The history of the city

The history of Sosnowiec as a city may be only over a hundred years old (Sosnowiec has been enjoying municipal rights since 1902), but the first mention of settlements in this territory are much older and date back to the Piast period.

The first notes about Zagórze - situated within the present city borders, date from 1228. Another equally old place, Klimontów, was, according to the traditions, originally a village owned by the knight called Klimunt. Written records from the 14th century also mention the villages of Milejowice and Pogonia. Information about Mrowisko (that soon changed its name to Modrzejów) and Niwka settlements appear two hundred years later.

The history of the oldest monument of the city, the Sielecki Castle, is also very fascinating. The first mentions of the building date from 1403, when the present castle was a medieval fortification. Unfortunately none of the fortification elements have survived till today.

The present territory of Sosnowiec was part of the Duchy of Siewierz and originally belonged to the dukes of Silesia. Later on, the land was taken over by the Cracow bishops. In 1790 the territory was incorporated into the Polish Crown. After the third partition of Poland, the settlements of the present territory of Sosnowiec became part of the Prussian sector. From 1807 these settlements belonged to the Warsaw Duchy and eventually in 1815 they were incorporated into the Kingdom of Poland (Russian sector).

Dynamic development of Sosnowiec in the 19th century was connected with a discovery of rich deposits of minerals, mainly hard coal, as well as with the development of railway transport. In 1848 a railway station was built in Maczki - the former Granica settlement, as it was situated on the border of the Russian and Austro – Hungarian sectors. Another railway station was built in 1839, this time it was situated in the centre of the future city. It was also the time when the Warsaw and Vienna Railway branch was constructed.

Development of the city in the 19th century was strongly connected with its raw material resources and border zone location. The first hard coal mines, such as "Nadzieja Ludwika", "Maurycy", "Pogoń", "Ostra Górka", "Wiktor" and "Szarlota" appeared at the beginning of that century.

In 1822, "Anna", "Ludwik" and "Milowice" zinc works were opened in the city. Next investments were "Emma" zinc plate mill and zinc white factory. The end of the 70s of the 19th century saw a particularly rapid industrial development. It was also the time when the following industrial facilities emerged on the territory of Sosnowiec: "Hrabia Renard" mine, H. Dietel combed wool mill, Schöens spinning mills, "Fitzner and Gamper" steam boiler factory (1880), Huldczyński iron mill (1881), "Puszkin" mill (1882), "Aleksander" mill (1882), "Katarzyna" mill (1883) and many others.

Seeing this rapid rural development, the residents and entrepreneurs began to demand that their place be given municipal rights. In 1885 the efforts of industrialist were rewarded with a submission by the Piotrków Gubernatorial Office to the General Governor of Warsaw of a project of establishment of Sosnowiec city. However only 17 years later in June 1902 did Tsar Nicholas II ruled in his ukase that the Sosnowice settlement, Będzin district and Piotrków Gouvernement, along with the adjacent settlements (established on the manor lands of Gzichów and Sielce, as well as on the peasant territories, such as Stary Sosnowiec, Pogoń, Ostra Górka, Kolonia Radocha and the Blumental settlement from Niwka), together with relevant sections of the Warsaw and Vienna railway area, should be renamed into a non-district city of Sosnowice. The city as it then was, had the territory of 19 square kilometres and population of 60 thousand inhabitants.

It was also the year when one of the world renown tenors (the most famous resident of Sosnowiec) Jan Kiepura was born. Although he didn't live in Sosnowiec for a long time, Kiepura never renounced his roots. Even at the peak of his fame and popularity, Kiepura always stressed that he was a „boy from Sosnowiec”.

As early as 12 years after Sosnowiec had been granted the municipal rights, its population grew to 118 thousand inhabitants. Konstantynów with Pekin and Środula, Milowice, Dębowa Góra, Modrzejów and Zagórze district were incorporated into the city. In 1953 the territory of Sosnowiec was extended by Niwka, Dańdówka, Bór, Bobrek and Jęzor. The final territorial shape of the city was determined in 1975 after incorporation of the following local towns: Kazimierz Górniczy along with Porąbka, Klimontów, Maczki and Zagórze.

The Sosnowiec coat of arms, designed by the local architect Stefan Wyszewski (Byszewski), has remained unchanged since September 13 1904.

Rapid development of Sosnowiec was stopped by the outbreak of the First World War. During the military actions and occupation many industrial plants and mines were completely destroyed. Just after the liberation, the Sosnowiec residents were actively supporting the inhabitants of Silesia during the three Uprisings. It was here in Sosnowiec, that intelligence services, recruiting offices and redeployment points of arms, ammunition and military equipment were situated. Sosnowiec was also the place where the Upper Silesian Support Committee was appointed. Operational activities of the uprising staff, hospitals and press agencies were also concentrated in Sosnowiec.

Despite many irreparable damage occurred as a result of military actions, the industry concentrated on this territory raised from the ruin quite quickly. It was the time when many plants and companies were established. In 1927 the city became the seat of the Chamber of Commerce, the activity of which covered economic, social and legal issues.

Another dramatic moment for our city came in 1939. On the fourth of September - the day the Nazis invaded Sosnowiec - several dozen of Polish and Jewish citizens were killed in the public or individual executions. Jews from the whole Zagłębie region were transported to the ghetto built in Środula. The city was liberated by the Red Army on January 27 1945.

The time of war and occupation left severe scars on Sosnowiec. Just after the liberation, the city was inhabited by only 86 thousand people. The process of rebuilding the city and its industrial plants started immediately after the warfare had come to an end. The main area of investment was heavy industry, and soon first mines, mills and machine manufacturing plants started to appear in the city.

The peak development of the city came in the 70s of the previous century, when Edward Gierek, who was resident of Sosnowiec, was appointed the First Secretary of the Polish United Workers Party. This controversial figure - from the point of view of many historians - still enjoys quite a good reputation among the Zagłębie residents. During that period many housing estates, like Zagórze or Środula were built in Sosnowiec. The road infrastructure, which was reconstructed at that time solves even today the arising transportation problems. This investment, after thirty years of its completion, still helps to relieve congestion during the rush hours in the city.

The next turning point in the city history came at the beginning of the 90s of the 20th century, when Sosnowiec saw the establishment of strong commune self-government, restructure of its economy, privatization of state enterprises and development of trade and services. As a result of the system transformation and introduction of market economy many branches of industry fell into decay. Majority of the obsolete industrial plants ceased to exist, some of the coal mines were also closed mainly for political reasons.

In view of the above situation Sosnowiec was forced to change its image. The city decided to turn to services and to focus on new and modern industrial plants. This process was facilitated by the establishment of a sub-zone of the Katowice Special Economic Zone in June 1996, thanks to the efforts of the municipal authorities.

Pursuant to the Act of June 5 1998, since January 1999 the city of Sosnowiec has been enjoying once again the status of a township.

One of the most significant events in the history of Sosnowiec was a visit of the Pope John Paul II in June 1999. The Pope met with several hundred thousand people from the whole Zagłębie, gathered on the square in the middle of the Zagórze housing estate.

Since the beginning of the 21th century Sosnowiec has been radically changing. The reconstructed city centre together with its Polish State Railways station, has become its showcase. Thanks to this largest communal investment so far, the capital of Zagłębie takes pride in having one of the most beautiful and modern city centers in Poland.

Progressing development gradually reduces unemployment, which means that the most difficult time of transformations in Sosnowiec is over.