Kielce County is a unit of territorial administration and local government (powiat

Powiat

A powiat is the second-level unit of local government and administration in Poland, equivalent to a county, district or prefecture in other countries. The term powiat is most often translated into English as "county", although other terms are also sometimes used...

) in Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship

Swietokrzyskie Voivodeship

Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, or Świętokrzyskie Province , is one of the 16 voivodeships into which Poland is presently divided. It is situated in central Poland, in the historical province of Lesser Poland, and takes its name from the Świętokrzyskie mountain range...

, south-central Poland

Poland

Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...

. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat is the city of Kielce

Kielce

Kielce ) is a city in central Poland with 204,891 inhabitants . It is also the capital city of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship since 1999, previously in Kielce Voivodeship...

, although the city is not part of the county (it constitutes a separate city county). The county contains four towns: Chęciny

Checiny

Chęciny is a town in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Poland, with 4,252 inhabitants .The town is first mentioned in historical documents from 1275. It obtained its city charter in 1325. The most important sight in the town is the royal castle built in the late 13th or early 14th century...

, 14 km (9 mi) south-west of Kielce, Chmielnik

Chmielnik

Chmielnik is a town in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Poland. It has a population of 4,005 . Town's name is derived from hop .- History :...

, 32 km (20 mi) south of Kielce, Daleszyce

Daleszyce

Daleszyce is a town in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Poland, with 2,800 inhabitants . It became a town at the start of 2007.-External links:*...

, 17 km (11 mi) south-east of Kielce, and Bodzentyn

Bodzentyn

Bodzentyn is a town in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Poland, with 2,271 inhabitants . Bodzentyn Castle was built in 14th century.-External links:*...

, 25 km (16 mi) east of Kielce.

The county covers an area of 2247.45 square kilometres (867.7 sq mi). As of 2006 its total population is 198,581, out of which the population of Chęciny is 4,252, that of Chmielnik is 4,005, that of Daleszyce is 2,800, that of Bodzentyn is 2,241, and the rural population is 188,083.

Neighbouring counties

Apart from the city of Kielce

Kielce

Kielce ) is a city in central Poland with 204,891 inhabitants . It is also the capital city of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship since 1999, previously in Kielce Voivodeship...

, Kielce County is also bordered by Końskie County

Konskie County

Końskie County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, central Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is Końskie, which lies ...

 to the north, Skarżysko County

Skarzysko County

Skarżysko County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, south-central Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is...

 to the north-east, Starachowice County

Starachowice County

Starachowice County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, south-central Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is Starachowice,...

, Ostrowiec County

Ostrowiec County

Ostrowiec County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, south-central Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is Ostrowiec...

 and Opatów County

Opatów County

Opatów County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, south-central Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is Opatów, which lies ...

 to the east, Staszów County

Staszów County

Staszów County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, south-central Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is Staszów, which...

 to the south-east, Busko County

Busko County

Busko County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, south-central Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and only town is Busko-Zdrój, which lies...

 and Pińczów County

Pinczów County

Pińczów County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, south-central Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is Pińczów, which...

 to the south, Jędrzejów County

Jedrzejów County

Jędrzejów County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, south-central Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is Jędrzejów, which...

 to the south-west, and Włoszczowa County to the west.

Administrative division

The county is subdivided into 19 gmina

Gmina

The gmina is the principal unit of administrative division of Poland at its lowest uniform level. It is often translated as "commune" or "municipality." As of 2010 there were 2,479 gminas throughout the country...

s (four urban-rural and 15 rural). These are listed in the following table, in descending order of population.

