Mińsk Mazowiecki [ˈmʲiɲsk mazɔˈvʲɛt͡skʲi] "Masovian Minsk" is a town in central Poland with 40,211 inhabitants (2015). It is situated in the Masovian Voivodeship (since 1999), previously in Siedlce Voivodeship (1975–1998). It is the capital of Mińsk County.
Map of Minsk Mazowiecki, Poland
The source of the name Mińsk is the River Mienia, whose name in turn derives from mienić, which means 'shine'. The postnominal adjective Mazowiecki shows the historical connection to Mazovia and distinguishes Mińsk Mazowiecki from the Belarusian capital of Minsk.
Mińsk Mazowiecki is located geographically in South Podlasie, historically in East Mazovia and administratively in East Masovian Voivodeship, the city lies 40 kilometres (25 miles) east from Warsaw's Center.
14th century – first mentions of a settlement with commercial function1421, 29 May – Mińsk was granted town privileges1422 – first wooden church was built (not preserved)1549 – a second town Sendomierz, later merged with Mińsk1629 – the present church opened1695 – Sendomierz joined to Mińsk18th century – gradual decline of Mińsk connected with gradual decline of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth1795–1809 – under Austrian rule as a result of the Third Partition of Poland1809–1815 – in the Duchy of Warsaw1815–1916 – in the Congress Poland1866 – first train arrived in the town on the newly built Warsaw–Terespol Railway1867 – name of the town changed to Novominsk1870 – Dernałowicz Family became last owners of city (up to the Second World War)1886 – first bookstore in east Mazovia19th – found of famous manufacture1912 (or 1910) – start of Maria Grochowska's School, today this is Polska Macierz Szkolna's High School1914 – old church opened after reconstruction1915 – present hospital opened1915 to 1918, 11 November – German occupation during World War I1916 – name's change (Novominsk > Mińsk Mazowiecki)1920 – briefly occupied by Russians before the Battle of Warsaw during the Polish-Bolshevik War1920–1939 – great development1937 – first electric train arrived1939–1944 – second German occupation (World War II1939, 12 September – German entry1939, 13 September – battle for Mińsk Mazowiecki (led by gen. Władysław Anders)1942, 21 July – liquidation of Mińsk Mazowiecki ghetto. Most of the Jewish residents were sent to the Treblinka death camp (one of first episodes of Holocaust)1944, 30 July – liberation by Armia Krajowa (prelude to Warsaw Uprising)1944, 30–31 July – Soviet liberation1945, 2–3 march – Soviet killed Mińsk's elite (with Mayor Hipolit Konopka)1952 – trains manufacture1957 – military garrison1979 – new train station1985 – Solidarity events1990 – first Mayor elected in free elections (since elections before Second World War): Zbigniew Grzesiak1999 – Mińsk County establishedIn 1768 the restrictions on permanent residence for Jewish people in Mińsk had been lifted. From the 19th century to the 1930s it became very popular. Before the Second World War, there were thousands of Jews living in Mińsk and they had a general synagogue and smaller temples.
Soon after the war began, the Germans created the Mińsk Ghetto. It was liquidated on 21 July 1942. Most of the Jews were killed in Treblinka extermination camp sent in Holocaust trains by the thousands. The remaining Jewish population were killed in Mińsk on 10 January 1943 (500 people) and 5 June (the last 150 people).
layout of medieval settlement and later cityPalace of Doria Dernałowicz Family – built probably in the 17th century (in place of 16th century residence), converted to classicismparkChurch of the Nativity of The Blessed Virgin Mary – built in the 17th century, converted to neo-baroque in the early 20th centuryinternal furnishingcemeterycounty hall (former), 19th century, classicismcounty hall, 19th centurypost office, 19th century, empirechurch of Mariavite Church, 1911residential areas, 19th and early 20th centuryJewish cemeterysome school buildings (early 20th century)Trade:
hypermarket Carrefoursupermarkets (about 10)many other shopsmarketdevelopersService:
10 banksfast-foods, pubs and restaurants3 hotelsconstruction indystrycar servicesatellite communicationIndustry:
ZNTK "Mińsk Mazowiecki" (since 2008 a subsidiary PESA SA) — maintenance and repair of railway rolling stockFabryka Urządzeń Dźwigowych – production of cranes and other heavy machinerycotton productsyachtsshoesfoilJózef Majka College of Social Science (catholic)Stanisław Staszic Lifelong Learning CenterUniversity of Third AgePolska Macierz Szkolna Gymnasium and High SchoolSalesian Elementary, Gymnasium and High School (catholic)Kazimierz Wielki Professional High SchoolPowstańcy Warszawy Professional High SchoolHigh School of EconomyMaria Skłodowska-Curie High School3 public gymnasiums4 public elementary schoolsover 10 preschools (6 public)special school (for kids with problems)clinic of psychological and pedagogical helpregional bureau of Environmental Protection Inspectionpoint of conscriptionabove forester bureau (Nadleśnictwo Mińsk)county, city and commune bureausPolice Departament of Mińsk County – 2 building in Mińsk, dozens of cars (including sport cars and off-road cars)Fire Departament of Mińsk County – quite new fire engines (well equipped after big fire in industry area a few years ago)Public Hospital of Mińsk CountyCulture and sports
Culture:
House of CultureSchool of Art2 libraries2 museumscinemamagazines (2 public and 3 commercial are published in Mińsk)Sport:
Miejski Ośrodek Sportu i Rekreacji (public sport and recreation departament)2 stadiumsice rinkotherMazovia-ZNTKfootball team in local amateur leagueother sportsother clubsRoman Catholic Church (4 parishes and other structures)Mariavite Church (1 parish)Baptist (1 congregation)Mennonite (1 congregation)Train stationregular service (39 trains in one way daily) to Warsawdirect connections with many cities in Poland, and with Moscow2 regular bus services to WarsawLands
Overall: 13.12 square kilometres (5.07 sq mi)
residential: 30%industrial: 6%communication (roads, railroads etc.): 15%agricultural: 29%park: 5%other: 15%Cities:
Mińsk – old townSendomierz (found 1549, joined 1695)Estates built as part of Mińsk:
Nowe Miasto – Miasto Ogród – New Town – Garden Town (found 1936)concrete estates built in socialist realism (about 1945–1990) without namesmodern estates without namesVillages:
over railroad part of city (all existed in 1839 and earlier)Kędzierak (joined partly in 1954 and fully in 1984)Stankowizna (joined in 19th or 20th century)Anielina (joined in similar time as Kędzierak)otherGórki (joined in the 18th century)Goździk (joined during First War War)Kolonia Stasinów (joined in 1936)Pohulanka (joined partly in 1936)Sewerynów (joined in similar time as Kędzierak)military policeairport with MIG-29 aircraftMińsk Mazowiecki is twinned with:
Krnov, Czech Republic Lacey, USBorodianka, UkraineCori, ItalyKrnov, Bruntál District, Czech RepublicOrsha, BelarusPefki, GreeceSaint-Égrève, FranceTelšiai, LithuaniaJulian Grobelny, Righteous Among the NationsCzesław Mroczek, posełTeresa Wargocka, posełStefan Żeromski, writerMarek Piotrowski, World Champion in KickboxingRafał Jackiewicz, boxer (world title eliminator)
