Kościerzyna

Kościerzyna

Meeting of Kashubians on the streets of Kościerzyna, 2004

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Kościerzyna
Coordinates: 54°7′N 17°59′E / 54.117°N 17.983°E / 54.117; 17.983
Country  Poland
Voivodeship Pomeranian
County Kościerzyna County
Gmina Kościerzyna (urban gmina)
Established 13th century
Town rights 1398
Government
 • Mayor Michał Majewski
Area
 • Total 15.83 km2 (6.11 sq mi)
Elevation 150 m (490 ft)
Population (2006)
 • Total 23,016
 • Density 1,500/km2 (3,800/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 83-400 to 83-401
Area code(s) +48 58
Car plates GKS
Website http://www.koscierzyna.gda.pl

Kościerzyna [kɔɕt͡ɕeˈʐɨna] (Kashubian/Pomeranian: Kòscérzëna, former German:  Berent ) is a town in Kashubia in Gdańsk Pomerania region, northern Poland, with some 24,000 inhabitants. It has been the capital of Kościerzyna County in Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999; previously it was in Gdańsk Voivodeship from 1975 to 1998.

Geographical location

Kościerzyna is in Gdańsk Pomerania, approximately 50 kilometres (31 miles) south-west of Gdańsk and Tricity and 190 km (118 mi) south-west of Kaliningrad, at an altitude of 163 m (535 ft) above sea level.

History

The history of the town dates back to the end of the 13th century. In 1346 it was granted municipal rights, and around 1350 the settlement obtained the status of a town. After 1310 it was part of the Monastic State of the Teutonic Knights. After the Second Peace of Thorn (1466) the town became part of the province of Royal Prussia incorporated into the Kingdom of Poland.

The town suffered many times from fire. In 1463 it was first plundered and thereafter burned down completely by Poles.[1] In 1626, during the Polish–Swedish War (1626–29), it was completely burned down once more. During the years 1646, 1663 and 1669 it partly burned down, and in 1709 again entirely.[1]

In the First Partition of Poland in 1772 the town was annexed by Kingdom of Prussia. It was administratively in the newly formed province of West Prussia, where it remained until 1919. During the Kashubian diaspora, many families from Kościerzyna such as the Mrozeks, the Pellowskis and the Eichmans emigrated to the area of Winona, Minnesota in the United States, beginning in the late 1850s. Around 1900 Berent had one Protestant church, one Catholic church, a synagogue, a high school, an academy for school teachers, a factory for the production of snuff, several breweries, a refinery, various mills, agriculture and forestry.[2]

After World War I, in January 1920 Kościerzyna was integrated into the Second Polish Republic. After the Nazi invasion of Poland, between, 1939-45 it was part of the Third Reich. After World War II the town was transferred to the People's Republic of Poland.

Number of inhabitants by year

Year Number
1772 602
1784 over 600
1831 1,592
1875 4,138[3]
1880 4.238[3]
1890 4,299
1900 4,910
1920 6,500
1943 8,385
1960 10,900
1970 15,100
1980 18,664
1990 22,663
2003 23,196

Tourist attractions

Sports

Notable residents

International relations

Twin towns — sister cities

Kościerzyna is twinned with:

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Johann Friedrich Goldbeck: Volständige Topographie des Königreichs Preußen. Part II, Marienwerder 1789, pp. 66–67, no. 5.
  2. ↑ Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon, 6th edition, Vol. 2, Leipzig and Vienna 1906, p. 656.
  3. 1 2 Michael Rademacher: Deutsche Verwaltungsgeschichte Provinz Westpreußen, Kreis Berent (2006).
  4. ↑ Interesting article with photos on this museum (in Polish)
  5. ↑ See an article with photos describing the lake (in Polish)
  6. ↑ Article on the Sanctuary. See also Sanctuary's website

Coordinates: 54°07′N 17°59′E / 54.117°N 17.983°E / 54.117; 17.983

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