Katowice

Katowice
(Coat of arms)
Motto: n/a
Voivodship	Silesian
Municipal Council	Urzad Miasta Katowice
Mayor	Piotr Uszok
Area	164,6 km²
Longitude Latitude	19°00' E 50°15' N
Elevation (metres)	-
Population 2002  - city - urban  - density	329,600 3,487,000 2002/km²
Calling code	(+48) 32
Postal zip code	40-001
Licence plates	SK 0001 through SK 9999
Katowice website

(original former Polish name Kątowicze, 1953-1956 Stalinogród - "Stalin City", Czech Katovice, German Kattowitz) is an important city of the historical region of Upper Silesia in southern Poland on the Klodnica and Rawa rivers.

Katowice is the capital of the administrative and local government region called Silesian Voivodship since 1999, and previously capital of Katowice Voivodship. Katowice is the main city of the Upper Silesian Industrial Area, much like the Ruhr area in Germany. Population 354,000 inhabitants (1999), with an metro area population of 3,487,000 inhabitants (2001).

Table of contents

1 History 2 Education 3 Politics 3.1 Katowice constituency 3.2 Municipal politics 4 Sports 4.3 See also:

History

The area was occupied by the Poles since the 10th Century, being ruled by Silesian Piasts until Poland's partition in 1795. The city was founded by the Poles in the 19th Century, and gained city status in 1865 under Prussian rule. It became part of the Second Polish Republic following populist uprisings throughout the Silesian region between 1918-1921.

The city flourished due to large mineral deposits in the nearby mountains. Extensive city growth and prosperity depended on coal mining and steel industries, which took off during the Industrial Revolution. But recently, due to economic reforms there is a shift away from heavy industry, and towards smaller businesses. Severe damage to the natural environment occurred during communist times, but recent changes in regulations and procedures have reversed much of the harm that was done.

During 1953-1956 named Stalinogród, which was a kind of homage to the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin by the totalitarian, communist authorities.

Education

• Górnośląska Wyższa Szkoła Handlowa im. Wojciecha Korfantego
  • Wydział zamiejscowy w Żorach
• Śląska Wyższa Szkoła Informatyki
• Śląska Wyższa Szkoła Zarządzania im. Gen. Jerzego Ziętka
• Wyższa Szkoła Bankowości i Finansów
• Wyższa Szkoła Humanistyczna
• Wyższa Szkoła Techniczna
• Wyższa Szkoła Technologii Informatycznych
• Wyższa Szkoła Zarządzania Marketingowego i Języków Obcych
• Wyższa Szkoła Zarządzania Ochroną Pracy

• Wyższa Szkoła Umiejętności Społecznych in Poznań, branch in Katowice

Katowice constituency

Members of Parliament (Sejm) elected from Katowice constituency

• Blida Barbara, SLD-UP
• Błońska-Fajfrowska Barbara, SLD-UP
• Czechowski Włodzimierz, Samoobrona
• Gramała Aleksandra, SLD-UP
• Klimek Jan, SLD-UP
• Mateja Piotr, PO
• Nowak Maria, PiS
• Polaczek Jerzy, PiS
• Rzymełka Jan, PO
• Stępień Marian, SLD-UP
• Stryjak Cezary, SLD-UP
• Śleziak Czesław, SLD-UP
• Zagórny Rafał, PO

Sports

• GKS Katowice - men football team (Polish Cup winner: 1986, 1991, 1993; Polish SuperCup winner: 1991, 1995; 1st league in season 2003/2004 and 2004/2005)

• AZS AWF Katowice - women's handball team playing in Polish Ekstraklasa Women's Handball League: 11th place in 2003/2004 season; will play in the 1st league in 2004/2005 season.

• The Municipal Council of Katowice
• A webcam view of Katowice

Poland
Voivodships of Poland
Greater Poland | Kuyavia-Pomerania | Lesser Poland | Lodz | Lower Silesia | Lublin | Lubusz | Masovia | Opole | Podlachia | Pomerania Swietokrzyskie | Silesia | Subcarpathia | Warmia and Masuria | West Pomerania
Principal cities
Warsaw | ŁÃƒÂ³dź | Kraków | Wrocław | Poznań | Gdańsk | Szczecin | Bydgoszcz | Lublin | Katowice | Białystok | Częstochowa | Gdynia | Toruń Radom | Kielce | Rzeszów | Olsztyn