Kuyavian–Pomeranian Voivodeship

Kuyavian–Pomeranian Voivodeship (Polish: województwo kujawsko-pomorskie [vɔjɛˈvut͡stfɔ kuˈjafskɔ pɔˈmɔrskʲɛ] ), also known as Kujawy–Pomerania Province,[3] Kujawy-Pomorze Province, or simply Kujawsko–Pomorskie,[4] is one of Poland's 16 voivodeships (provinces).

Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship
Województwo kujawsko-pomorskie
Flag of Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship
Coat of arms of Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship
Location within Poland
Location within Poland
Division into counties
Division into counties
Country Poland
SeatsBydgoszcz (voivode),
Toruń (executive board, Sejmik)
Counties
Government
 • BodyVoivode,
Executive board,
Sejmik
 • VoivodeMikołaj Bogdanowicz (PiS)
 • Voivodeship marshalPiotr Całbecki (KO)
 • Chairperson of the SejmikElżbieta Piniewska (KO)
Area
 • Total17,969 km2 (6,938 sq mi)
Population
 (2019)
 • Total2,074,517
 • Density120/km2 (300/sq mi)
 • Urban
1,223,809
 • Rural
850,708
GDP
 • Total€25 billion
 • Per capita€12,100
ISO 3166 codePL-04
Vehicle registrationC
HDI (2019)0.862[2]
very high · 14th
Websitehttp://www.kujawsko-pomorskie.pl
  • further divided into 144 gminas
Historical regions in present-day Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship and in Poland

It was created on 1 January 1999 and is situated in mid-northern Poland, on the boundary between the two historic regions from which it takes its name: Kuyavia (Polish: Kujawy) and Pomerania (Polish: Pomorze).

Its two chief cities, serving as the province's joint capitals, are Bydgoszcz and Toruń.

History edit

The Kuyavian–Pomeranian Voivodeship was created on 1 January 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms adopted in 1998. It consisted of territory from the former Bydgoszcz, Toruń and Włocławek Voivodeships.

The area now known as Kuyavia-Pomerania was previously divided between the region of Kuyavia, Chełmno Land, Dobrzyń Land, Greater Poland (including Pałuki and Krajna) and, on a smaller scale, also Pomerania. Of the two principal cities of today's Kuyavian–Pomeranian voivodeship, one (Bydgoszcz) was historically located in Kuyavia, while the other (Toruń) was an important town of Chełmno Land.

Administration and territory edit

 
Bydgoszcz is the Voivodeship's largest city and the seat of its governor (Voivode)

The functions of regional capital are split between Bydgoszcz and Toruń. Bydgoszcz serves as the seat of the centrally appointed governor or voivode (Polish: wojewoda), while Toruń is the seat of the elected Regional Assembly (sejmik), and of the executive elected by that assembly, headed by the voivodeship marshal (marszałek województwa).

The Kuyavian–Pomeranian Voivodeship is bordered by five other voivodeships. These are Pomeranian Voivodeship to the north, Warmian–Masurian Voivodeship to the north-east, Masovian Voivodeship to the east, Łódź Voivodeship across a short boundary to the south, and Greater Poland Voivodeship to the south and west.

Cities and towns edit

 
The medieval city of Toruń, birthplace of Nicholas Copernicus, is today the seat of the provincial assembly
 
The medieval city of Grudziądz, with its intact granaries along the Vistula River
 
Włocławek Cathedral, an example of Polish Gothic architecture
 
Inowrocław is famous for its large salt spa and resort centre
 
Brodnica – market square

The voivodeship contains 5 cities and 47 towns. These are listed below in descending order of population (according to official figures for 2019[5]):

Cities (governed by a city mayor or prezydent miasta):
  1. Bydgoszcz (349,021)
  2. Toruń (201,798)
  3. Włocławek (110,287)
  4. Grudziądz (94,732)
  5. Inowrocław (72,786)

Towns:

