Wodzisław County

Wodzisław County Powiat wodzisławski
County
Flag Coat of arms
Location within Silesian Voivodeship
Coordinates (Wodzisław Śląski): 50°0′N 18°27′E / 50.000°N 18.450°ECoordinates: 50°0′N 18°27′E / 50.000°N 18.450°E
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Silesian
Seat	Wodzisław Śląski
Gminas	Total 9 (incl. 4 urban) Pszów Radlin Rydułtowy Wodzisław Śląski Gmina Godów Gmina Gorzyce Gmina Lubomia Gmina Marklowice Gmina Mszana
Government
• Starosta	Tadeusz Skatuła
Area
• Total	286.92 km^2 (110.78 sq mi)
Population (2006)
• Total	155,228
• Density	540/km^2 (1,400/sq mi)
• Urban	102,954
• Rural	52,274
Car plates	SWD
Website	http://www.wodzislaw.upow.gov.pl

Wodzisław County (Polish: powiat wodzisławski) is a unit of territorial administration and local government (powiat) in Silesian Voivodeship, southern Poland, on the Czech border. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is Wodzisław Śląski, which lies 49 kilometres (30 mi) south-west of the regional capital Katowice. The county contains three other towns: Rydułtowy, 7 km (4 mi) north of Wodzisław Śląski, Radlin, 4 km (2 mi) north-east of Wodzisław Śląski, and Pszów, 7 km (4 mi) north-west of Wodzisław Śląski.

The county covers an area of 286.92 square kilometres (110.8 sq mi). As of 2006 its total population is 155,228, out of which the population of Wodzisław Śląski is 50,493, that of Rydułtowy is 21,950, that of Radlin is 17,673, that of Pszów is 14,012, and the rural population is 52,274.

Neighbouring counties

Wodzisław County is bordered by Racibórz County to the west, the city of Rybnik and Rybnik County to the north-east, and the city of Jastrzębie-Zdrój to the east. It also borders the Czech Republic to the south.

Administrative division

The county is subdivided into nine gminas (four urban and five rural). These are listed in the following table, in descending order of population.

Gmina	Type	Area (km²)	Population (2006)	Seat
Wodzisław Śląski	urban	49.6	50,493
Rydułtowy	urban	15.0	21,950
Gmina Gorzyce	rural	64.5	19,624	Gorzyce
Radlin	urban	12.5	17,673
Pszów	urban	20.4	14,012
Gmina Godów	rural	38.0	12,511	Godów
Gmina Lubomia	rural	41.8	8,023	Lubomia
Gmina Mszana	rural	31.0	6,979	Mszana
Gmina Marklowice	rural	13.8	5,137	Marklowice

Tourism

Sights worth visiting

Wodzisław Śląski

• the gothic church of "Sante Trinity" from 15th century (Kościół św. Trójcy), erected in 1257 year;
• the Monastery from 17th century ( "Klasztor franciszkański" ), erected in 1257 year;
• the neo-gothic church of "Assumption of St. Mary" (Kościół WNMP),
• the building of the former district authority (19th century),
• the neo-classical Wall tower ("Baszta rycerska"),
• the Classicism Palace oldest in Poland from 1745 year. (Today Museum),
• the old town squere (Rynek),
• the Palace in Kokoszyce (Pałac w Kokoszycach) 1823 year,

Rydułtowy

• Scales building KWK "Rydułtowy" (coal mine)
• Rail Tunnel
• St. George's Church

Radlin

• Assumption of St. Mary's church

Hotels

• Amadeus Wodzisław, ul. Jastrzębska 9
• Leśniczówka Wodzisław, ul. Marklowicka 21
• Odra Wodzisław, ul. Czyżowicka 29

Twinning

Wodzisław County is twinned with:

• Recklinghausen (district), Germany
• Ostrava, Czech Republic

References

• Polish official population figures 2006