Bielitz District

Bielitz District (German: Politischer Bezirk Bielitz, Polish: Powiat polityczny Bielsko) was a political district (equivalent to powiat in Poland) in Austrian Silesia of the Austrian Empire (and since 1867 of Austria-Hungary) existing between 1850–1855 and 1868–1920. Its administrative center was the city of Bielitz (now Bielsko-Biała, Poland).

Revolutions of 1848 in the Austrian Empire led to various social, legal and also administrative reforms. In late December 1849, Austrian Silesia was re-established and was initially subdivided into seven political districts, including one with the seat in Bielitz. Political districts were additionally divided into legal districts (German: Gerichtsbezirk). Bielitz political district consisted of three legal districts: Bielitz, Skotschau (Skoczów) and Schwarzwasser (Strumień). In the era of Bach's neo-absolutism political districts were abolished and replaced by district offices (German: Bezirksamt) encompassing territories of the abolished legal districts. Political districts were re-established in 1868. Two years later the town of Bielitz was excluded from the district to form statutory city, but remained the seat of the district. After this the area of the district did not change significantly and up to 1920 was encompassing 758 km² divided into 67 municipalities (17 in Bielitz legal district, 15 in Schwarzwasser, 34 in Skotschau).

According to the censuses conducted in 1880, 1890, 1900 and 1910 the population was as follows:

Traditionally the territory of those two legal districts was inhabited partly by Cieszyn Vlachs especially around Skotschau, speaking Cieszyn Silesian and Bielsko with surrounding villages was forming a German language island (German: Bielitz-Bialaer Sprachinsel). The results of those censuses and factors shaping national identity of the local population became a perennial subject of the political squabbles in the region. In addition to the Polish and German national orientations there was another group living in the area, the Ślązakowcy, who advocated a distinct Silesian national identity. Throughout Cieszyn Silesia this group enjoyed especially popular support among Protestants living in the district.

...
Wikipedia