Silesian Voivodeship
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2008-06-18T23:25:09Z
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{{Infobox Settlement
|name = Silesian Voivodeship
|native_name=Województwo śląskie
|settlement_type=[[Voivodeships of Poland|Voivodeship]]
|image_flag = Slaskie flag.svg
|image_shield = Śląskie herb.svg
|image_map = Wojewodztwo slaskie.png
|map_caption = Location within Poland
|image_map1 = Śląskie administracja.png
|map_caption1 = Division into counties
|subdivision_type=Country
|subdivision_name={{POL}}
|seat_type=Capital
|seat = [[Katowice]]
|parts_type = [[Powiat|Counties]]
|parts=19 cities, 17 land counties *
|p1=[[Bielsko-Biała]]|p2=[[Bytom]]|p3=[[Chorzów]]|p4=[[Częstochowa]]|p5=[[Dąbrowa Górnicza]]|p6=[[Gliwice]]|p7=[[Jastrzębie-Zdrój]]|p8=[[Jaworzno]]|p9=[[Katowice]]|p10=[[Mysłowice]]|p11=[[Piekary Śląskie]]|p12=[[Ruda Śląska]]|p13=[[Rybnik]]|p14=[[Siemianowice Śląskie]]|p15=[[Sosnowiec]]|p16=[[Świętochłowice]]|p17=[[Tychy]]|p18=[[Zabrze]]|p19=[[Żory]]|p20=[[Będzin County]]|p21=[[Bielsko County]]|p22=[[Bieruń-Lędziny County]]|p23=[[Cieszyn County]]|p24=[[Częstochowa County]]|p25=[[Gliwice County]]|p26=[[Kłobuck County]]|p27=[[Lubliniec County]]|p28=[[Mikołów County]]|p29=[[Myszków County]]|p30=[[Pszczyna County]]|p31=[[Racibórz County]]|p32=[[Rybnik County]]|p33=[[Tarnowskie Góry County]]|p34=[[Wodzisław County]]|p35=[[Zawiercie County]]|p36=[[Żywiec County]]
|coor_type=Katowice|latd=50|latm=15|latNS=N|longd=19|longm=0|longEW=E
|area_total_km2 = 12334
|total_type=Total
|population_total = 4676983
|population_as_of = 2006
|population_density_km2 = auto
|population_urban= 3675602
|population_blank1_title=Rural
|population_blank1= 1001381
|blank_name=[[Polish car number plates|Car plates]]
|blank_info=S
|website=http://www.silesia-region.pl
|footnotes = * further divided into 167 [[gmina]]s
}}
'''Silesian Voivodeship''' (also known as Silesia Province, or by its [[Polish language|Polish]] name of ''województwo śląskie'' {{IPA-pl|[|w|o|j|e|'|w|u|c|t|f|o|-|'|ś|l|ą|s|k|j}}{{IPA-pl|e|]}} or simply ''Śląskie'') is a [[voivodeship]], or [[province]], in southern [[Poland]], centring on the region known as [[Upper Silesia]] (''Górny Śląsk''). Its capital is [[Katowice]].
It was created on [[January 1]], [[1999]], out of the former [[Katowice Voivodship|Katowice]], [[Częstochowa Voivodship|Częstochowa]] and [[Bielsko-Biala Voivodeship|Bielsko-Biała]] [[Voivodeship]]s, pursuant to the 1998 Local Government Reorganization Act.
== Geography ==
Silesian Voivodeship borders both the [[Czech Republic]] and [[Slovakia]] to the south. It is also bordered by four other Polish voivodeships: those of [[Opole Voivodeship|Opole]] (to the west), [[Łódź Voivodeship|Łódź]] (to the north), [[Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship|Świętokrzyskie]] (to the north-east), and [[Lesser Poland Voivodeship|Lesser Poland]] (to the east).
The region includes the Silesian Upland (''Wyżyna Śląska'') in the centre and north-west, and the Krakowsko-Częstochowska Upland (''[[Jura Krakowsko-Czestochowska|Jura Krakowsko-Częstochowska]]'') in the north-east. The southern border is formed by the [[Beskidy Mountains]] ([[Beskid Slaski|Beskid Śląski]] and [[Beskid Zywiecki|Beskid Żywiecki]]).
