Gąbin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses, see Gabin.

Gąbin

Town Hall

Coat of arms

Gąbin

Coordinates: 52°24′N 19°44′E / 52.4, 19.733

Country

Poland

Established

Town rights

before 1437

Government

- Mayor

Krzysztof Mieczysław Jadczak

Area

- Total

28.16 km² (10.9 sq mi)

Population (2006)

- Total

4,137

- Density

146.9/km² (380.5/sq mi)

Time zone

CET (UTC+1)

- Summer (DST)

CEST (UTC+2)

Postal code

09-530

Area code(s)

+48 24

Car plates

Website: http://www.gabin.pl/

Gąbin [ˈgɔmbin] is a town in Płock County, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland, with 4,230 inhabitants (2006).

Between 1974 and 1991 the Warsaw radio mast in Konstantynów, a village belonging to Gąbin commune (gmina) was the tallest structure on earth. The tower was used to broadcast the programs of Polish Radio throughout Europe. Because of fears that the tower's incredibly powerful radio waves might cause health problems, a large number of villagers who had once farmed the land directly under and around the tower were migrated to a block-style apartment building in the center of Gąbin, where many still reside today. The town has experienced a remarkable renaissance since the fall of Communism.

Before the onset of World War II, Gąbin was home to a very large Jewish population, and housed one of the most remarkable old wooden synagogues of the entire region. View The Ancient Grand Synagogue of Gąbin.

The Jewish history of Gąbin was memorialized in Minna Packer's acclaimed documentary film Back To Gombin (2002) as seen on United States and Israeli television, and in numerous international film festivals. The film is distributed by the National Center for Jewish Film [1].

Gąbin is home to a large high school of over 1,000 students with specialties in modern farming techniques, technical skills, and preparation for higher education. The school has been home to Peace Corps Volunteers and has promoted foreign exchange visits with peers from Germany, Russia, and other countries.