Voïvodie of Silesia

The Voïvodie of Silesia (in Polish Województwo śląskie ) is one of the 16 administrative areas (Voïvodie S) of the Poland. Katowice is the chief town of the voïvodie.

The voïvodie was created on January 1st 1999 starting from old the voïvodies of Katowice, Częstochowa and Bielsko-Biała, following a law of 1998 reorganizing the administrative cutting of the country. It is divided into 36 districts ( powiaty ) including 19 cities having of the rights of district, and 167 communes. The name of the voïvodie refers to the geographical and historical area of Silesia.

Voïvodie of Silesia has a Superficie of 12.331 km ² and counts 4.715.000 inhabitants (at December 31st, 2003). It with the highest density and the strongest urbanization of Poland.

Geographical location

Located in the south of Poland, the voïvodie has borders with the Czech Republic and the Slovakia.

Year centers and in the North-West, altitudes are rather high as in the North-East with the Polish Jura which extends from Częstochowa to Cracow. The south is bordered by the Beskides.

Historical links link current the voïvodie of Silesia (which corresponds to the historical area of High-Silesia only part of the Silesia belonging to the Polish territory under the 2nd republic (between-two-war)) with the voïvodies of Opole and Low-Silesia. Until the 13th century, these territories were joined together within the Duché of Silesia, which thereafter was divided into High-Silesia and Low-Silesia.

More big cities

(Population at December 31st, 2003)

Economy

The area, rich in layers of coal and Iron, developed the metallurgy and heavy industry. Unemployment rate is lowest of Poland (6,2%) and the incomes are of 20% higher than the national average.

Principal branches of industry:

  • electromechanical industry

  • metallurgical industry
  • mining industry
  • construction
  • transport

The most frequent family names

  • 1. Nowak: 31.838

  • 2. Kowalski: 11.811
  • 3. Wójcik: 11.440

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