2165574295

THE TOWNS OF THE VOIVODSHIP OF BIAŁYSTOK

S u m m a r y

The study deals with the area of the Voivodship of Białystok, which was created after the First World War and, follcwing the Second, increased by the addition of another three powiats (districts) which had previously belonged to the former East Prusssia.

Throughout the nineteenth century this area remained divided between several States (the Russian Empire, the so-called Kingdom of Poland under Russian occupation, and Prussia). It was relatively remote (Fig. 1) and experien-ced a rather slow development.

The present analysis deals not only with those towns which possess urban rights but also with other settlements which display an urban character. The towns of the area to a large degree show features of that stagnation which characterised smali Polish towns as early as the nineteenth century.

They arose originally along the rivers followed by colonisers, both Polish and Ruthenian (Table I and Figs. 2, 3). The majority were founded between 1,400 and 1,650, but not all of these have survived as towns to this day. Altoge-ther six periods of granting municipal rights have been distinguished (Table 3), with periods of boom being interspersed with phases of aestruction. An example of the latter is the Swedish Wars of the seventeenth century (Table 2). Morę detailed data become available in the early years of the nineteenth century and permit an evaluation of the size and economic State of the towns. Leading places were >then cccupied by Białystok and Siemiatycze (both with about 3,500 inha-bitants), typical towns centred on a magnate’s country .residence and forming the pivots of big aristocratic estates, while at the same time forming commercial centres. Next in importance were Tykocin, Ciechanowiec and Gołdap (Table 4, Fig. 4).

Even at that early datę some areas relatively feeble urbanised can be seen, and to the present day their towns remain both smaller and less active than elsewhere in the Voivodship.

During the nineteenth century some new industrial towns and settlements were created (e. g. Supraśl and Michałowo) in connection with the development of the textile industry, while certain other centres were changing their character owing to industrialisation (e.g. Choroszcz, Białystok, Wasilków and Gródek). Railway development also induced changes in the relative importance ot the -towns. Pride of place was morę and morę distinctly occupied by Białystok, which became .the largest centre of industry, commerce and credit (Table 5).

Smal towns on the boundaiy lines, which had hitherto lived on smuggling, collapsed (e.g. Bakałarzewo, Przerośl, Filipów), whereas those situated along railway lines developed, either as commercial centres (e.g. Grajewo nad Prostki)