Chojnice

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Chojnice

	(Coat of arms)

Basic Information
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Pomerania
Population	39 670 (2004)
Latitude Longitude	53°42'N 17°33'E
Area	21,05 km²
Density	1884,6/km²
Area code	+48 52
Car plates	GCH
Twin towns	Emsdetten, Bad Bevensen, Bayeux, Waalwijk, Mazyr, Korsuń Szewczenkowski
Economy and Traffic
Administration
Mayor	Arseniusz Finster
Municipal Website

Town Hall in Chojnice

Brama Człuchowska (Człuchów Gate) in Chojnice

Chojnice (Kashubian/Pomeranian: Chònice, former German: Konitz) is a town in northern Poland with 39 670 inhabitants (2004), near famous Tuchola Forests, Lake Charzykowskie and many other water reservoirs.

Situated in the Pomeranian Voivodeship (since 1999 and before 1975), previously in Bydgoszcz Voivodeship (1975-1998), capital of the Chojnice County.

In the German language, it has traditionally been known as Conitz or Konitz. This name may be falling into disuse over time, though it can still be found in current use in Germany in some cases.

1 Education
2 Population
3 History
4 People
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] Education

Powszechna Wyższa Szkoła Humanistyczna "Pomerania"
The department of Technical University in Koszalin.

[edit] Population

**Population**
Date	Number of inhabitants
1901	10,700
1921	10,400
1933	14,300
1948	12,400
1960	19,600
1970	23,500
1980	32,000
1990	37,700
2000	40,600
2004	39,670

The population of Chojnice has increased generally since 1901. However, events in history such as World War I and World War II has reduced the town's population. This is evident in the 1921 census where the population was reduced by 300 due to the men being sent to the WW I and in 1920 to Poland´s war against Russia. Many of them being killed, while some ethnic Germans were leaving the town after WW I.

Again, it is evident in the 1948 census where the population was reduced by 1,900 people due to the ethnic Germans fled or beeing expelled while parts of the Polish population was forced to work in Germany or was forced to leave town during Nazi rule.

A census has been conducted every decade since 1948 and results show that the population has increased, however the increase has slowed since 1980. The reasons for this are unknown. The next census for the town is scheduled for 2010.

[edit] History

Part of Eastern Pomerania, Teutonic Order, Royal Prussia, later Prussian Province of West Prussia. The center of the Kashub movement.

Duchy of Pomerelia or Eastern Pomerania (German: Pommerellen)

Around 1230 - Konitz founded by Hermann von Balk († 1239), knight of the Teutonic Order 1275 – first notice of Chojnice / Konitz in documents

Teutonic Order 1309 - 1466

1309 – German Teutonic Order rule: Eastern Pomerania (often known as Pomerelia), became much absorbed into the Monastic State of the Teutonic Knights 1340 - 1360 church Hl. Johannes Täufer; 14th century walls and 22 towers beeing erected by the Teutonic Order 1410 – Polish army occupies the town but has to return it to the Order according to the Treaty of Thorn 1417-1436 Konitz becomes an important centre for textile production 18.09.1454 – Polish army of King Kazimierz Jagiellończyk looses the battle of Konitz (See Battle of Chojnice) 28.09.1466 – Teutonic Order has to surrender Konitz to the Polish army, after three month siege

Poland 1466 - 1772 (Royal Prussia)

19.10.1466 Konitz beeing annexed by Poland according to the 2nd Treaty of Thorn 1555 – city council accepts reformation officially, the protestenats take over the church, the roman-catholic priest Jan Siński dies in the following turmoil 1620 – the jesuits fight the reformation movement 10.04.1627 - town burns 18.12.1657 - town burns 1655 - 1660 war against Sweden 1700 - 1721 war 15.04.1742 - town burns third time

Prussia 1772 - 1871

12.09.1772 – Konitz becomes Prussian / First partition of Poland 1864 - telegraph to Stettin (Szczecin)

German Empire 1871- 1920 (Province of West Prussia)

15.11.1871 – railway to Schneidemühl (Piła) 1870 – Gas power plant 1873 - railway to Dirschau (Tczew) 1877 – railway to Stettin 1886 – hospital 1894 – railway to Nakel (Nakło) 1900 – water supply system and electricity power plant 1902 – railway to Berent (Kościerzyna) 1909 – used water system 1912 – ,,Gazeta Chojnicka" first Polish Newspaper in town

Poland 1920-1939

31.01.1920 – Polish troups conquer the town, town beeing renamed Chojnice 06.08.1932 – regional museum Chojnice

Third Reich 1939 - 1945 (Reichsgau Westpreußen)

01.09.1939 – 4.45 o´clock German Wehrmacht occupies Chojnice, town renamed Konitz 15.09.1939 – exekution of three Poles in the city forest (Stadtwald), followed by exekutions of around 500 more in october and november

Poland 1945

14.02.1945 – Red Army occupies the town, 800 soldiers die, town centre heavly damaged (45 %). reconstruction by Polish authorities follows. 11.07.1959 – first regular bus service after WW II 01.10.1989 – catholic church "Mother of God Queen of Poland" 2002 – new J.-K.-Łukowicz-hospital 29.08.2002 - John the Baptist becomes patron of the city of Chojnice 13.10.2003 - new catholic church "Mary of Fatima"

[edit] People

Willi Apel (1893-1988), German-US musicologist; born here
Emil (Albrecht) von Friedberg (born here December 20, 1837 - September 7, 1910, Leipzig), jurist
Hans Krüger, German Nazi party activist
Johann Daniel Titius, German astronom
Michał Kazimierz Radziwiłł, Polish-Lithuanian noble and magnate
Burkhard von Schwanden Grand Master of the Teutonic Order between 1283 and 1290