Świętochłowice

Świętochłowice [ɕfjɛntɔxwɔˈvit͡sɛ] (German: Schwientochlowitz, 1941-1945 Schwingen) is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of 2 millions. Located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Rawa River (tributary of the Vistula).

It is situated in the Silesian Voivodeship since its formation in 1999, previously in Katowice Voivodeship, and before then, of the Autonomous Silesian Voivodeship. Świętochłowice is one of the cities of the 2.7 million conurbation - Katowice urban area and within a greater Silesian metropolitan area populated by about 5,294,000 people. The population of the city is 54,525 (2008).

History

The city is known since the 13th century, and received Magdeburg rights between the 13th and 14th century. In the 19th and first part of the 20th century the area rapidly industrialized (based on the numerous local resources, including coal and zinc). It was part of Germany until 1922 (although 51.9% of plebiscite voted to stay with Germany), then became part of Poland, in 1939 part of Germany again and in 1945 part of Poland. Świętochłowice was the site of the Zgoda labour camp.