Jastrzębie-Zdrój

Jastrzębie-Zdrój
Jastrzębie-Zdrój
	Top: Spa Park, Middle left: Rehabilitation Centre, Middle right: Spa House, Bottom left: Japanese bridge and 'Dąbrówka' palace, Bottom right: University Library.
; Flag	; Coat of arms
	Motto: Jastrzębie-Zdrój - city of youth, work and peace
	Jastrzębie-Zdrój
	Coordinates: 49°57′N 18°35′E / 49.95°N 18.583°E
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Silesian
County	city county
Established	13th century
Town rights	1963
	Government
• Mayor	Marian Janecki
	Area
• City	85.44 km2 (32.99 sq mi)
	Population (31.12.2010)
• City	92,462
• Density	1,082/km2 (2,800/sq mi)
• Metro	650,000
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	44-330 to 44-335, 44-268
Area code(s)	+48 32
Car plates	SJZ
Website	http://www.jastrzebie.pl

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Jastrzębie-Zdrój [jasˈtʂɛmbʲɛ ˈzdruj] ( listen) is a city in south Poland with 92,462 inhabitants (31.12.2010). Its name comes from the Polish words jastrząb ("hawk") and zdrój ("spa" or "spring"). Until the 20th century it was a spa village situated in Upper Silesia. It was granted city rights in 1963. Jastrzębie-Zdrój is currently situated in the Silesian Voivodeship (since 1999), previously in Katowice Voivodeship (1975–1998). In the early 1980s, the city was one of main centers of workers' protests, which resulted in creation of Solidarity (see: Jastrzebie-Zdroj 1980 strikes).

[edit] History

The first written documentation, relating to this area, date back to 1270. 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 name's origin, means hawk in Polish language and is connected with the legend of the black knight. Between 1858-1860, trial excavations of hard coal were performed all over the area of Jastrzębie Dolne. These excavations ended up discovering springs containing iodine and bromine brine solutions. In 1860, the count of Königsdorff acquired the lands and suggested the construction of bath facilities. Thus, in 1862, the health resort of Bad Königsdorff-Jastrzemb was brought into life. Shortly after, the town joined the exclusive circle of the most prestigious health resorts in Europe.

In 1895, the natural health centre was taken over by a Polish doctor, Mikołaj Witczak, who lent great service to the development of health-resort in Jastrzębie-Zdrój. His managerial skills together with wise investment made Jastrzębie-Zdrój a highly appreciated and fashionable health resort. Consequently, numerous health facilities were then set up.

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 of coking coal deposits. Within a period of 12 years, 5 coal mines were set up. During the time of political transformation in Poland, Jastrzębie-Zdrój went down the annals of Polish modern history as the place where the so-called "the Jastrzębskie Agreement" was concluded. The signing of the protocol initiated the process of political, economic and social changes in Poland.

[edit] Population and location

The city itself has 94,072 inhabitants; its density is 1 049.3 per km² (as of December 31, 2009). Jastrzębie-Zdrój ranks as Poland's 36th largest city. Jastrzębie-Zdrój's unemployment is lower (7%) than the national average of 8.8% (as of November 2010).

[edit] Districts

Jastrzębie-Zdrój is a powiat (county) divided into 15 districts 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.