Złotów

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Złotów is a town in northern Wielkopolska in Poland with a population of 19,200 inhabitants (2005). It is today part of Wielkopolska Province, but was previously in Piła Voivodship (1975-1998). Since 1999 Złotów has been the county town of Złotów County.

The town is located on the river Głomia and is surrounded by five lakes. A railway line connects it to Piła and Chojnice, with buses operating locally. It has three parish churches, one of them being located in an old Lutheran church built in 1831.

1 History
2 Today
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] History

Złotów is the historical centre of the northern part of Krajna. Human activity in the region goes as far back as the 8th century BC. It was first mentioned in 1370 in the chronicle of Janko of Czarnkow. Originally known as Wielatowo or Słotowo, it was destroyed in 1455 during the war with the Teutonic Knights. The town belonged to the Potulicki family, which provided it with a new castle at the beginning of 17th century. Later it passed to the Grudziński family. The castle was destroyed during the Swedish invasion in 1656.

A new church, still standing today, was founded there in 1664 by Andrzej Karol Grudziński. After the first partition of Poland in 1772 Złotów was incorporated into Prussia and was given county (kreis) town status in 1818. From 1772 to 1945 as part of Prussia (later Germany) it was known as Flatow. In 1871 a railway line from Piła was completed. Around this time many local people emigrated to America. The local synagogue was destroyed during the Kristallnacht in 1938. The town was taken by Soviet forces on January 31, 1945. After World War I the town and some of the county was awarded to Poland.

Some famous people born here: Michal Hube, a well known penal expert during the 18th century; and Walter Krueger (1881-1967), a United States army general.

[edit] Today

Today the town has been extensively expanded with many blocks of flats to meet the rising population. Unemployment is high, even though some of the inhabitants use family ties to migrate regularly to Germany and the Netherlands as seasonal workers. The local Metaplast windows fitting factory is the biggest industrial employer.

The Euro Eco Meeting is organized regularly there each July. The local women's volleyball team, Sparta Złotów, plays on the third national level.

Partner towns in Germany include Rathenow, Eggesin, and Gifhorn. There has also been some cooperation with Goole in England and Nieśwież in Belarus.

Neighbouring villages include: Święta (Schwente), Blękwit (Blankwitt), Nowy Dwór (Neuhof), Kujan, Górzna (Gursen), Zakrzewo, Stara Wiśniewka (Lugetal), Skic (Skietz), and Sławianowo (Steinmark).