Jastrzębie-Zdrój ([jaˈstʂɛmbjɛ ˈzdruj]ⓘ;German:Bad Königsdorff-Jastrzemb, originallyJastrzemb;Czech:Lázně Jestřebí;Silesian:Jastrzymbie-Zdroj) is a city in theSilesian Voivodeship in southernPoland[2] with 86,632 inhabitants (2021).[1] Its name comes from the Polish wordsjastrząb ("hawk") andzdrój ("spa" or "spring").
From 1861 until the 20th century, it was aspa village situated inUpper Silesia. It was grantedcity rights in 1963. In the early 1980s, the city was one of the main centers ofworkers' protests, which resulted in the creation ofSolidarity.
The first written documentation, relating to this area, date back to around 1305 (Liber fundationis episcopatus Vratislaviensis), when it was part of fragmentedPiast-ruled Poland.[3] 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 origin of the name, which means 'hawk' inPolish, is connected with the legend of the blackknight. From the 16th century to the beginning of the 19th century, it was part of the administration ofWodzisław. In the 18th century, it was annexed byPrussia. Between 1858 and 1860, trial excavations of hard coal were performed all over the area of Jastrzębie Dolne. These excavations ended up discovering springs containing iodine andbromine brine solutions. In 1860, the count of Königsdorff acquired the lands and suggested the construction of bath facilities. Thus, in 1862, the health resort ofBad Königsdorff-Jastrzemb was brought into life. Shortly after, the town joined the exclusive circle of the most prestigious health resorts inEurope.
In 1896, the natural health centre was taken over by a Polishdoctor, Mikołaj Witczak, who lent great service to the development of health resort in Bad Königsdorff-Jastrzemb.[4] His managerial skills together with wise investment made Jastrzębie-Zdrój a highly appreciated and fashionable health resort inside theGerman Empire and theinterbellumPoland. Consequently, numerous health facilities were then set up.
In the plebiscite in Silesia in 1921, about 85% of the inhabitants of Jastrzębie Zdrój voted for Poland, a significant part of the inhabitants also took part in theSilesian uprisings in order to re-unite with Poland. Finally, in 1922, Jastrzębie-Zdrój was incorporated into Poland.
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 ofcoking coal deposits. Within a period of 12 years, fivecoal mines were set up. Between 1954–1975, Jastrzębie was part of theWodzisław County. From 1975 to 1998, it was administratively located in theKatowice Voivodeship. During the time of political transformation in Poland, Jastrzębie-Zdrój went down in the annals of Polish modern history as the place where theJastrzębie-Zdrój Agreement was concluded. The signing of the protocol initiated the process of political, economic and social changes in Poland.
The city itself had 91,723 inhabitants; itsdensity is 1,047.9 per km² (as of January 31, 2012). Jastrzębie-Zdrój ranks as Poland's 36th largest city. Jastrzębie-Zdrój'sunemployment rate is lower (7%) than the national average of 8.8% (as of November 2010).
Jastrzębie-Zdrój is apowiat (county) divided into 15districts and 6sołectwos 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.
Henryk Sławik (1894–1944), Polish politician, social worker, activist, and diplomat, who duringWorld War II helped save over 30,000 Polish refugees, including 5,000 Polish Jews inBudapest, Hungary by giving them false Polish passports with a Catholic designation
^ab"Local Data Bank". Statistics Poland. Retrieved11 August 2022. Data for territorial unit 2467000.
^"Główny Urząd Statystyczny" [Central Statistical Office] (in Polish). To search: Select "Miejscowości (SIMC)" tab, select "fragment (min. 3 znaki)" (minimum 3 characters), enter town name in the field below, click "WYSZUKAJ" (Search).
The list includes the 107 urban municipalities governed by acity mayor (prezydent miasta) instead of a town mayor (burmistrz) ·Cities with powiat rights are initalics · Voivodeship cities are inbold
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