Biała Piska
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Biała Piska | |
 |
|
| (Coat of arms) | |
| Basic Information | |
| Country | Poland |
| Voivodeship | Warmian-Masurian |
| Powiat (County) | Pisz County |
| Gmina (Commune) | Biała Piska |
| Urban Information | |
| Population | 4,048 (2005) |
| Area of district | 3.24 km² |
| Founded | 1428 |
| City rights | 1722 |
| Latitude Longitude |
53°37' N 22°04' E |
| Gmina Biała Piska | |
| Type of commune | mixed commune (gmina miejsko-wiejska) |
| Area | 420.14 km² |
| Agglomeration | 12367 |
| Density | 29.4/km² |
| Area code | +48 87 |
| Car plates | NPI |
| Economy and Traffic | |
| Highway | 16 (Olsztyn-Ełk) 58 (Szczytno–Grajewo) |
| Administration | |
| Mayor | Ryszard Szumowski |
| Municipal Address | pl. Mickiewicza 25 12-230 Biała Piska |
| Municipal Website | |
Biała Piska (German: Gehlen, later Bialla, 1938-1945 Gehlenburg) is a town in Poland, with 4,036 inhabitants (2004).
[edit] Geography
Biała Piska is a recreation area in the Masurian Lakeland, located in the eastern part of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, in Pisz County, on the east coast of Śniardwy, the largest of the lakes. To the south is the Puszcza Piska, a heath with large forests. It is situated at the intersection of Highways 16 (Olsztyn-Ełk) and 58 (Szczytno–Grajewo).
[edit] History
The town was established in 1428 as a German farming village "Auf der Gaylen", in the area of Old Prussia. In 1480 a church was built there. In the 16th century it grew rapidly, as trading increased between the Germans and Poles. In the middle of the century there were 38 farms and 3 mills. In 1645 it gained the right to have four markets per year. In 1656 it was pillaged by the Tatars, plundered and burned, and many residents died or were displaced.
From 1709-1711, there was a plague epidemic, which killed 315 residents. Nonetheless, the economic development continued apace, and the town was declared a city in 1722 by Prussian king Friedrich Wilhelm I. A royal resettlement program brought many new residents, especially artisans. Between 1756 and 1763, a new church, a 1.65 hectare marketplace, a network of roads, and a new city hall were built. During the Seven Years' War, the city was occupied by Russian troops from 1758-1762. Afterwards, it became a garrison city for Prussian troops from 1764 to 1800.
In the Napoleonic Wars, Russia made the city a headquarters for their troops in 1807 for nine days, followed by French and Polish troops, demanding payment of their stationing costs, as well as bringing new sicknesses, which killed many residents. After the defeat of the French, the Prussians reorganized their territorial administration, and in 1818 the city was assigned to the Landkreis Johannisburg in the Gumbinnen district. In 1885 the railway line from Johannisburg to Lyck arrived in the city. At that time, the population was about 1700, of whom 700 were Polish-speaking.
During World War I, combat between German and Russian troops happened near the city, which was penetrated by Russian troops and plundered. Under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, the residents of the city voted 100% to become part of Germany. In 1927 and 1928, a new couthouse and waterworks were built. In the Germanization programs of the Nazi era, the city reverted to the "German" name Gehlenburg. In the 1939 census, there were 2,823 residents. It was nearly abandoned in the face of the advancing Soviet front, which captured the city on January 23, 1945. A few weeks later, power was transfered to the new Polish administration, and the city was annexed and given its modern name.
