Starostwo from the 14th century in the Polish Crown and later through the era of the joint state of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...

 until the partitions of Poland

Partitions of Poland

The Partitions of Poland or Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in the second half of the 18th century and ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland for 123 years...

 in 1795, referred to the crown lands (królewszczyzna) administered by the official known as starosta

Starosta

Starost is a title for an official or unofficial position of leadership that has been used in various contexts through most of Slavic history. It can be translated as "elder"...

. The starosta would receive the office from the king and would keep it until the end of his life; it usually provided a significant income for the starosta.

There were two types of starostwo:

• niegrodowe (non-town) - general overseer of the crown land in question
• grodowe (town) - centered in a town, with added responsibility for police and courts, and the execution of judicial verdicts

In modern Poland, the word starostwo often refers to starostwo powiatowe – the administrative offices of a powiat

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...

(county). The chief executive of a powiat has the title starosta.