Olkusz County
Encyclopedia
Olkusz 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 Olkusz
, which lies 37 kilometres (23 mi) north-west of the regional capital Kraków
. The county also contains the towns of Bukowno
, lying 8 km (5 mi) west of Olkusz, and Wolbrom
, 20 km (12 mi) north-east of Olkusz.
The county covers an area of 622.19 square kilometres (240.2 sq mi). As of 2006 its total population is 114,286, out of which the population of Olkusz is 37,552, that of Bukowno is 10,695, that of Wolbrom is 9,075, and the rural population is 56,964.
to the north, Miechów County
to the east, Kraków County
to the south-east, Chrzanów County
to the south-west, and the city of Dąbrowa Górnicza
and Będzin County
to the west.
s (one urban, two urban-rural and three rural). These are listed in the following table, in descending order of population.
products in eastern Europe. The history of zinc mining in the area dates to the 12th century when Casimir II the Just
set up a mining settlement in the old area of Olkusz. The company has modernized its plants, and earned an ISO 9001 certificate.
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 Olkusz
Olkusz
Olkusz is a town in south Poland with 37,696 inhabitants . Situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship , previously in Katowice Voivodeship , it is the capital of Olkusz County...
, which lies 37 kilometres (23 mi) north-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 also contains the towns of Bukowno
Bukowno
Bukowno is a town in Olkusz County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 10,564 inhabitants . Till 1975 city belonged to the Cracow Voivodeship and since 1975 until 1998 to the Katowice Voivodeship...
, lying 8 km (5 mi) west of Olkusz, and Wolbrom
Wolbrom
Wolbrom is a town in Olkusz County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 9,568 inhabitants .-External Links:* an online exhibition by Yad Vashem...
, 20 km (12 mi) north-east of Olkusz.
The county covers an area of 622.19 square kilometres (240.2 sq mi). As of 2006 its total population is 114,286, out of which the population of Olkusz is 37,552, that of Bukowno is 10,695, that of Wolbrom is 9,075, and the rural population is 56,964.
Neighbouring counties
Olkusz County is bordered by Zawiercie CountyZawiercie County
Zawiercie 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 Zawiercie, which lies ...
to the north, Miechów County
Miechów County
Miechów 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 only town is Miechów, which lies north...
to the east, Kraków County
Kraków County
Kraków 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 city of Kraków, although the city is...
to the south-east, 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 south-west, and the city of Dąbrowa Górnicza
Dabrowa Górnicza
Dąbrowa Górnicza is a city in Zagłębie Dąbrowskie in southern Poland, nearby Katowice. The north-east district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of almost 3 millions...
and Będzin County
Bedzin County
Będzin 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 Będzin, which lies north-east...
to the west.
Administrative division
The county is subdivided into six 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, two urban-rural and three rural). These are listed in the following table, in descending order of population.
| Gmina | Type | Area (km²) |
Population (2006) |
Seat |
| Gmina Olkusz Gmina Olkusz Gmina Olkusz is an urban-rural gmina in Olkusz County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. Its seat is the town of Olkusz, which lies approximately north-west of the regional capital Kraków.... |
urban-rural | 150.7 | 50,289 | Olkusz Olkusz Olkusz is a town in south Poland with 37,696 inhabitants . Situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship , previously in Katowice Voivodeship , it is the capital of Olkusz County... |
| Gmina Wolbrom Gmina Wolbrom Gmina Wolbrom is an urban-rural gmina in Olkusz County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. Its seat is the town of Wolbrom, which lies approximately north-east of Olkusz and north of the regional capital Kraków.... |
urban-rural | 150.8 | 23,454 | Wolbrom Wolbrom Wolbrom is a town in Olkusz County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 9,568 inhabitants .-External Links:* an online exhibition by Yad Vashem... |
| Gmina Klucze Gmina Klucze Gmina Klucze is a rural gmina in Olkusz County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. Its seat is the village of Klucze, which lies approximately north of Olkusz and north-west of the regional capital Kraków.... |
rural | 119.3 | 14,895 | Klucze Klucze, Lesser Poland Voivodeship Klucze is a village in Olkusz County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Klucze. It lies approximately north of Olkusz and north-west of the regional capital Kraków.... |
| Bukowno Bukowno Bukowno is a town in Olkusz County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 10,564 inhabitants . Till 1975 city belonged to the Cracow Voivodeship and since 1975 until 1998 to the Katowice Voivodeship... |
urban | 63.4 | 10,695 | |
| Gmina Bolesław | rural | 41.4 | 7,822 | Bolesław |
| Gmina Trzyciąż Gmina Trzyciaz Gmina Trzyciąż is a rural gmina in Olkusz County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. Its seat is the village of Trzyciąż, which lies approximately east of Olkusz and north-west of the regional capital Kraków.... |
rural | 96.6 | 7,131 | Trzyciąż Trzyciaz Trzyciąż is a village in Olkusz County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Trzyciąż. It lies approximately east of Olkusz and north-west of the regional capital Kraków.... |
Industry
ZGH Boleslaw is a leading miner and producer of zincZinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
products in eastern Europe. The history of zinc mining in the area dates to the 12th century when Casimir II the Just
Casimir II the Just
Casimir II the Just was a Lesser Polish duke at Wiślica during 1166–1173, and at Sandomierz since 1173. He became ruler over the Polish Seniorate Province at Kraków and thereby High Duke of Poland in 1177; a position he held until his death, interrupted once by his elder brother and predecessor...
set up a mining settlement in the old area of Olkusz. The company has modernized its plants, and earned an ISO 9001 certificate.