Editing Kościerzyna

{{Infobox settlement
| name = Kościerzyna
| native_name = {{native name|csb|Kòscérzëna}}
| image_skyline = Kościerzyna, Rynek (3).jpg
| imagesize = 250px
| image_caption = Marketplace 
| image_flag = POL Kościerzyna flag.svg
| image_shield = POL Kościerzyna COA.svg
| pushpin_map = Poland
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{POL}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Voivodeships of Poland|Voivodeship]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Pomeranian Voivodeship|name=Pomeranian}}
| subdivision_type2 = [[Powiat|County]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Kościerzyna County|Kościerzyna]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Gmina]]
| subdivision_name3 = Kościerzyna <small>(urban gmina)</small>
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Michał Majewski
| established_title = Established
| established_date = 13th century
| established_title3 = Town rights
| established_date3 = 1398
| area_total_km2 = 15.83
| population_as_of = 2023
| population_total = 23327
| population_density_km2 = auto
| timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| coordinates = {{coord|54|7|N|17|59|E|region:PL|display=title,inline}}
| elevation_m = 150
| postal_code_type = Postal code
| postal_code = 83-400 to 83-450
| area_code = +48 58
| blank_name = [[Polish car number plates|Car plates]]
| blank_info = GKS
| website = {{URL|http://www.koscierzyna.gda.pl}}
| official_name = 
}}
'''Kościerzyna''' ({{IPA|pl|kɔɕt͡ɕɛˈʐɨna|lang|pl-Kościerzyna.ogg}}; [[Pomeranian language|Pomeranian]] and {{langx|csb|Kòscérzëna}}; former {{langx|de|Berent}} {{IPA|de|ˈbɛʁɛnt||De-Berent.ogg}}) is a town in [[Kashubia]] in Gdańsk Pomerania region, northern Poland, with 23,327 inhabitants as of June 2023. It has been the capital of [[Kościerzyna County]] in Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999; previously it was in [[Gdańsk Voivodeship (1975–1998)|Gdańsk Voivodeship]] from 1975 to 1998.

== Geographical location ==
Kościerzyna is in [[Gdańsk Pomerania]], approximately {{convert|50|km|0|abbr=off}} south-west of [[Gdańsk]] and [[Tricity, Poland|Tricity]] and {{convert|190|km|0|abbr=on}} south-west of [[Kaliningrad]], at a height of {{convert|163|m|0|abbr=on}} [[Above mean sea level|above sea level]].

==History==
The history of the town dates back to the end of the 13th century. The oldest known mention comes from a document from 1284.<ref name=kos/> In 1346 it was granted municipal rights, and in 1398 the settlement obtained the status of a town. The town's name comes from the [[Old Polish]] word ''kościerz'', which means "[[thicket]]".<ref name=kos/> Kościerzyna was part of medieval [[Kingdom of Poland (1025-1385)|Poland]], until, in 1310, it was annexed by the [[Monastic State of the Teutonic Knights]]. After the [[Second Peace of Thorn (1466)]], the town became part of the [[Kingdom of Poland (1385–1569)|Kingdom of Poland]] again. Administratively it was part of the [[Pomeranian Voivodeship (1466–1772)|Pomeranian Voivodeship]], located in the provinces of [[Royal Prussia]] and [[Greater Poland Province of the Polish Crown|Greater Poland]]. It was the seat of local Polish [[starost]]s.<ref name=kos>{{Cite web|url=http://www.koscierzyna.gda.pl/portal?id=1899929|title=Historia Miasta|website=Koscierzyna.gda.pl|access-date=9 May 2020|language=pl}}</ref> Kościerzyna was a small town, whose inhabitants made a living from trade, crafts and farming.<ref name=kos/>