Gmina	Type	Area (km²)	Population (2006)	Seat
Gmina Piekoszów Gmina Piekoszów Gmina Piekoszów is a rural gmina in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. Its seat is the village of Piekoszów, which lies approximately west of the regional capital Kielce....	rural	102.5	15,249	Piekoszów Piekoszów Piekoszów is a village in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Piekoszów. It lies approximately west of the regional capital Kielce....
Gmina Chęciny Gmina Checiny Gmina Chęciny is an urban-rural gmina in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. Its seat is the town of Chęciny, which lies approximately south-west of the regional capital Kielce....	urban-rural	127.6	14,715	Chęciny Checiny Chęciny is a town in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Poland, with 4,252 inhabitants .The town is first mentioned in historical documents from 1275. It obtained its city charter in 1325. The most important sight in the town is the royal castle built in the late 13th or early 14th century...
Gmina Daleszyce Gmina Daleszyce Gmina Daleszyce is an urban-rural gmina in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. Its seat is the town of Daleszyce, which lies approximately south-east of the regional capital Kielce....	urban-rural	222.2	14,713	Daleszyce Daleszyce Daleszyce is a town in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Poland, with 2,800 inhabitants . It became a town at the start of 2007.-External links:*...
Gmina Morawica Gmina Morawica Gmina Morawica is a rural gmina in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. Its seat is the village of Morawica, which lies approximately south of the regional capital Kielce....	rural	140.5	13,380	Morawica Morawica, Swietokrzyskie Voivodeship Morawica is a village in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Morawica. It lies approximately south of the regional capital Kielce....
Gmina Górno Gmina Górno Gmina Górno is a rural gmina in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. Its seat is the village of Górno, which lies approximately east of the regional capital Kielce....	rural	83.3	12,943	Górno Górno, Swietokrzyskie Voivodeship Górno is a village in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Górno. It lies approximately east of the regional capital Kielce....
Gmina Zagnańsk Gmina Zagnansk Gmina Zagnańsk is a rural gmina in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. Its seat is the village of Zagnańsk, which lies approximately north of the regional capital Kielce....	rural	124.4	12,746	Zagnańsk Zagnansk Zagnańsk is a village in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Zagnańsk. It lies approximately north of the regional capital Kielce. The village has a population of 1,726.The Bartek oak tree in the village is almost 650 years...
Gmina Bodzentyn Gmina Bodzentyn Gmina Bodzentyn is an urban-rural gmina in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. Its seat is the town of Bodzentyn, which lies approximately east of the regional capital Kielce....	urban-rural	160.3	11,677	Bodzentyn Bodzentyn Bodzentyn is a town in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Poland, with 2,271 inhabitants . Bodzentyn Castle was built in 14th century.-External links:*...
Gmina Chmielnik Gmina Chmielnik, Swietokrzyskie Voivodeship Gmina Chmielnik is an urban-rural gmina in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. Its seat is the town of Chmielnik, which lies approximately south of the regional capital Kielce....	urban-rural	142.9	11,568	Chmielnik Chmielnik Chmielnik is a town in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Poland. It has a population of 4,005 . Town's name is derived from hop .- History :...
Gmina Miedziana Góra Gmina Miedziana Góra Gmina Miedziana Góra is a rural gmina in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. Its seat is the village of Miedziana Góra, which lies approximately north-west of the regional capital Kielce....	rural	70.8	10,031	Miedziana Góra Miedziana Góra, Kielce County Miedziana Góra is a village in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Miedziana Góra. It lies approximately north-west of the regional capital Kielce....
Gmina Bieliny Gmina Bieliny Gmina Bieliny is a rural gmina in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. Its seat is the village of Bieliny, which lies approximately east of the regional capital Kielce....	rural	88.1	9,832	Bieliny Bieliny, Swietokrzyskie Voivodeship Bieliny is a village in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Bieliny. It lies approximately east of the regional capital Kielce....
Gmina Strawczyn Gmina Strawczyn Gmina Strawczyn is a rural gmina in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. Its seat is the village of Strawczyn, which lies approximately north-west of the regional capital Kielce....	rural	86.3	9,789	Strawczyn Strawczyn Strawczyn is a village in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Strawczyn. It lies approximately north-west of the regional capital Kielce....
Gmina Nowa Słupia	rural	85.9	9,691	Nowa Słupia
Gmina Masłów	rural	86.3	9,595	Masłów
Gmina Mniów Gmina Mniów Gmina Mniów is a rural gmina - administrative district - in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, located in south-central Poland. Its seat is the village of Mniów, which lies approximately north-west of the regional capital Kielce....	rural	95.3	9,249	Mniów Mniów Mniów is a village in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Mniów. It lies approximately north-west of the regional capital Kielce....
Gmina Łopuszno	rural	176.8	8,996	Łopuszno
Gmina Sitkówka-Nowiny Gmina Sitkówka-Nowiny Gmina Sitkówka-Nowiny is a rural gmina in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. Its seat is the village of Osiedle-Nowiny, which lies approximately south-west of the regional capital Kielce....	rural	45.8	6,983	Osiedle-Nowiny Osiedle-Nowiny Osiedle-Nowiny is a village in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Sitkówka-Nowiny. It lies approximately south-west of the regional capital Kielce....
Gmina Łagów	rural	113.0	6,899	Łagów
Gmina Raków Gmina Raków Gmina Raków is a rural gmina in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. Its seat is the village of Raków, which lies approximately south-east of the regional capital Kielce....	rural	191.1	5,747	Raków Raków Raków is a village in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Raków. It lies approximately south-east of the regional capital Kielce...
Gmina Pierzchnica Gmina Pierzchnica Gmina Pierzchnica is a rural gmina in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. Its seat is the village of Pierzchnica, which lies approximately south-east of the regional capital Kielce....	rural	104.6	4,778	Pierzchnica Pierzchnica Pierzchnica is a village in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in south-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Pierzchnica. It lies approximately south-east of the regional capital Kielce....