The strong links between [[Upper Silesia]] and the regions now contained in [[Opole Voivodship|Opole]] and [[Dolny Śląsk|Lower Silesian Voivodeship]]s reach back to the medieval history of the Duchy of [[Silesia]] (''Księstwo Śląskie''), which was divided in the [[13th century]] into Upper and Lower Silesia. However, it should be noted that a around half of the territory of today's Silesian Voivodeship is not part of historical Silesia. Such cities as [[Częstochowa]], [[Zawiercie]], [[Myszków]], [[Jaworzno]], [[Sosnowiec]], [[Żywiec]], [[Dąbrowa Górnicza]] and [[Będzin]], and their surrounding counties, belong historically to [[Lesser Poland]].
== Population ==
Silesian Voivodeship has the highest population density in the country (379 people per square kilometre, compared to the national average of 124). The region's considerable industrialisation gives it the lowest unemployment rate nationally (6.2%). The Silesian region is the most industrialized and the most urbanized region in Poland: 78% of its population live in towns and cities.
== Cities and towns ==
Due to its industrial and urban nature, the voivodeship has many cities and large towns. Of Poland's 40 largest towns, 12 are in Silesian Voivodeship. In all it has 71 towns, listed below in descending order of population (according to official figures for 2006 [http://www.stat.gov.pl/gus/45_655_PLK_HTML.htm]):
{{col-begin|width=65%}}
{{col-break}}
1. [[Katowice]] (315,996)<br>
2. [[Częstochowa]] (246,129)<br>
3. [[Sosnowiec]] (225,202)<br>
4. [[Gliwice]] (199,099)<br>
5. [[Zabrze]] (190,610)<br>
6. [[Bytom]] (187,205)<br>
7. [[Bielsko-Biała]] (176,678)<br>
8. [[Ruda Śląska]] (145,929)<br>
9. [[Rybnik]] (141,382)<br>
10. [[Tychy]] (130,842)<br>
11. [[Dąbrowa Górnicza]] (129,753)<br>
12. [[Chorzów]] (114,434)<br>
13. [[Jaworzno]] (96,051)<br>
14. [[Jastrzębie-Zdrój]] (95,149)<br>
15. [[Mysłowice]] (74,988)<br>
16. [[Siemianowice Śląskie]] (72,451)<br>
17. [[Żory]] (62,625)<br>
18. [[Tarnowskie Góry]] (61,107)<br>
19. [[Piekary Śląskie]] (59,494)<br>
20. [[Będzin]] (58,659)<br>
21. [[Racibórz]] (57,352)<br>
22. [[Świętochłowice]] (55,172)<br>
23. [[Zawiercie]] (52,926)<br>
24. [[Wodzisław Śląski]] (49,319)<br>
{{col-break}}
25. [[Knurów]] (39,823)<br>
26. [[Mikołów]] (38,392)<br>
27. [[Cieszyn]] (36,014)<br>
28. [[Czechowice-Dziedzice]] (34,811)<br>
29. [[Czeladź]] (34,173)<br>
30. [[Myszków]] (32,830)<br>
31. [[Żywiec]] (32,078)<br>
32. [[Czerwionka-Leszczyny]] (28,486)<br>
33. [[Pszczyna]] (25,621)<br>
34. [[Lubliniec]] (24,229)<br>
35. [[Rydułtowy]] (21,950)<br>
36. [[Łaziska Górne]] (21,906)<br>
37. [[Bieruń]] (19,642)<br>
38. [[Pyskowice]] (19,127)<br>
39. [[Orzesze]] (18,830)<br>
40. [[Radlin]] (17,673)<br>
41. [[Radzionków]] (17,220)<br>
42. [[Lędziny]] (16,156)<br>
43. [[Ustroń]] (15,420)<br>
44. [[Skoczów]] (14,641)<br>
45. [[Pszów]] (14,012)<br>
46. [[Kłobuck]] (13,193)<br>
47. [[Wisła]] (11,453)<br>
48. [[Blachownia]] (9,863)<br>
{{col-break}}
49. [[Wojkowice]] (9,434)<br>
50. [[Poręba]] (8,784)<br>
51. [[Kalety]] (8,657)<br>
52. [[Imielin]] (7,887)<br>
53. [[Miasteczko Śląskie]] (7,368)<br>
54. [[Łazy]] (7,139)<br>
55. [[Sławków]] (6,833)<br>
56. [[Koniecpol]] (6,303)<br>
57. [[Szczyrk]] (5,860)<br>
58. [[Siewierz]] (5,528)<br>
59. [[Kuźnia Raciborska]] (5,517)<br>
60. [[Krzepice]] (4,524)<br>
61. [[Ogrodzieniec]] (4,465)<br>
62. [[Żarki]] (4,419)<br>
63. [[Woźniki]] (4,410)<br>
64. [[Szczekociny]] (3,912)<br>
65. [[Toszek]] (3,822)<br>
66. [[Strumień]] (3,397)<br>
