Ruda Slaska
Encyclopedia
Ruda Śląska AUD is a city
in Silesia
in southern Poland
, near Katowice
. It is a district in the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union
, a metropolis with a population of 2 million. It is located in the Silesian Highlands
, on the Kłodnica river (tributary of the Oder).
It has been part of the Silesian Voivodeship
since its formation in 1999. Previously, it was in Katowice Voivodeship
, and before then, part of the Autonomous Silesian Voivodeship
. Ruda Śląska is one of the cities in the Katowice urban area
(population 2.7 million) and within the greater Silesian metropolitan area
(population 5,294,000). The population of the city is 143,583 (June 2009).
A large village is known to have existed at the location of the present day city center in 1243. The city name appears to indicate the awareness and perhaps exploitation of ores from early times.
The area underwent rapid industrialization (coal
, steel
, zinc
) in the 19th and the beginning of 20th century. However, it remained a cluster of industrial settlements and villages until the 1950s, when it was administratively united. However, it never developed into a truly unified city.
After the fall of communism in 1989, the significant heavy industry was largely scaled down or restructured. The area has been transforming to a service-based economy. The well-known still operating coal mine is "Halemba".
Since 2007, Ruda Śląska has been a member of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union
, the largest legally recognized urban area in Poland.
and the Drogowa Trasa Średnicowa
. There are several small railway stations, mainly on the line Katowice-Gliwice.
Since 1950, Ruda Śląska is the site of a transmission facility, which was used from 1950 to 1988 for medium-wave radio broadcasting.
and Gliwice
are large academic centers. Ruda Śląska is a seat of the Higher Academy of Commerce (Wyższa Szkoła Handlowa).
Rugby Club IGLOO Ruda Śląska - men's rugby team playing in Polish Ekstraliga Rugby Seven's
Ruda Śląska is the largest population center in Poland never to have been visited by Lech Wałęsa
.
with: Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
in 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...
, near Katowice
Katowice
Katowice is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, on the Kłodnica and Rawa rivers . Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands, about north of the Silesian Beskids and about southeast of the Sudetes Mountains.It is the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis, with a population of 2...
. It is a district in the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union
Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union
The Metropolitan Association of Upper Silesia or Upper Silesia Metroplex, Silesia Metroplex / Silesia Metroplex is a union of 14 adjacent cities in the Polish province of Silesia....
, a metropolis with a population of 2 million. It is located in the Silesian Highlands
Silesian Highlands
Silesian Highlands are highlands located in Silesia and Lesser Poland, Poland. It is the part of Lesser Poland Highlands Its highest point is the Mountain of St. Anne .-See also:...
, on the Kłodnica river (tributary of the Oder).
It has been part of the Silesian Voivodeship
Silesian Voivodeship
Silesian Voivodeship, or Silesia Province , is a voivodeship, or province, in southern Poland, centering on the historic region known as Upper Silesia...
since its formation in 1999. Previously, it was in Katowice Voivodeship
Katowice Voivodeship
Katowice Voivodeship was a unit of administrative division and local government in Poland in the years 1975–1998, superseded by the Silesian Voivodeship...
, and before then, part of the Autonomous Silesian Voivodeship
Autonomous Silesian Voivodeship
The Silesian Voivodeship was an autonomous province of the interwar Second Polish Republic. It consisted of territory which came into Polish possession as a result of the 1921 Upper Silesia plebiscite, the Geneva Conventions, three Upper Silesian Uprisings, and the eventual partition of Upper...
. Ruda Śląska is one of the cities in the Katowice urban area
Katowice urban area
The Katowice urban area, also known as the Upper Silesian urban area, is an urban area/conurbation in southern Poland. It is located in the Silesian Voivodeship and in a small part of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship. The Katowice urban area is the largest urban area in Poland and one of the largest...
(population 2.7 million) and within the greater Silesian metropolitan area
Silesian metropolitan area
The Upper Silesian metropolitan area is the metropolitan area in southern Poland and northeast Czech Republic, centered on the cities of Katowice and Ostrava in Silesia...
(population 5,294,000). The population of the city is 143,583 (June 2009).
Subdivisions
The city of Ruda Śląska is divided into the following subdivisions:
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History
The area underwent rapid industrialization (coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
, steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
, zinc
Zinc
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...
) in the 19th and the beginning of 20th century. However, it remained a cluster of industrial settlements and villages until the 1950s, when it was administratively united. However, it never developed into a truly unified city.
After the fall of communism in 1989, the significant heavy industry was largely scaled down or restructured. The area has been transforming to a service-based economy. The well-known still operating coal mine is "Halemba".
