Editing Chorzów (section)

===Industrial revolution===
[[File:Adolph Menzel - Eisenwalzwerk - Google Art Project.jpg|thumb|right|Steelworks at Königshütte, 1872–1875 ("Das Eisenwalzwerk" by [[Adolph Menzel|Adolf von Menzel]])]]
[[File:Wolka.jpg|thumb|right|190px|''Ulica Wolności'' (Freedom Street), one of the main areas of commerce in the city]]
With the discovery of [[bituminous coal]] deposits at the end of the 18th century by the Polish local priest [[Ludwik Bojarski]], new industrial sectors developed in the Chorzów area. In the years 1791–1797 the Prussian [[Public ownership|state-owned]] Royal Coal Mine was constructed (''Kopalnia Król'', ''Königsgrube'', later renamed several times with the changing political winds). In 1799, first [[pig iron]] was made in the Royal Iron Works (''Królewska Huta'', ''Königshütte''). At the time, it was a pioneering industrial establishment of its kind in [[continental Europe]]. In 1819 the ironworks consisted of 4 [[blast furnace]]s, producing 1,400 tons of pig-iron. In the 1800s the modern Lidognia Zinc Works was added in the area.

Settlements grew near the new coal and ironworks. Since 1797, one group of settlements was called ''Königshütte'' (''Królewska Huta'' in Polish) after the ironworks. In 1846 Królewska Huta received a [[Rail tracks|railway track]] to [[Świętochłowice]] and [[Mysłowice]], in 1857 to [[Bytom]] and until 1872 to all major cities in the Silesian region. Królewska Huta received city status in 1868 as part of [[Bytom]] County, and in 1898 it was made a separate [[Consolidated city-county|city-county]].{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}The population was increasing rapidly: from 19,500 inhabitants in 1870 to 72,600 in 1910. Among them 17,300 workers were employed in the industry (similar number for 1939). In 1871 there was a workers' rebellion in the city.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Zalega |first=Dariusz |title=Chachary. Ludowa historia Górnego Śląska |year=2024 |location=Warszawa |pages=113–114 |language=pl}}</ref>

The Royal Iron Works were taken over in 1871 by the holding called ''Vereingte Königs- und Laurahütte [[Aktiengesellschaft|AG]] für Bergbau und Hüttenbetrieb'', which added a [[steel mill]], rail mill and workshops. In the vicinity of the Royal Coal Mine, ''Countess Laura'' Coal Mine was opened in 1870, and by 1913–1914 coal production increased to 1 million tons a year. In 1898, a [[Thermal power station|thermal power plant]] was commissioned which was, until the 1930s, the biggest electricity producer in Poland with a power of 100 MW (electrical). Today, it operates as [[Chorzów Power Station|"ELCHO"]]. In 1915, nitrogen chemical works (Oberschlesische Stickstoffwerke) were built nearby to produce fertilizers and explosives by newly invented processes: from the air, water and coal (see [[Haber process|Haber-Bosch process]]). Today, it operates as "Zakłady Azotowe SA".{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

Another ironworks, Bismarck Iron Works (''Bismarckhütte''), later called Bathory Iron Works (''Huta Batory''), was opened in 1872 in the village of Hajduki Wielkie, just south of Chorzów and Królewska Huta. A large [[carbochemistry|carbochemical]] plant was started nearby in 1889, the first such [[chemical plant]] in what was to later become the Polish state. Today the company operates as "Zakłady Koksochemiczne Hajduki SA".

Towards the end of the 19th century, Chorzów experienced a revival of Polish national feelings. Ethnic tensions were mixed with the religious and [[Class struggle|class conflict]]s. [[Karol Miarka (father)|Karol Miarka]] was the editor of Polish books and newspapers including ''Katolik'' (The Catholic) published in Królewska Huta since 1868, ''Poradnik Gospodarski'' (''Economic Advisor'') since 1879. He was also the founder of several organizations: Upper Silesian Union, Upper Silesian Peasants Union. [[Juliusz Ligon|Juliusz Ligoń]] was a Polish activist and poet. In 1920 the football club [[Ruch Chorzów]] was founded in the city. Later on, it would become one of the most successful Polish football teams.