Włoszczowa
Market Square in Włoszczowa
Market Square in Włoszczowa
Coat of arms of Włoszczowa
Coat of arms
Włoszczowa is located in Poland
Włoszczowa
Włoszczowa
Coordinates: 50°51′15″N 19°58′1″E / 50.85417°N 19.96694°E / 50.85417; 19.96694
Country Poland
VoivodeshipŚwiętokrzyskie
CountyWłoszczowa County
GminaGmina Włoszczowa
Area
 • Total30.17 km2 (11.65 sq mi)
Elevation
240 m (790 ft)
Population
 (2012)
 • Total10,657
 • Density350/km2 (910/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
29-100
Area code+48 41
Car platesTLW
Websitehttp://wloszczowa.pl/

Włoszczowa [vwɔˈʂt͡ʂɔva] ⓘ is a town in southern Poland, in Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, about 50 kilometres (31 miles) west of Kielce. It is the capital of Włoszczowa County. Population is 10,657 (2010).[1] Włoszczowa lies in historic Lesser Poland. The town has the area of 30 km2 (11 sq miles).

History

Historical population
YearPop.±%
19215,479—    
19316,900+25.9%
201010,657+54.4%
Source: [2][1]

Włoszczowa was first mentioned in 1154, when Prince Henry of Sandomierz handed the village known then as Vloszcova to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta monks. It received its town charter in 1539, when King Zygmunt Stary handed the document to the starosta of Chęciny, Hieronim Szafraniec. The town remained the property of the Szafraniec family until the late 18th century. In the Kingdom of Poland and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Włoszczowa was part of the Sandomierz Voivodeship in the Lesser Poland Province.

After the Partitions of Poland, it belonged to Russian-controlled Congress Poland (1815 - 1918). In the Second Polish Republic, Włoszczowa belonged to Kielce Voivodeship. It had a large Jewish population, which made 50% of its population in 1925. Almost all Włoszczowa's Jews were murdered by the Germans in the Holocaust.

Sights

Among points of interest there are remains of a 12th-century gord, with traces of a moat, and ruins of the Szafraniec family castle (16th century). Furthermore, there is a 17th-century parish church, and the 16th-century urban layout of the streets.

Transport

Włoszczowa is a junction of regional roads nr 786, nr 742, and 785. Włoszczowa has two rail stations: PKP Włoszczowa (on the Kielce - Częstochowa route), and PKP Włoszczowa Północ (Włoszczowa North) (on the Central Rail Line).

Twin towns

Włoszczowa is twinned with:

References

  1. 1 2 Stan i struktura ludności oraz ruch naturalny w przekroju terytorialnym w 2010 r. (PDF) (in Polish). Warszawa: Główny Urząd Statystyczny. 2011. p. 98. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 November 2011.
  2. ↑ Wiadomości Statystyczne Głównego Urzędu Statystycznego (in Polish). Vol. X. Warszawa: Główny Urząd Statystyczny. 1932. p. 195.
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