67. [[Wilamowice]] (2,818)<br>
68. [[Koziegłowy, Silesian Voivodeship|Koziegłowy]] (2,505)<br>
69. [[Krzanowice]] (2,207)<br>
70. [[Pilica, Silesian Voivodeship|Pilica]] (1,971)<br>
71. [[Sośnicowice]] (1,747)<br>
{{col-end}}
== Administrative division ==
Silesian Voivodeship is divided into 36 counties ([[powiat]]s). These include 19 city counties (far more than any other voivodeship) and 17 land counties. The counties are further divided into 167 [[gmina]]s.
The counties are listed in the following table (ordering within categories is by decreasing population).
{| width="70%" border="2" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" style="font-size:90%;line-height:120%;"
|-bgcolor="D0D8DD"
| style="text-align:center;"|'''English and<br>Polish names'''
| style="text-align:center;"|'''Area<br><small>(km²)</small>'''
| style="text-align:center;"|'''Population<br><small>(2006)</small>'''
| style="text-align:center;"|'''Seat'''
| width="30%" style="text-align:center;"|'''Other towns'''
| style="text-align:center;"|'''Total<br>[[gmina]]s'''
|-bgcolor="F0F8FF"
|colspan=6|'''City counties'''
|-
| [[Katowice]]
| style="text-align:right;"|165
| style="text-align:right;"|315,996
| colspan=2 |
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
| [[Częstochowa]]
| style="text-align:right;"|160
| style="text-align:right;"|246,129
| colspan=2 |
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
| [[Sosnowiec]]
| style="text-align:right;"|91
| style="text-align:right;"|225,202
| colspan=2 |
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
| [[Gliwice]]
| style="text-align:right;"|134
| style="text-align:right;"|199,099
| colspan=2 |
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
| [[Zabrze]]
| style="text-align:right;"|80
| style="text-align:right;"|190,610
| colspan=2 |
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
| [[Bytom]]
| style="text-align:right;"|69
| style="text-align:right;"|187,205
| colspan=2 |
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
| [[Bielsko-Biała]]
| style="text-align:right;"|125
| style="text-align:right;"|176,678
| colspan=2 |
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
| [[Ruda Śląska]]
| style="text-align:right;"|78
| style="text-align:right;"|145,929
| colspan=2 |
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
| [[Rybnik]]
| style="text-align:right;"|148
| style="text-align:right;"|141,382
| colspan=2 |
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
| [[Tychy]]
| style="text-align:right;"|82
| style="text-align:right;"|130,842
| colspan=2 |
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
| [[Dąbrowa Górnicza]]
| style="text-align:right;"|188
| style="text-align:right;"|129,753
| colspan=2 |
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
| [[Chorzów]]
| style="text-align:right;"|33
| style="text-align:right;"|114,434
| colspan=2 |
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
| [[Jaworzno]]
| style="text-align:right;"|152
| style="text-align:right;"|96,051
| colspan=2 |
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
| [[Jastrzębie-Zdrój]]
| style="text-align:right;"|85
| style="text-align:right;"|95,149
| colspan=2 |
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
| [[Mysłowice]]
| style="text-align:right;"|66
| style="text-align:right;"|74,988
| colspan=2 |
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
| [[Siemianowice Śląskie]]
| style="text-align:right;"|25
| style="text-align:right;"|72,451
| colspan=2 |
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
