Żyrardów
| Żyrardów | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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  Żyrardów | |||
| Coordinates: 52°3′N 20°26′E / 52.050°N 20.433°E | |||
| Country |
 Poland | ||
| Voivodeship | Masovian | ||
| County | Żyrardów County | ||
| Gmina | Żyrardów (urban gmina) | ||
| Established | 1830 | ||
| Town rights | 1916 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Andrzej Wilk | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 14.35 km2 (5.54 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2006) | |||
| • Total | 41,161 | ||
| • Density | 2,900/km2 (7,400/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Postal code | 96-300 | ||
| Area code(s) | +48 046 | ||
| Car plates | WZY | ||
| Website | http://www.zyrardow.pl | ||
Żyrardów [ʐɨˈrarduf] (
) is a town in central Poland with 41,400 inhabitants (2006). It is situated in the Masovian Voivodship (since 1999); previously, it was in Skierniewice Voivodship (1975–1998) 45 kilometres (28 miles) west of Warsaw. It is the capital of Żyrardów County. Żyrardów is located on the Pisia Gągolina river.
Education
- Szkoła Mistrzostwa Sportowego w Kolarstwie
- Wyższa Szkoła Rozwoju Lokalnego
- Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Stefana Żeromskiego
History
Founded by the Łubienski brothers as a textile factory in 1833. One of directors of the factory was French inventor Philippe de Girard (from Lourmarin). The town developed during the 19th century into a significant textile mill city in Poland. In honour of Girard, Ruda Guzowska was renamed to Żyrardów, a toponym derived of the polonised spelling of Girard's name. On September 13, 1939 Nazis captured the town. In 1941 they transported Jews into Warsaw ghetto. The town museum is nowadays located in the former palace of owner of factory K. Dittrich.
The web page of history of Żyrardów (in Polish) is here http://www.zyrardow.pl/index.php?strona=175 When you drive into Żyrardów you may see an old town map, and a statement it was the only city in Europe, entirely set up for a factory (jedyna w Europie osada fabryczna).
Monuments
Most of Żyrardów's monuments are placed in manufacturing's settlement which is from 19th and early 20th centuries. It's widely believed that Żyrardów's settlement is single saved in Europe as a whole urbanist complex from 19th-century industrial town.
Famous people
- Paweł Hulka-Laskowski, a writer, translator and social activist
- A known son of the city is former Prime Minister Leszek Miller (born in Żyrardów on July 3, 1946), who started his professional life as electrician in a local textile factory.
International relations
Twin towns — Sister cities
Żyrardów is twinned with:
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Żyrardów. |
- Official Site of Żyrardów
- Current Population
- Memorial Book of Zyrardow, Amshinov and Viskit
- Jewish Community in Żyrardów on Virtual Shtetl
Coordinates: 52°04′N 20°26′E / 52.067°N 20.433°E
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