History of Katowice

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The area around Katowice, Upper Silesia, has been inhabited by ethnic Silesians from its earliest history. It was first ruled by the Polish Silesian Piast dynasty (until its extinction). From 1335 it was a part of the Crown of Bohemia. In 1526 the territory passed to the Austrian Habsburg Monarchy after the death of King Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia. In 1742 most of Silesia was annexed from Austria by the Kingdom of Prussia during the First Silesian War.

Katowice was founded in the 19th century and gained city status in 1865 as Kattowitz in the Prussian Province of Silesia. The city flourished due to large mineral (especially coal) deposits in the nearby mountains. Extensive city growth and prosperity depended on the coal mining and steel industries, which took off during the Industrial Revolution. Kattowitz was inhabited mainly by Germans, ethnic Silesians, Jews and Poles. Previously part of the Beuthen district, in 1873 it became the capital of the new Kattowitz district. On 1 April 1899, the city of Kattowitz was separated from the district, becoming an independent city.

As Katowice, the city became part of the Second Polish Republic following the Silesian Uprisings (1918-21). The land was subsequently divided by an allied commission and the League of Nations, leaving the city on the Polish side with significant autonomy (Silesian Parliament as a constituency and Silesian Voivodeship Council as the executive body).

Between 1953-56 the city was renamed Stalinogród ("Stalin City") by Polish communists. Due to economic reforms, there has been a shift away from heavy industry, and towards small businesses.

Severe ecological damage to the natural environment occurred during the post-Second World War time of communist governance in the People's Republic of Poland, but recent changes in regulations, procedures and policies of post-communist Polish government have reversed much of the harm that was done.