Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski

Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski
Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski
	Saint Michael's Church
	; Coat of arms
	; Coat of arms
	Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski
	Coordinates: 50°56′N 21°24′E / 50.933°N 21.4°E
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Świętokrzyskie
County	Ostrowiec
Gmina	Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski (urban gmina)
	Government
• Mayor	Jarosław Wilczyński
	Area
• Total	46.43 km2 (17.9 sq mi)
	Population (2006)
• Total	73,937
• Density	1,592.4/km2 (4,124.4/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	27-400
Car plates	TOS
Website	http://www.um.ostrowiec.pl

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Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski Polish pronunciation: [ɔsˈtrɔvʲɛt͡s ɕfʲɛntɔˈkʂɨskʲi] ( listen) is a town in south-central Poland with 74,211 inhabitants (2006). Main industry is metallurgy. Ostrowiec is the capital city of Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski County, part of Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship (since 1999), previously it belonged to Kielce Voivodeship (1975–1998).

[edit] History

The oldest testimonies of human habitation date back to the Stone Age (ca 4000 BC). In that time, there were nomadic tribes belonging among others to Lengyel and Globular Amphora cultures. They came here from Danube river region.

The earliest documents about Ostrowiec village, that gave beginning to the contemporary Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, come from 14th century. The city itself was built from scratch in 1597 by Jakub Gawroński of Rawa coat of arms on the left bank of the Kamienna river, situated in the Vistula river basin. It received town privileges in 1613. It became a property of Janusz Ostrogski, a statesman and one of the richest magnates of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Later it belonged to many Polish aristocratic families: Tarnowski family, Czartoryski family, Lubomirski family, Radziwiłł family, Zasławski family, Sanguszko family, Wielopolski family, Dobrzański family, Łubieński family. After the 2nd WW it was confiscated and became a property of the state.

In 19th c. metallurgical industry developed. Steel plant of Ostrowiec was second big in the whole of Congress Poland in 19th/20th centuries. During Revolution of 1905 Ostrowiec was a place of massive demonstrations and industrial action.

During the 2nd World War, Ostrowiec was a lively centre of resistance activity against the Nazi German occupation. There was an underground weapon production, independent underground press etc. Jewish population was forced to live in a local ghetto, ca 11 thousand Jews were murdered by the Nazi in 1943-1944.

In 1990-ties metallurgical industry experienced a big crisis. The steel plant was bought then by Spanish CELSA Group.

[edit] Culture

Inhabitants of Ostrowiec are known to be involved in many culture and arts activities. The town has a variety of cultural institutions including:

Municipal Cultural Centre
Office of Artistic Exhibitions
The Museum of History and Anthropology with the forest reserve in Krzemionki
Public Library- has locations in different parts of the town
Houses of Culture - children can get involved in the dance classes, drama classes, classes of art and modelling etc., literature and general knowledge competitions are also organized.

Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski also boasts a Musical School and the State Artistic Centre, both of which have had an important influence upon the cultural development of the town.