis troops and was included in the German-administered
Banat region, which was part of Serbia. In 1944,
Soviet Red Army and
Yugoslav partisans expelled Axis troops from the region and Opovo was included into
Autonomous Province of Vojvodina within new
socialist Yugoslavia. Since 1945, Vojvodina is part of the
People's Republic of Serbia. Before
World War II, Opovo was part of
Kovačica municipality and, after the war, part of
Pančevo municipality. Later, separate municipality of Opovo was formed. ==Inhabited places==