The town suffered many times from fire. In 1463 it was first plundered and thereafter burned down completely by Poles during the [[Thirteen Years' War (1454–1466)|Thirteen Years' War]].<ref name="JFG">[[Johann Friedrich Goldbeck]]: ''Volständige Topographie des Königreichs Preußen''. Part II, Marienwerder 1789, [https://books.google.com/books?id=SQw_AAAAcAAJ&pg=PA66 pp. 66–67, no. 5.]</ref> In 1626, during the [[Polish–Swedish War (1626–29)]], it was completely burned down once more. During the years 1646, 1663 and 1669 it partly burned down, and in 1709 again, entirely.<ref name="JFG" />

[[File:Mzkk hk477.JPG|thumb|left|[[Polish Sokół movement|"Sokół" Polish Gymnastic Society]] in Kościerzyna]]
In the [[First Partition of Poland]] in 1772 the town was annexed by [[Kingdom of Prussia]]. It was administratively in the newly formed province of [[West Prussia]], where it remained until 1919. The town was subjected to [[Anti-Polish sentiment|anti-Polish]] policies, including [[Germanisation of Poles during the Partitions|Germanisation]].<ref name=kos/> During the [[Kashubian diaspora]], many families from Kościerzyna, such as the Mrozeks, the Pellowskis and the Eichmans emigrated to the area of [[Winona, Minnesota]], in the United States, beginning in 1859.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bambenek.org/winona-2/first-settlement-in-winona-1859/|title=First Settlement in Winona: 1859 – Bambenek.org|website=bambenek.org|language=en-US|access-date=2017-07-21}}</ref> Despite Germanisation policies, the town was a center of Polish activity in the 19th century. In 1863, volunteers set out from the town to fight in the Polish [[January Uprising]] in the [[Russian Partition]] of Poland, but few managed to cross the Prussian-Russian border, while many were imprisoned by Prussians.<ref name=kos/> Around 1900, the town had one Protestant church, one Catholic church, a synagogue, a high school, an academy for school teachers, a factory for the production of [[Snuff (tobacco)|snuff]], several breweries, a refinery, various mills, agriculture and forestry.<ref name="MKL" >''Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon'', 6th edition, Vol. 2, Leipzig and Vienna 1906, p. 656.</ref> In the late 19th and early 20th century [[Polish people|Poles]] founded various organizations, including the [[Polish Sokół movement|"Sokół" Polish Gymnastic Society]], reading rooms, ''Bank Ludowy'' ("People's Bank"), and the Kashubian newspaper ''Gryf'' began publishing.<ref name=kos/> Writer and activist [[Aleksander Majkowski]] was active in the town.<ref name=kos/>

After Poland regained independence after [[World War I]] in 1918, the Polish population made efforts to reintegrate the town with Poland. In January 1919, the Germans sent a unit of 120 soldiers to the town to prevent the outbreak of a Polish uprising.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.czasswiecia.pl/czas_swiecia/1,88351,10432548,Co_Tadeusz_Pogoda_robil_w_sobote_w_Koscierzynie.html|title=Co Tadeusz Pogoda robił w sobotę w Kościerzynie|website=Czas Świecia|access-date=9 May 2020|language=pl|archive-date=3 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003025833/https://www.czasswiecia.pl/czas_swiecia/1,88351,10432548,Co_Tadeusz_Pogoda_robil_w_sobote_w_Koscierzynie.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Local activist Tomasz Rogala, who co-founded a secret Polish independence organization, went to the peace conference in [[Versailles]], where he demanded to include the town in reborn Poland.<ref name=kos/> Kościerzyna was finally reintegrated with the [[Second Polish Republic]] in January 1920. The construction of the [[Polish Coal Trunk-Line]] in the interbellum contributed to the prosperity of Kościerzyna, as the town gained a modern railway connection with [[Gdynia]], [[Bydgoszcz]] and [[Upper Silesia]].<ref name=kos/>

===World War II===
[[File:Kościerzyna, tablica pamiątkowa 03.jpg|thumb|left|Monument to local Poles who died in the fights for freedom and independence during [[World War II]]]]
After the [[invasion of Poland]], which started [[World War II]], between 1939 and 1945, it was [[Occupation of Poland (1939–1945)|occupied]] by [[Nazi Germany]]. [[Polish people|Poles]] were subjected to persecution, murders, deportations to [[Nazi concentration camps]], and [[Expulsion of Poles by Nazi Germany|expulsions]] (see ''[[Nazi crimes against the Polish nation]]'').<ref name=kos/>