  1. Brodnica (28,788)
  2. Świecie (25,723)
  3. Chełmno (19,605)
  4. Nakło nad Notecią (18,281)
  5. Rypin (16,227)
  6. Solec Kujawski (15,652)
  7. Chełmża (14,503)
  8. Lipno (14,399)
  9. Żnin (13,864)
  10. Tuchola (13,621)
  11. Wąbrzeźno (13,570)
  12. Golub-Dobrzyń (12,563)
  13. Aleksandrów Kujawski (12,147)
  14. Mogilno (11,836)
  15. Koronowo (11,162)
  16. Ciechocinek (10,590)
  17. Szubin (9,556)
  18. Sępólno Krajeńskie (9,091)
  19. Kruszwica (8,809)
  20. Janikowo (8,745)
  21. Barcin (7,408)
  22. Gniewkowo (7,110)
  23. Więcbork (5,950)
  24. Nowe (5,827)
  25. Pakość (5,706)
  26. Strzelno (5,631)
  27. Radziejów (5,578)
  28. Kcynia (4,657)
  29. Brześć Kujawski (4,642)
  30. Łabiszyn (4,472)
  31. Piotrków Kujawski (4,456)
  32. Mrocza (4,350)
  33. Kowalewo Pomorskie (4,130)
  34. Janowiec Wielkopolski (3,953)
  35. Jabłonowo Pomorskie (3,754)
  36. Skępe (3,620)
  37. Kowal (3,484)
  38. Łasin (3,254)
  39. Lubraniec (2,999)
  40. Izbica Kujawska (2,609)
  41. Kamień Krajeński (2,390)
  42. Dobrzyń nad Wisłą (2,127)
  43. Chodecz (1,894)
  44. Nieszawa (1,853)
  45. Radzyń Chełmiński (1,847)
  46. Lubień Kujawski (1,391)

Economy edit

The Gross domestic product (GDP) of the province was 21.8 billion euros in 2018, accounting for 4.4% of Polish economic output. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was 17,300 euros or 57% of the EU27 average in the same year. The GDP per employee was 64% of the EU average.[6]

Transportation edit

Transportation infrastructure is of critical importance to the voivodeship's economy. Kuyavia-Pomerania is a major node in the Polish transportation system. Railway lines from the South and East pass through Bydgoszcz to connect to the major ports on the Baltic Sea. In addition to this, Bydgoszcz is home to the rolling stock manufacturer PESA SA, Poland's largest and most modern producer of railway and tram products. The province's sole international airport, Ignacy Jan Paderewski Airport, is located in Bydgoszcz and has connections to a number of European destinations as well as Warsaw, which are all operated by either Irish carrier Ryanair or LOT Polish Airlines.

The main railway stations of the province are Bydgoszcz main station and Toruń main station; both stations are served by fast PKP Intercity trains which connect them with the capital Warsaw, as well as other major Polish cities. In addition to these fast express services, inter-regional trains are operated by the firm Przewozy Regionalne, while domestic rail transportation within the voivodeship is provided by Arriva RP, a private firm to which the provincial government subcontracted the provision of rail transport.

All major towns of the province have municipal transportation companies operating buses, while Bydgoszcz, Toruń and Grudziądz also have extensive tram systems.

Politics edit

The Kuyavian-Pomeranian voivodeship's government is headed by the province's voivode (governor) who is appointed by the Polish Prime Minister. The voivode is then assisted in performing his duties by the voivodeship's marshal, who is the appointed speaker for the voivodeship's executive and is elected by the sejmik (provincial assembly). The current voivode of Kuyavia-Pomerania is Ewa Monika Mes, and the present marshal is Piotr Całbecki.

The Sejmik of Kuyavia-Pomerania consists of 33 members.

Kuyavian-Pomeranian Regional Assembly elections on 21 November 2010[7]
Party Votes % Total seats held
Civic Platform (PO) 218,004 33.81 16
Law and Justice (PiS) 114,557 17.77 6
Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) 111,885 17.35 6
Polish People's Party (PSL) 93,445 14.49 5
Others 106,877 16.58 0
Total 644,768 100.00 33
  • Votes counted: 741,828
  • Valid votes: 644,768
  • Turnout: 44.96%

Governors edit

Name Period
Józef Rogacki 1 January 1999 – 21 October 2001
Romuald Kosieniak 21 October 2001 – 26 January 2006
Józef Ramlau 26 January 2006 – 24 July 2006
Marzenna Drab (acting) 24 July 2006 – 7 November 2006
Zbigniew Hoffmann 7 November 2006 – 29 November 2007
Rafał Bruski 29 November 2007 – 13 December 2010
Ewa Mes 14 December 2010–present

Administrative division edit

The Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship is divided into 23 counties (powiats): 4 city counties and 19 land counties. These are further divided into 144 gminas.