| [[Żory]]
| style="text-align:right;"|65
| style="text-align:right;"|62,625
| colspan=2 |
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
| [[Piekary Śląskie]]
| style="text-align:right;"|40
| style="text-align:right;"|59,494
| colspan=2 |
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
| [[Świętochłowice]]
| style="text-align:right;"|13
| style="text-align:right;"|55,172
| colspan=2 |
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-bgcolor="F0F8FF"
|colspan=6|'''Land counties'''
|-
|[[Cieszyn County]]<br>powiat cieszyński
| style="text-align:right;"| 730
| style="text-align:right;"|171,029
|[[Cieszyn]]
|[[Ustroń]], [[Skoczów]], [[Wisła]], [[Strumień]]
| style="text-align:center;"|12
|-
|[[Wodzisław County]]<br>powiat wodzisławski
| style="text-align:right;"| 287
| style="text-align:right;"|155,228
|[[Wodzisław Śląski]]
|[[Rydułtowy]], [[Radlin]], [[Pszów]]
| style="text-align:center;"|9
|-
|[[Będzin County]]<br>powiat będziński
| style="text-align:right;"| 368
| style="text-align:right;"|151,122
|[[Będzin]]
|[[Czeladź]], [[Wojkowice]], [[Sławków]], [[Siewierz]]
| style="text-align:center;"|8
|-
|[[Bielsko County]]<br>powiat bielski
| style="text-align:right;"| 457
| style="text-align:right;"|150,764
|[[Bielsko-Biała]] *
|[[Czechowice-Dziedzice]], [[Szczyrk]], [[Wilamowice]]
| style="text-align:center;"|10
|-
|[[Żywiec County]]<br>powiat żywiecki
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,040
| style="text-align:right;"|149,492
|[[Żywiec]]
|
| style="text-align:center;"|15
|-
|[[Tarnowskie Góry County]]<br>powiat tarnogórski
| style="text-align:right;"| 643
| style="text-align:right;"|137,979
|[[Tarnowskie Góry]]
|[[Radzionków]], [[Kalety]], [[Miasteczko Śląskie]]
| style="text-align:center;"|9
|-
|[[Częstochowa County]]<br>powiat częstochowski
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,519
| style="text-align:right;"|133,553
|[[Częstochowa]] *
|[[Blachownia]], [[Koniecpol]]
| style="text-align:center;"|16
|-
|[[Zawiercie County]]<br>powiat zawierciański
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,003
| style="text-align:right;"|124,127
|[[Zawiercie]]
|[[Poręba]], [[Łazy]], [[Ogrodzieniec]], [[Szczekociny]], [[Pilica, Silesian Voivodeship|Pilica]]
| style="text-align:center;"|10
|-
|[[Gliwice County]]<br>powiat gliwicki
| style="text-align:right;"| 663
| style="text-align:right;"|114,963
|[[Gliwice]] *
|[[Knurów]], [[Pyskowice]], [[Toszek]], [[Sośnicowice]]
| style="text-align:center;"|8
|-
|[[Racibórz County]]<br>powiat raciborski
| style="text-align:right;"| 544
| style="text-align:right;"|111,505
|[[Racibórz]]
|[[Kuźnia Raciborska]], [[Krzanowice]]
| style="text-align:center;"|8
|-
|[[Pszczyna County]]<br>powiat pszczyński
| style="text-align:right;"| 473
| style="text-align:right;"|104,638
|[[Pszczyna]]
|
| style="text-align:center;"|6
|-
|[[Mikołów County]]<br>powiat mikołowski
| style="text-align:right;"| 232
| style="text-align:right;"|91,022
|[[Mikołów]]
|[[Łaziska Górne]], [[Orzesze]]
| style="text-align:center;"|5
|-
|[[Kłobuck County]]<br>powiat kłobucki
| style="text-align:right;"| 889
| style="text-align:right;"|84,730
|[[Kłobuck]]
|[[Krzepice]]
| style="text-align:center;"|9
|-
|[[Lubliniec County]]<br>powiat lubliniecki
| style="text-align:right;"| 822
| style="text-align:right;"|76,628
|[[Lubliniec]]
|[[Woźniki]]
| style="text-align:center;"|8
|-
|[[Rybnik County]]<br>powiat rybnicki
| style="text-align:right;"| 225
| style="text-align:right;"|73,527