In the first weeks of the occupation, in September 1939, the Germans arrested and imprisoned numerous [[Polish people|Poles]] from the town and the surrounding area. About 600 Poles were murdered in the nearby forest, and some were deported to concentration camps.<ref>{{cite book|last=Wardzyńska|first=Maria|year=2009|title=Był rok 1939. Operacja niemieckiej policji bezpieczeństwa w Polsce. Intelligenzaktion|language=pl|location=Warszawa|publisher=[[Institute of National Remembrance|IPN]]|page=109}}</ref>

Between November 6 and 22, 1939, the Germans expelled 2,000 Poles, who were first deported to the temporary concentration camp in [[Wysin]], and then to the [[General Government]] in the more-eastern part of German-occupied Poland.<ref name=mw>{{cite book|last=Wardzyńska|first=Maria|year=2017|title=Wysiedlenia ludności polskiej z okupowanych ziem polskich włączonych do III Rzeszy w latach 1939-1945|language=pl|location=Warszawa|publisher=[[Institute of National Remembrance|IPN]]|page=49|isbn=978-83-8098-174-4}}</ref> The expulsions continued until March 1944.<ref name=mw/> Among the expellees was Tomasz Rogala, who returned to Kościerzyna after the war, and in the following decades was commemorated with a monument.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://koscierski.info/artykul/koscierzyna-rogala/790503|title=Kościerzyna. Rogala przy nowym skwerze|website=Koscierski.info|date=20 July 2012 |access-date=9 May 2020|language=pl}}</ref> Poles who refused to sign the ''[[Volksliste]]'' were arrested and tortured by the ''[[Gestapo]]'', some were tortured to death, or murdered, while their families were deported to concentration camps.<ref>Wardzyńska (2017), p. 113</ref>

Despite this, the Poles managed to organize an underground resistance movement, including the [[Pomeranian Griffin]] secret military organization.<ref name=kos/> In January 1945, a German-perpetrated [[The March (1945)|death march]] of [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] prisoners-of-war from the [[Stalag XX-B]] [[German prisoner-of-war camps in World War II|POW camp]] passed through the town.<ref>{{cite book|last=Kaszuba|first=Sylwia|editor-last=Grudziecka|editor-first=Beata|title=Stalag XX B: historia nieopowiedziana|language=pl|location=Malbork|publisher=Muzeum Miasta Malborka|pages=102, 109|chapter=Marsz 1945|isbn=978-83-950992-2-9}}</ref> After [[World War II]] the town was restored to Poland.
[[File:709534Kościerzyna kościół Trójcy.JPG|thumb|Holy Trinity church]]

===Number of inhabitants by year===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Number
|-
| 1772 || align="right" | 602
|-
| 1784 || align="right" | over 600
|-
| 1831 || align="right" | 1,592
|-
| 1875 || align="right" | 4,138<ref name="VWG">Michael Rademacher: ''[http://www.verwaltungsgeschichte.de/dan_berent.html Deutsche Verwaltungsgeschichte Provinz Westpreußen, Kreis Berent]'' (2006).</ref>
|-
| 1880 || align="right" | 4.238<ref name="VWG" />
|-
| 1890 || align="right" | 4,299
|-
| 1900 || align="right" | 4,910
|-
| 1920 || align="right" | 6,500
|-
| 1943  || align="right" | 8,385
|-
| 1960 || align="right" | 10,900
|- 
| 1970 || align="right" |15,100
|-  
| 1980 || align="right" | 18,664
|-
| 1990 || align="right" |  22,663
|-
| 2003 || align="right" | 23,196
|}

