Bielsk Podlaski

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Bielsk Podlaski
Tadeusz Kościuszko Street
Tadeusz Kościuszko Street
Coat of arms of Bielsk Podlaski
Coat of arms
Bielsk Podlaski (Poland)
Bielsk Podlaski
Bielsk Podlaski
Coordinates: 52°46′N 23°12′E / 52.767, 23.2
Country Flag of Poland Poland
Voivodeship Podlachian
County Bielsk
Gmina Bielsk Podlaski (urban gmina)
Established 12th century
Town rights 1495
Government
 - Mayor Eugeniusz Berezowiec
Area
 - Total 26.88 km² (10.4 sq mi)
Population (2006)
 - Total 26,876
 - Density 999.9/km² (2,589.6/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 - Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 17-100 to 17-102
Area code(s) +48 085
Car plates BBI
Website: http://www.bielsk-podlaski.pl

Bielsk Podlaski [ˈbjɛlsk pɔdˈlaski] (Image:Ltspkr.png listen) is a town in north-eastern Poland with 27,600 inhabitants (2004). Bielsk Podlaski was given city status in 1495.

The town is situated in the Podlasie Voivodeship (since 1999); previously, it was in Białystok Voivodeship (1975-1998). It is the capital of Bielsk County.

The Carmelites Church in Bielsk and monastery was founded in 1641 by Adam Kazanowski (starsot of Bielsk from 1638) and dedicated to the Mother of God of Mount Carmel. The project was also financed by his wife Elżbieta (Halszka) Słuszczanka (about 1619-1671).

Bielsk Podlaski has a rich Jewish history which was wiped out in the Holocaust. More information can be found at Bielsk Podlaski JewishGen including the full text of the English section of the Bielsk Podlaski Memorial Book and documents of the organization of US immigrants from Bielsk Podlaski called the The Bielsker Bruderlicher Unterstitzungs Verein. [1]

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Coordinates: 52°46′N, 23°12′E