|[[Rybnik]] *
|[[Czerwionka-Leszczyny]]
| style="text-align:center;"|5
|-
|[[Myszków County]]<br>powiat myszkowski
| style="text-align:right;"| 479
| style="text-align:right;"|71,619
|[[Myszków]]
|[[Żarki]], [[Koziegłowy, Silesian Voivodeship|Koziegłowy]]
| style="text-align:center;"|5
|-
|[[Bieruń-Lędziny County]]<br>powiat bieruńsko-lędziński
| style="text-align:right;"| 157
| style="text-align:right;"|55,868
|[[Bieruń]]
|[[Lędziny]], [[Imielin]]
| style="text-align:center;"|5
|-bgcolor="F0F8FF"
|colspan=6 style="text-align:center;font-size:90%"|* seat not part of the county
|-
|}
== Economy ==
The Silesian voivodship is predominantly an industrial region. Most of the
mining is derived from one of the world's largest bituminous [[coal]]fields of the Upper Silesian Industrial District (''Gornoslaski Okreg Przemyslowy'') and the [[Rybnik]] Coal District (''Rybnicki Okreg Weglowy'') with its major cities [[Rybnik]], [[Jastrzębie Zdrój]], [[Żory]] and [[Wodzisław Śląski]]. [[Lead]] and [[zinc]] can be found near [[Bytom]], [[Zawiercie]] and [[Tarnowskie Góry]]; [[iron ore]] and raw materials for building - near [[Częstochowa]]. The most important regional industries are: mining, iron, lead and zinc metallurgy, power industry, engineering, automobile, chemical, building materials and textile. In the past, the Silesian economy was determined by coal mining. Now, considering the investment volume, car manufacturing is becoming more and more important. The most profitable company in the region is [[Fiat]] Auto-Poland S.A. in Bielsko-Biała with a revenue of [[PLN]] 6.2 billion in [[1997]]. Recently a new car factory has been opened by [[General Motors Corporation|GM]] [[Opel]] in Gliwice. There are two [[Special Economic Zone]]s in the area: Katowice and Częstochowa. The voivodship's economy consists of about 323,000, mostly small and medium-sized, enterprises employing over 3 million people. The biggest Polish steel-works "Huta Katowice" is situated in [[Dąbrowa Górnicza]].
Silesian Voivodship is also one of the richiest regions in Poland. Average salary is about 3 200 zlotychs (nearly 1000 Euro).
== Transport ==
[[Katowice International Airport]] is used for domestic and international flights and the Silesian agglomeration railway network has the largest concentration in the country. The voivodship capital enjoys good railway and road connections with [[Kraków]] (highway), [[Wrocław]] (highway), [[Łódź]] and [[Warsaw]]. It is also the crossing point for many international routes like the one connecting [[Berlin]], [[Dresden]], Wrocław, Kraków and [[Kiev]] and the other from [[Gdańsk]] to the [[Balkans]]. A relatively short distance to [[Vienna]] facilitates cross-border co-operation and may positively influence the process of European integration.
== Universities ==
There are eleven public universities in the voivodship. The biggest university is the [[University of Silesia]] in [[Katowice]], with 43,000 students. The region's capital boasts the [[Medical University of Silesia|Medical Academy]], the [[University of Economics in Katowice|Economic Academy]], the Musical Academy, the Physical Education Academy and the Academy of Fine Arts. [[Częstochowa]] is the seat of the [[Częstochowa University of Technology]] and Pedagogic University. The [[Silesian University of Technology]] in [[Gliwice]] is nationally renowned. [[Bielsko-Biała]] is home of the University of Bielsko-Biała. In addition, 17 new private schools have been established in the region.
