Kuyavian–Pomeranian Voivodeship

Kuyavian–Pomeranian Voivodeship (Polish: województwo kujawsko-pomorskie [vɔjɛˈvut͡stfɔ kuˈjafskɔ pɔˈmɔrskʲɛ] ) is one of Poland's 16 voivodeships (provinces).

Kuyavian–Pomeranian Voivodeship
Województwo kujawsko-pomorskie
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
 • VoivodeMichał Sztybel (KO)
 • 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

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

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

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[3]):

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

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.[4]

Transportation

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

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[5]
PartyVotes%Total seats held
Civic Platform (PO)218,00433.8116
Law and Justice (PiS)114,55717.776
Democratic Left Alliance (SLD)111,88517.356
Polish People's Party (PSL)93,44514.495
Others106,87716.580
Total644,768100.0033
  • Votes counted: 741,828
  • Valid votes: 644,768
  • Turnout: 44.96%

Governors

NamePeriod
Józef Rogacki1 January 1999 – 21 October 2001
Romuald Kosieniak21 October 2001 – 26 January 2006
Józef Ramlau26 January 2006 – 24 July 2006
Marzenna Drab (acting)24 July 2006 – 7 November 2006
Zbigniew Hoffmann7 November 2006 – 29 November 2007
Rafał Bruski29 November 2007 – 13 December 2010
Ewa Mes14 December 2010–present

Administrative division

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)[3]
SeatOther townsTotal
gminas
City counties
Bydgoszcz175349,0211
Toruń116201,7981
Włocławek84110,2871
Grudziądz5894,7321
Land counties
Inowrocław County
powiat inowrocławski
1,225160,216InowrocławKruszwica, Janikowo, Gniewkowo, Pakość9
Bydgoszcz County
powiat bydgoski
1,395118,041Bydgoszcz *Solec Kujawski, Koronowo8
Toruń County
powiat toruński
1,230107,641Toruń *Chełmża9
Świecie County
powiat świecki
1,47399,154ŚwiecieNowe11
Nakło County
powiat nakielski
1,12086,449Nakło nad NoteciąSzubin, Kcynia, Mrocza5
Włocławek County
powiat włocławski
1,47286,131Włocławek *Brześć Kujawski, Kowal, Lubraniec, Izbica Kujawska, Chodecz, Lubień Kujawski13
Brodnica County
powiat brodnicki
1,03978,935BrodnicaJabłonowo Pomorskie, Górzno10
Żnin County
powiat żniński
98570,234ŻninBarcin, Łabiszyn, Janowiec Wielkopolski6
Lipno County
powiat lipnowski
1,01665,869LipnoSkępe, Dobrzyń nad Wisłą9
Aleksandrów County
powiat aleksandrowski
47655,150Aleksandrów KujawskiCiechocinek, Nieszawa9
Chełmno County
powiat chełmiński
52852,018Chełmno7
Tuchola County
powiat tucholski
1,07548,329Tuchola6
Mogilno County
powiat mogileński
67645,756MogilnoStrzelno4
Golub-Dobrzyń County
powiat golubsko-dobrzyński
61345,059Golub-DobrzyńKowalewo Pomorskie6
Rypin County
powiat rypiński
58743,618Rypin6
Sępólno County
powiat sępoleński
79141,055Sępólno KrajeńskieWięcbork, Kamień Krajeński4
Radziejów County
powiat radziejowski
60740,546RadziejówPiotrków Kujawski7
Grudziądz County
powiat grudziądzki
72840,181Grudziądz *Łasin, Radzyń Chełmiński6
Wąbrzeźno County
powiat wąbrzeski
50134,297Wąbrzeźno5
* seat not part of the county

Protected areas

Krajna Landscape Park

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

Gallery

See also

Notes

External links

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