Since 2007, Ruda Śląska has been a member of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union
Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union
The Metropolitan Association of Upper Silesia or Upper Silesia Metroplex, Silesia Metroplex / Silesia Metroplex is a union of 14 adjacent cities in the Polish province of Silesia....
, the largest legally recognized urban area in Poland.
Transport and infrastructure
Significant roadways are Highway A4Autostrada A4 (Poland)
The autostrada A4 in Poland is a motorway which runs from west to east through southern Poland, from the Polish-German border in Zgorzelec , through Wrocław, Katowice, Kraków, Tarnów, and Rzeszów to the Polish-Ukrainian border at Korczowa. The motorway is a part of the European route E40...
and the Drogowa Trasa Średnicowa
Drogowa Trasa Srednicowa
Drogowa Trasa Średnicowa is a highway in Silesian Voivodeship, Poland. The DTŚ is entirely a divided highway, with a minimum of 3 lanes in each direction. It is one of the most important roads of the Upper Silesian Industrial Region...
. There are several small railway stations, mainly on the line Katowice-Gliwice.
Since 1950, Ruda Śląska is the site of a transmission facility, which was used from 1950 to 1988 for medium-wave radio broadcasting.
Higher education
The neighboring cities of KatowiceKatowice
Katowice is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, on the Kłodnica and Rawa rivers . Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands, about north of the Silesian Beskids and about southeast of the Sudetes Mountains.It is the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis, with a population of 2...
and Gliwice
Gliwice
Gliwice is a city in Upper Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Gliwice is the west district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union – a metropolis with a population of 2 million...
are large academic centers. Ruda Śląska is a seat of the Higher Academy of Commerce (Wyższa Szkoła Handlowa).
Sports
- Zgoda Ruda ŚląskaZgoda Ruda SlaskaZgoda Ruda Śląska is a Polish women's handball team, based in Ruda Śląska, playing in Polish Ekstraklasa Women's Handball League ....
- women's handballHandball in PolandHandball is a popular team sport in Poland.* Polish Seria A Handball League* Polish Seria B Handball League* Polish Seria A Women's Handball League* Polish Seria B Women's Handball League* Polish Cup in men handball* Polish Cup in women handball...
team playing in Polish Ekstraklasa Women's Handball LeaguePolish Ekstraklasa Women's Handball League-History:* 1939 - Znicz Łódź* 1946 - Zryw Łódź* 1947 - Zryw Łódź* 1948 - SKS Warszawa* 1949 - Unia Łódź* 1950 - Spójnia Warszawa* 1951 - Unia Łódź* 1952 - Unia Łódź* 1953 - not held* 1954 - not held* 1955 - Stal Chorzów* 1956 - Stal Chorzów...
: Polish Cup winner 2004; 6th place in 2003/2004 season.
Rugby Club IGLOO Ruda Śląska - men's rugby team playing in Polish Ekstraliga Rugby Seven's
Famous people
- Günter BialasGünter Bialas-Life:Bialas was born in Bielschowitz in Prussian Silesia. The adolescent Bialas received lessons in piano and music theory from Fritz Lubrich, a former student of Max Reger, in Kattowitz between 1922 and 1925...
, composer - Otylia JędrzejczakOtylia JedrzejczakOtylia Jędrzejczak is a Polish swimmer. She is the Olympic champion from Athens 2004 in the 200 metre butterfly. She finished 4th in this event in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. She also swam in a third Olympiad, at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. In Athens 2004 she also silvered in...
(born December 13, 1983) - Olympic gold medalist and world record-holder in swimming - Karl GodullaKarl GodullaKarl Godulla, Carolus Godulla, in Polish spelled Karol Godula was a Silesian self-made industrialist , and one of the best-known pioneers in the industrial development of Prussian Silesia.-Life:Godulla grew up in modest...
- Ernest Pohl
- Erwin WilczekErwin WilczekErwin Wilczek , is a retired Polish soccer player, who is most famous for his 1960s performances in both Górnik Zabrze and the Polish National Team....
- Marcin BaszczynskiMarcin BaszczynskiMarcin Baszczyński is a Polish footballer who plays for Polonia Warsaw.-Club career:Baszczyński started his career at Pogoń Ruda Śląska. In 1995 he joined Ruch Chorzów. In 2000 he moved to Wisła Kraków...
- Paweł Cyganek
- Franciszek Bukal
Ruda Śląska is the largest population center in Poland never to have been visited by Lech Wałęsa
Lech Wałęsa
Lech Wałęsa is a Polish politician, trade-union organizer, and human-rights activist. A charismatic leader, he co-founded Solidarity , the Soviet bloc's first independent trade union, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983, and served as President of Poland between 1990 and 95.Wałęsa was an electrician...
.
Twin towns — Sister cities
Ruda Śląska is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with: Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland