Szczekociny

Palace

Coat of arms

Szczekociny

Coordinates: 50°38′N 19°50′E / 50.633°N 19.833°E

Country

Poland

Government

• Mayor

Krzysztof Dobrzyniewicz

Area

• Total

17.98 km² (6.94 sq mi)

Population (2006)

• Total

3,912

• Density

220/km² (560/sq mi)

Postal code

42-445

Area code(s)

(+48)34

Car plates

SZA

Website

http://www.szczekociny.pl/

Szczekociny [ʂt͡ʂɛkɔˈt͡ɕinɨ] (German: Schtschekotzin) is a town on the Pilica river, in Silesian Voivodeship, Poland, with 4,115 inhabitants (2004). The Battle of Szczekociny was fought near the town on June 6, 1794 during the Kościuszko Uprising. Even though Szczekociny administratively belongs to Silesian Voivodeship, it is part of historic province of Lesser Poland. It was granted town rights in 1398, and lost them in 1870, on the decision of Russian authorities (see Congress Poland). Szczekociny once again became a town on Jan. 1, 1923. Since its foundation until 1795, Szczekociny belonged to Kraków Voivodeship. In the Second Polish Republic, it was part of Kielce Voivodeship, and since 1999, it has belonged to Silesian Voivodeship, despite the fact that it had never been part of Silesia.

First mention of Szczekociny comes from 1307. At that time, the village belonged to the Odrowąż noble family (see Odrowąż coat of arms), County of Lelów, Kraków Voivodeship. In the late 14th century Szczekociny became the seat of the Odrowąż family, emerging as a local trade and craft center. In the 16th century, the town, together with other locations of Lesser Poland, enjoyed the period of prosperity known as the Polish Golden Age. In the mid-17th century, however, it was completely destroyed by the Swedes, during the Swedish invasion of Poland, and did not recover until the 18th century, when it belonged to the Dembiński family, whose efforts resulted in reconstruction of most buildings. The owners remodelled local parish church and built a palace, which still exists, and which in 1787 hosted King Stanisław August Poniatowski. After the Partitions of Poland, Szczekociny found itself in the Russian-controlled Congress Poland (since 1815).

...
Wikipedia