Voïvodie of Large-Poland

The Voïvodie of Large-Poland (in Polish Województwo wielkopolskie ) is one of the 16 administrative areas (Voïvodie S) of the Poland. Poznań is the chief town of the voïvodie.

The voïvodie was created on January 1st 1999 starting from old the voïvodies of Poznań, Kalisz, Konin, Leszno, as well as part of old the voïvodie of Piła, following a law of 1998 reorganizing the administrative cutting of the country. It is divided into 35 districts ( powiats ), including 4 cities having of the rights of district, and 226 communes. The name of the voïvodie refers to the historical area of Large-Poland (in Polish Wielkopolska ).

The voïvodie has a Superficie of 29.826 km ² and counts 3.359.932 inhabitants (at December 31st, 2003).

Situation and natural capital

Voïvodie is located in the mid-west of Poland. It has two natural parks, of natural reserves and the landscape parks. The two principal rivers of the area are the Warta and the Notec. The north of the voïvodie is a lake area .

History

The name of Large Poland (or Large-Poland, in Polish Wielkopolska , in German Grosspolen , in Latin Polonia Maior ) is used only since the XIVe and XVe centuries. It is mentioned for the first Latin time in 1257, and for the first Polish time in 1449. The names of large or old Poland stressed that it was the cradle of the Polish State. Previously, this area was inhabited by the tribe of the Polanes and was called simply Poland. The forts of Giecz and Poznań were built before the 10th century. Large Poland was the central area of the country of Mieszko Ier and of Boleslas Ier Valiant the, Poznań was the capital of Poland. It is only at the 11th century that the capital was transferred to Cracow.

After the divisions of Poland, the area was found under the Prussian domination and underwent a forced germanisation. During the Second world war, the area was annexed by the IIIe Reich under the name of Wartheland or Warthegau , country of Warta. In 1945, Large Poland returned to Poland.

Policy

The diétine (sejmik) of Large-Poland to the following composition (elections of November 22nd, 2002):

More big cities

(Population in 2003)

Economy

Principal branches of industry:

  • agro-alimentary industry

  • transport
  • building
  • trade and services

The most frequent family names

  • 1. Nowak: 35.011

  • 2. Kaczmarek: 24.185
  • 3. Wojciechowski: 12.928

Random links:The Secrecy of the Unicorn | Maria Anne Clarke | Marpissa muscosa | Bill Butler | Johnny Quilty | Gottlieb Ringier | McCord,_l'Oklahoma