The counties are listed in the following table (ordering within categories is by decreasing population).

English and
Polish names
Area
(km2)
Population
(2019)[5]
Seat Other towns Total
gminas
City counties
Bydgoszcz 175 349,021 1
Toruń 116 201,798 1
Włocławek 84 110,287 1
Grudziądz 58 94,732 1
Land counties
Inowrocław County
powiat inowrocławski
1,225 160,216 Inowrocław Kruszwica, Janikowo, Gniewkowo, Pakość 9
Bydgoszcz County
powiat bydgoski
1,395 118,041 Bydgoszcz * Solec Kujawski, Koronowo 8
Toruń County
powiat toruński
1,230 107,641 Toruń * Chełmża 9
Świecie County
powiat świecki
1,473 99,154 Świecie Nowe 11
Nakło County
powiat nakielski
1,120 86,449 Nakło nad Notecią Szubin, Kcynia, Mrocza 5
Włocławek County
powiat włocławski
1,472 86,131 Włocławek * Brześć Kujawski, Kowal, Lubraniec, Izbica Kujawska, Chodecz, Lubień Kujawski 13
Brodnica County
powiat brodnicki
1,039 78,935 Brodnica Jabłonowo Pomorskie, Górzno 10
Żnin County
powiat żniński
985 70,234 Żnin Barcin, Łabiszyn, Janowiec Wielkopolski 6
Lipno County
powiat lipnowski
1,016 65,869 Lipno Skępe, Dobrzyń nad Wisłą 9
Aleksandrów County
powiat aleksandrowski
476 55,150 Aleksandrów Kujawski Ciechocinek, Nieszawa 9
Chełmno County
powiat chełmiński
528 52,018 Chełmno 7
Tuchola County
powiat tucholski
1,075 48,329 Tuchola 6
Mogilno County
powiat mogileński
676 45,756 Mogilno Strzelno 4
Golub-Dobrzyń County
powiat golubsko-dobrzyński
613 45,059 Golub-Dobrzyń Kowalewo Pomorskie 6
Rypin County
powiat rypiński
587 43,618 Rypin 6
Sępólno County
powiat sępoleński
791 41,055 Sępólno Krajeńskie Więcbork, Kamień Krajeński 4
Radziejów County
powiat radziejowski
607 40,546 Radziejów Piotrków Kujawski 7
Grudziądz County
powiat grudziądzki
728 40,181 Grudziądz * Łasin, Radzyń Chełmiński 6
Wąbrzeźno County
powiat wąbrzeski
501 34,297 Wąbrzeźno 5
* seat not part of the county

Protected areas edit

 
Krajna Landscape Park

Protected areas in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship include the nine Landscape Parks listed below.

Gallery edit

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ "EU regions by GDP, Eurostat". Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Sub-national HDI – Subnational HDI – Global Data Lab". globaldatalab.org. Radboud University Nijmegen. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  3. ^ Arkadiusz Belczyk, Tłumaczenie polskich nazw geograficznych na język angielski Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine [Translation of Polish Geographical Names into English], 2002–2006.
  4. ^ "Kujawsko-Pomorskie invites you!". Urząd Marszałkowski Województwa Kujawsko-Pomorskiego. 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
  5. ^ a b GUS. "Population. Size and structure and vital statistics in Poland by territorial division in 2019. As of 30th June". stat.gov.pl. Archived from the original on 2021-04-19. Retrieved 2020-09-11.
  6. ^ "Regional GDP per capita ranged from 30% to 263% of the EU average in 2018". Eurostat.
  7. ^ "Kuyavian-Pomeranian Regional Assembly elections". State Electoral Commission. Retrieved 2011-05-28.

External links edit

53°04′42″N 18°29′37″E / 53.07833°N 18.49361°E / 53.07833; 18.49361