In voivodship are studying more than 300,000 people.
==Protected areas==
[[Protected area]]s in Silesian Voivodeship include eight areas designated as [[Landscape Park (Poland)|Landscape Park]]s:
*[[Eagle Nests Landscape Park]] (partly in [[Lesser Poland Voivodeship]])
*[[Little Beskids Landscape Park]] (partly in Lesser Poland Voivodeship)
*[[Rudy Landscape Park]]
*[[Silesian Beskids Landscape Park]]
*[[Stawki Landscape Park]]
*[[Upper Liswarta Forests Landscape Park]]
*[[Załęcze Landscape Park]] (partly in [[Łódź Voivodeship]])
*[[Żywiec Landscape Park]]
== Tourism ==
Both northern and southern [[Silesia]] is surrounded by a [[green belt]]. [[Bielsko-Biała]] is enveloped by the magnificent [[Beskidy Mountains]] which are particularly popular with winter sports fans. This genuine skier's paradise offers over 150 ski lifts and 200 kilometres of ski routes. More and more slopes are illuminated and equipped with artificial snow generators. [[Szczyrk]], [[Brenna]], [[Wisła]] and [[Ustroń]] are the most popular winter mountain resorts. Rock climbing sites can be found in admirable corners of [[Jura Krakowsko-Czestochowska|Jura Krakowsko-Częstochowska]]. The ruins of castles forming the [[Eagle Nests Trail]] are a famous attraction of the region. While in Silesia, one cannot miss the [[Black Madonna]]'s [[Jasna Góra]] Sanctuary in [[Częstochowa]] - the annual destination of over 4 million pilgrims from all over the world.
With its more than two centuries of industrialisation history, region has a number of technical heritage memorials. These include narrow and standard gauge [[Railway|railways]], [[coal]] and [[silver]] [[Mining|mines]], shafts and its equipment from 19th and 20th century.
== Most popular [[Polish surnames|surnames]] in the region ==
# [[Nowak]]: 31,838
# [[Kowalski]]: 11,811
# [[Wójcik]]: 11,440
== See also ==
* [[Autonomous Silesian Voivodeship]]
* [[History of Silesia]]
* [[Silesian Uprisings]]
==External links==
*[http://www.zobacz.slask.pl/ The Website of Silesia]
*[http://www.silesia-region.pl/ Województwo Śląskie] Official website
<br>
{{Silesian Voivodeship}}
{{Voivodeships of Poland}}
{{coor title dms|50|20|00|N|19|00|01|E|region:PL-SL_type:adm1st}}
[[Category:Silesian Voivodeship|*]]
[[Category:NUTS 2 statistical regions of the European Union]]
[[be-x-old:Сылескае ваяводзтва]]
[[ca:Silèsia (voivodat)]]
[[cs:Slezské vojvodství]]
[[da:Województwo śląskie]]
[[de:Woiwodschaft Schlesien]]
[[et:Sileesia vojevoodkond]]
[[es:Silesia (voivodato)]]
[[eo:Silezio (provinco de Pollando)]]
[[eu:Behe Silesia]]
[[fr:Voïvodie de Silésie]]
[[hsb:Wojewódstwo Šleska]]
[[id:Provinsi Silesia]]
[[it:Voivodato di Slesia]]
[[jv:Provinsi Silesia]]
[[csb:Szląsczé wòjewództwò]]
[[lv:Silēzijas vojevodiste]]
[[lt:Silezijos vaivadija]]
[[nl:Silezië (woiwodschap)]]
[[ja:シロンスク県]]
[[no:Schlesiske voivodskap]]
[[nn:Schlesiske voivodskap]]
[[pl:Województwo śląskie]]
[[ro:Voievodatul Silezia]]
[[ru:Силезское воеводство]]
[[simple:Silesian Voivodeship]]
[[sk:Sliezske vojvodstvo]]
[[szl:Wojewůdztwo ślůnske]]
[[sr:Војводство Шлеско]]
[[sv:Śląsk vojvodskap]]
[[uk:Сілезьке воєводство]]
[[zh:西里西亚省]]