Jastrzębie Zdrój

History

The first written documentation, relating to this area, date back to around 1305 (Liber fundationis episcopatus Vratislaviensis). Administratively, the town is made up of several old settlements, whose origins go back to the distant past. The original name of the town was Jastrzemb. The name's origin, means hawk in Polish language and is connected with the legend of the black knight. Between 1858-1860, trial excavations of hard coal were performed all over the area of Jastrzębie Dolne. These excavations ended up discovering springs containing iodine and bromine brine solutions. In 1860, the count of Königsdorff acquired the lands and suggested the construction of bath facilities. Thus, in 1862, the health resort of Bad Königsdorff-Jastrzemb was brought into life. Shortly after, the town joined the exclusive circle of the most prestigious health resorts in Europe.

In 1895, the natural health centre was taken over by a Polish doctor, Mikołaj Witczak, who lent great service to the development of health-resort in Bad Königsdorff-Jastrzemb. His managerial skills together with wise investment made Jastrzębie-Zdrój a highly appreciated and fashionable health resort inside the German Empire and the interbellum Poland. Consequently, numerous health facilities were then set up.

The history of Jastrzębie-Zdrój as a health resort came to its end in the 1960s, when all over the area began the intensive exploitation of coking coal deposits. Within a period of 12 years, 5 coal mines were set up. During the time of political transformation in Poland, Jastrzębie-Zdrój went down the annals of Polish modern history as the place where the so-called "the Jastrzębskie Agreement" was concluded. The signing of the protocol initiated the process of political, economic and social changes in Poland.

Population and location

The city itself has 91,723 inhabitants; its density is 1,047.9 per km² (as of January 31, 2012). Jastrzębie-Zdrój ranks as Poland's 36th largest city. Jastrzębie-Zdrój's unemployment rate is lower (7%) than the national average of 8.8% (as of November 2010).

Districts

Jastrzębie-Zdrój is a powiat (county) divided into 15 districts and 6 sołectwos that have its own administrative body. Most of the districts are suburban, some are densely built with many blocks of flats generating huge housing estates, and the rest are of civic nature.

1. Arki Bożka (6632 inhabitants)
2. Barbary (10 185 inhabitants)
3. Bogoczowiec (1672 inhabitants)
4. Chrobrego (5042 inhabitants)
5. Gwarków (8126 inhabitants)
6. Jastrzębie Górne i Dolne (4369 inhabitants)
7. Morcinka (4534 inhabitants)
8. Pionierów (11 210 inhabitants)
9. Przyjaźń (4718 inhabitants)
10. Staszica (6079 inhabitants)
11. Tuwima (480 inhabitants)
12. Tysiąclecia (3242 inhabitants)
13. Zdrój (7682 inhabitants)
14. Złote łany (1118 inhabitants)
15. Zofiówka (3473 inhabitants)

Sołectwos:

1. Borynia (1918 inhabitants)
2. Bzie (3602 inhabitants)
3. Moszczenica (3026 inhabitants)
4. Ruptawa (3767 inhabitants)
5. Skrzeczkowice (694 inhabitants)
6. Szeroka (2273 inhabitants)

Famous people from Jastrzębie-Zdrój

Sports

Twin towns — sister cities

Jastrzębie-Zdrój is twinned with: