Boguchwała

Boguchwała

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Boguchwała
Coordinates: 49°59′7″N 21°56′21″E / 49.98528°N 21.93917°E
Country  Poland
Voivodeship Subcarpathian
County Rzeszów County
Town rights 2008
Area
  Total 9.13 km2 (3.53 sq mi)
Population (2006)
  Total 5,535
  Density 610/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
Postal code 36-040
Car plates RZE
Website http://www.boguchwala.pl

Boguchwała [bɔɡuˈxfawa] is a town in Rzeszów County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in south-eastern Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district of Gmina Boguchwała. It was officially granted town status on 1 January 2008. The name of the town means "praise to God".

Boguchwała lies approximately 7 kilometres (4 mi) south-west of the regional capital Rzeszów. Its population is recorded as 5,712 (02.06.2009).[1]

In the Middle Ages, the area of contemporary Boguchwala was located in western outskirts of Red Ruthenia, near the border with Lesser Poland. It frequently changed hands, to be finally annexed into the Kingdom of Poland, by King Kazimierz Wielki (1340). Near Boguchwala, boundaries of three lands met: Sanok Land, Przemyśl Land, and Sandomierz Land, which was later changed into Sandomierz Voivodeship. Boguchwala itself was part of Sanok Land.

In 1375, Roman Catholic Diocese of Przemyśl was established, covering the lands of Sanok and Przemyśl. Its creation spurred the influx of Polish settlers into the mostly abandoned Carpathian foothills. As a result, several parishes were established in local villages. In late 16th century, several villages near Boguchwala became property of Castellan of Sandomierz, Mikolaj Spytek Ligeza, who was the owner of Rzeszów. The time of relative growth and prosperity ended in 1624, when a Crimean Tatar raid resulted in burning of a number of villages, and deaths of thousands of residents.

In the early 18th century, the Great Northern War brought widespread destruction to Boguchwala and its area. In 1702, Rzeszów and its vicinity was occupied by Swedish forces, which plundered the town. In 1704, Swedes were replaced by Saxon troops, which also robbed local residents. Further destruction was brought in 1715-16, during civil war known as Tarnogrod Confederation.

In 1724, Duke Teodor Lubomirski named Boguchwala main center of his estate, creating the so-called “Boguchwala State”. Lubomirski wanted Boguchwala to compete with Rzeszow, and due to his efforts, the village received town charter in 1728, together with a new Rococo-style church. In 1772, after the first partition of Poland, the government of Austrian Galicia voided this decision and Boguchwala lost its town status. Before that happened, in early 1740s, Teodor Lubomirski expanded his manor house, turning it into a Baroque palace complex, with a spacious park.

Boguchwala remained in the Habsburg Empire until late 1918. In 1895, the village received rail station, along the newly built line from Rzeszów to Jaslo. In the Second Polish Republic, Boguchwala was part of Lwow Voivodeship. In spring of 1939, construction of the ZAPEL plant ended, part of the Central Industrial Region.

The Wehrmacht entered Boguchwala on September 6, 1939. The village was an important outpost of the Home Army, and local AK unit took part in the Operation Tempest.

Boguchwala recovered its town charter on January 1, 2008.

References

Notes
  1. "Population. Size and structure by territorial division". © 1995-2009 Central Statistical Office 00-925 Warsaw, Al. Niepodległości 208. 2009-06-02. Retrieved 2009-06-22.

Coordinates: 49°59′7″N 21°56′21″E / 49.98528°N 21.93917°E