Oswiecim County
Encyclopedia
Oświęcim County is a unit of territorial administration and local government (powiat
) in Lesser Poland Voivodeship
, southern 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 Oświęcim
, which lies 51 kilometres (32 mi) west of the regional capital Kraków
. The county contains four other towns: Kęty
, 17 km (11 mi) south of Oświęcim, Brzeszcze
, 9 km (6 mi) south-west of Oświęcim, Chełmek, 8 km (5 mi) north of Oświęcim, and Zator
, 16 km (10 mi) east of Oświęcim.
The county covers an area of 406.03 square kilometres (156.8 sq mi). As of 2006 its total population is 153,390, out of which the population of Oświęcim is 40,979, that of Kęty is 19,252, that of Brzeszcze is 11,730, that of Chełmek is 9,065, that of Zator is 3,726, and the rural population is 68,638.
The county contains the sites of the Auschwitz concentration camp
complex (Auschwitz being the German name for Oświęcim).
to the north, Chrzanów County
to the north-east, Wadowice County
to the south-east, Bielsko County
to the south, Pszczyna County
to the west and Bieruń-Lędziny County
to the north-west.
s (one urban, four urban-rural and four rural). These are listed in the following table, in descending order of population.
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 Lesser Poland Voivodeship
Lesser Poland Voivodeship
Małopolska Voivodeship , or Lesser Poland Voivodeship, is a voivodeship, in southern Poland...
, southern 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 and largest town is Oświęcim
Oswiecim
Oświęcim is a town in the Lesser Poland province of southern Poland, situated west of Kraków, near the confluence of the rivers Vistula and Soła.- History :...
, which lies 51 kilometres (32 mi) west of the regional capital Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
. The county contains four other towns: Kęty
Kety
Kęty is a town in Oświęcim County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland with 19,175 inhabitants .The town dates its earliest document from 1277 when Polish prince of Opole Władysław confirmed sale of the settlement and adoption of Lviv city rights. The town's name comes from the word kąt...
, 17 km (11 mi) south of Oświęcim, Brzeszcze
Brzeszcze
Brzeszcze is a town in Oświęcim County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship in southern Poland, near Oświęcim.It was founded in the 15th century and was owned by many rich Polish citizens, such as Dominik Gherri, the physician of King Stanisław August Poniatowski. The inhabitants were mainly fishermen and...
, 9 km (6 mi) south-west of Oświęcim, Chełmek, 8 km (5 mi) north of Oświęcim, and Zator
Zator
Zator is an old town on the Skawa river within Oświęcim County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship in southern Poland. From 1975 to 1998 it belonged to the Bielsko-Biała Voivodeship. It is the administrative seat of the Gmina Zator...
, 16 km (10 mi) east of Oświęcim.
The county covers an area of 406.03 square kilometres (156.8 sq mi). As of 2006 its total population is 153,390, out of which the population of Oświęcim is 40,979, that of Kęty is 19,252, that of Brzeszcze is 11,730, that of Chełmek is 9,065, that of Zator is 3,726, and the rural population is 68,638.
The county contains the sites of the Auschwitz concentration camp
Auschwitz concentration camp
Concentration camp Auschwitz was a network of Nazi concentration and extermination camps built and operated by the Third Reich in Polish areas annexed by Nazi Germany during World War II...
complex (Auschwitz being the German name for Oświęcim).
Neighbouring counties
Oświęcim County is bordered by the city of JaworznoJaworzno
Jaworzno is a city in southern Poland, near Katowice. The east district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of 2 millions. Located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Przemsza river ....
to the north, Chrzanów County
Chrzanów County
Chrzanów County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern 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 Chrzanów, which lies ...
to the north-east, Wadowice County
Wadowice County
Wadowice County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern Poland. 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 town of Wadowice, the birthplace of...
to the south-east, Bielsko County
Bielsko County
Bielsko County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Silesian Voivodeship, southern Poland. 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 Bielsko-Biała, although the city...
to the south, Pszczyna County
Pszczyna County
Pszczyna County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Silesian Voivodeship, southern 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 Pszczyna, which lies south of...
to the west and Bieruń-Lędziny County
Bierun-Ledziny County
Bieruń-Lędziny County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Silesian Voivodeship, southern 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 Bieruń, which lies ...
to the north-west.
