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Old Polish Industrial Region (Polish:Staropolski Okręg Przemysłowy) is anindustrial region in northern part ofLesser Poland. It is the oldest and in terms of area covered, largest ofPolish industrial regions. Most of the region is located inLesser Poland Upland, and its historic center lies along the Kamienna river. Primary industrial cities:Kielce,Radom,Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski,Starachowice andSkarżysko-Kamienna.
In prehistoric times future Old Polish Industrial Region was the area offlint and lateriron tools. InNowa Slupia, remnants of forty fivebloomeries were found (5th - 10th century). In theMiddle Ages, the region became the center of Polish industry - mining andsteel mills. Various kinds of weapons were manufactured here, iron ore, copper and silver were extracted. In the 17th century, firstblast furnaces were opened in the villages ofSamsonow andBobrza. By 1782, out of 34 blast furnaces inPoland-Lithuania, as many as 27 were located in Old Polish Industrial Region. Furthermore, the area was a major glass producer of the country.
First half of the 19th century was the time of rapid development of the region, due to efforts of the government ofCongress Poland, and such persons asStanislaw Staszic andFranciszek Ksawery Drucki-Lubecki. Both officials planned construction of a large metallurgical plant along the Kamienna. Those plans, however, were only partially implemented, due to lack of funds. Still, several new plants were opened at that time.
Growth of Old Polish Industrial Region stopped in the second half of the 19th century, due to two reasons. First, Congress Poland lost its autonomy and becameVistula Land, integral part of theRussian Empire. Furthermore, another industrial center of Lesser Poland,Zaglebie Dabrowskie, began to develop and compete with Old Polish Industrial Region. As a result, several plants had to close down.
The region recovered in late years of theSecond Polish Republic, whenCentral Industrial Area was envisaged byEugeniusz Kwiatkowski. Already-existing factories in Kielce, Skarzysko, Radom, Starachowice and Ostrowiec were modernized, new ones were also built. AfterWorld War II, industrialization of the area continued, with such plants, asFSC Star.
Major urban centers of the region are Kielce, Radom, Starachowice, Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski and Skarżysko-Kamienna, which is an important railroad junction. Names of several villages indicate their industrial past, even though no traces of former plants remain there (Ruda, Kuźnica, Hucisko, Żelaznica, Górniki, Rudniki, Wąglów, Wólka Smolna, Kurzacze).