==Tourist attractions==
[[File:Kościerzyna, ratusz, widok od pd-zach..JPG|upright|thumb|Regional museum at the Market Square]]
* [[Skansen Parowozownia Kościerzyna]] (railway museum) located at Towarowa 7 Street.<ref>[http://www.koscierzyna.gda.pl/391,artykul.html Interesting article with photos on this museum (in Polish)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625062759/http://www.koscierzyna.gda.pl/391,artykul.html |date=2008-06-25 }}</ref>
* [[:pl:Muzeum Ziemi Kościerskiej w Kościerzynie|Muzeum Ziemi Kościerskiej]] (regional museum)
* ''Rynek'' (Market Square) filled with colourful historic townhouses
* Lake Gałęźne<ref>[http://www.koscierzyna.gda.pl/415,artykul.html See an article with photos describing the lake (in Polish)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915182128/http://www.koscierzyna.gda.pl/415,artykul.html |date=2008-09-15 }}</ref>
* Holy Trinity church, Sanctuary of Our Lady of Kościerzyna<ref>[http://www.koscierzyna.gda.pl/414,artykul.html Article on the Sanctuary] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080911031252/http://www.koscierzyna.gda.pl/414,artykul.html |date=2008-09-11 }}. See also [http://www.sanktuarium.pl Sanctuary's website]</ref>
* Church of the Lord's Resurrection

==Sports==

* [[Kaszubia Kościerzyna]] - football club
* [[Manta Kościerzyna]] - finswimming club

==Notable residents==
[[File:Stanisław Ernest Denhoff 111.PNG|upright|thumb|Stanisław Ernest Denhoff, c.1713]]
* [[Stanisław Ernest Denhoff]] (c.1673–1728), Polish aristocrat, politician and a military commander 
* [[Hilary Jastak]] (1914–2000), leading priest 
* [[Abraham Lissauer]] (1832–1908), German physician and archaeologist
* [[Oswald Kohts]] (1844–1912), German physician and pediatrician
* [[Gustav Flatow]] (1875–1945), German gymnast, competed at the [[1896 Summer Olympics|1896]] and at the [[1900 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Aleksander Majkowski]] (1876–1938), Kashubian writer, poet, journalist, editor, activist and physician
* [[Hugo Neumann]] (1882–1962), German jurist, politician of the [[Free City of Danzig]] and writer
* [[Marek Kulas]] (born 1963), Polish former racing cyclist, won the 1986 Tour de Pologne 
* [[Marcin Rekowski]] (born 1978), Polish professional heavyweight boxer
* [[Rafał Kosznik]] (born 1983), Polish footballer, over 200 pro games
* [[Seweryn Kiełpin]] (born 1987), Polish footballer, over 200 pro games
* [[Daniel Pek]] (born 1991), Paralympic athlete from Poland, represented Poland at the [[2012 Summer Paralympics]]
* [[Sławomir Stolc]] (born 1993), Polish volleyball player, a member of Poland men's national volleyball team
* [[Patryk Dobek]] (born 1994), Polish athlete

==Twin cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Poland}}
Kościerzyna is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Cölbe]], [[Germany]]
*{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Padul]], [[Spain]]
||
*{{flagicon|UKR}} [[Pryluky]], [[Ukraine]]
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Sanary-sur-Mer]], [[France]]
|}

==See also==
*[[Kościerzyna (PKP station)]]

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Koscierzyna, Poland - panoramio (19).jpg|City Hall
File:koscierzyna steam2.jpg|Railway Museum
File:retro gdynia koscierzyna.jpg|Retro train "Costerina" [[Gdynia]] - Kościerzyna
File:Marketplace in Kościerzyna Poland.jpg|Marketplace
File:724348 Kościerzyna k. Zmartwywstania Pańskiego.JPG|Church of the Lord's Resurrection
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{in lang|pl}} [http://www.koscierzyna.gda.pl/ Municipal website] 
*{{in lang|pl}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20120204054146/http://www.koscierzyna.gda.pl/17,kategoria.html Twin cities of Kościerzyna]

{{Kościerzyna County}}
{{Gmina Kościerzyna}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in Pomeranian Voivodeship]]
[[Category:Kościerzyna County]]
[[Category:Populated lakeshore places in Poland]]
[[Category:Populated riverside places in Poland]]
[[Category:Kashubian-American history]]