Administrative division
The county is subdivided into nine gminaGmina
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 (one urban, four urban-rural and four rural). These are listed in the following table, in descending order of population.
| Gmina | Type | Area (km²) |
Population (2006) |
Seat |
| Oświęcim Oswiecim Oświęcim is a town in the Lesser Poland province of southern Poland, situated west of Kraków, near the confluence of the rivers Vistula and Soła.- History :... |
urban | 30.3 | 40,979 | |
| Gmina Kęty Gmina Kety Gmina Kęty is an urban-rural gmina in Oświęcim County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. Its seat is the town of Kęty, which lies approximately south of Oświęcim and west of the regional capital Kraków.... |
urban-rural | 75.8 | 33,598 | Kęty Kety Kęty is a town in Oświęcim County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland with 19,175 inhabitants .The town dates its earliest document from 1277 when Polish prince of Opole Władysław confirmed sale of the settlement and adoption of Lviv city rights. The town's name comes from the word kąt... |
| Gmina Brzeszcze Gmina Brzeszcze Gmina Brzeszcze is an urban-rural gmina in Oświęcim County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. Its seat is the town of Brzeszcze, which lies approximately south-west of Oświęcim and west of the regional capital Kraków.... |
urban-rural | 46.1 | 21,557 | Brzeszcze Brzeszcze Brzeszcze is a town in Oświęcim County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship in southern Poland, near Oświęcim.It was founded in the 15th century and was owned by many rich Polish citizens, such as Dominik Gherri, the physician of King Stanisław August Poniatowski. The inhabitants were mainly fishermen and... |
| Gmina Oświęcim Gmina Oswiecim Gmina Oświęcim is a rural gmina in Oświęcim County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. Its seat is the town of Oświęcim, although the town is not part of the territory of the gmina.... |
rural | 74.5 | 16,708 | Oświęcim Oswiecim Oświęcim is a town in the Lesser Poland province of southern Poland, situated west of Kraków, near the confluence of the rivers Vistula and Soła.- History :... * |
| Gmina Chełmek | urban-rural | 27.2 | 12,827 | Chełmek |
| Gmina Zator Gmina Zator Gmina Zator is an urban-rural gmina in Oświęcim County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. Its seat is the town of Zator, which lies approximately east of Oświęcim and west of the regional capital Kraków.... |
urban-rural | 51.4 | 9,049 | Zator Zator Zator is an old town on the Skawa river within Oświęcim County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship in southern Poland. From 1975 to 1998 it belonged to the Bielsko-Biała Voivodeship. It is the administrative seat of the Gmina Zator... |
| Gmina Osiek Gmina Osiek, Lesser Poland Voivodeship Gmina Osiek is a rural gmina in Oświęcim County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. Its seat is the village of Osiek; it also contains the village of Głębowice.... |
rural | 41.2 | 7,857 | Osiek |
| Gmina Przeciszów Gmina Przeciszów Gmina Przeciszów is a rural gmina in Oświęcim County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. Its seat is the village of Przeciszów, which lies approximately east of Oświęcim and west of the regional capital Kraków.... |
rural | 35.4 | 6,679 | Przeciszów Przeciszów Przeciszów is a village in Oświęcim County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Przeciszów. It lies approximately east of Oświęcim and west of the regional capital Kraków.... |
| Gmina Polanka Wielka Gmina Polanka Wielka Gmina Polanka Wielka is a rural gmina in Oświęcim County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. Its seat is the village of Polanka Wielka, which lies approximately south-east of Oświęcim and west of the regional capital Kraków.The gmina covers an area of , and as of 2006 its total... |
rural | 24.1 | 4,136 | Polanka Wielka Polanka Wielka Polanka Wielka is a village in Oświęcim County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Polanka Wielka. It lies approximately south-east of Oświęcim and west of the regional capital Kraków.The village has a population of 3,800.-References:... |
| * seat not part of the gmina | ||||