Karviná

Karviná
Karwina
city

Town square in Karviná-Fryštát

Flag
Coat of arms

Location in the Czech Republic

Coordinates: 49°51′15″N 18°32′34″E / 49.85417°N 18.54278°E / 49.85417; 18.54278
Country Czech Republic
Region Moravian-Silesian
District Karviná
First mentioned 1268
Town rights 1923
City parts
Government
 • Mayor Tomáš Hanzel (ČSSD)
Area
 • Total 57.49 km2 (22.20 sq mi)
Elevation 221 m (725 ft)
Population (2015)
 • Total 55,985
 • Density 970/km2 (2,500/sq mi)
Postal code 733 01 or 735 06
Website karvina.cz

Karviná (Czech pronunciation: [ˈkarvɪnaː]; Polish: Karwina, Polish pronunciation: [karˈvina], German: Karwin) is a city in Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic, on the Olza River. It is administrative center of Karviná District. Karviná lies in the historical region of Cieszyn Silesia and is one of the most important coal mining centers in the Czech Republic. Together with neighboring towns it forms industrial Ostrava-Karviná Coal Basin.

It has 65,141 inhabitants (2001 census). 8.5% of the population are Slovaks and 8% of the population are Poles.[1] Polish population is historically declining. In the past the town had a significant German community. There is also a growing Romani community.

History

Until the 19th century Karviná was a low importance village of Cieszyn Silesia, lying near the important town of Fryštát. Discovery of coal led to rapid urban development in Karviná and surrounding villages, and railways were soon built. After the split of Cieszyn Silesia in 1920 it became a part of Czechoslovakia as a main mining center of the country. In 1923 it gained city rights. In October 1938 was annexed by Poland, together with whole region known as Zaolzie and during World War II was a part of Nazi Germany. After the war it again became a part of Czechoslovakia. In 1948 Karviná, Fryštát and the surrounding villages of Darkov, Ráj and Staré Město were merged into one city named Karviná. The coat of arms of Fryštát was chosen as the coat of arms of Karviná and Fryštát became the historical center of this industrial city.

The period after World War II is characterized by economic orientation on heavy industry. Currently the town is still reliant on dense heavy industry but is slowly restructuring the heavy industry influence and developing other economic activities. Karviná is also the center of education in this region with its wide range of specialized secondary schools and, especially, the Faculty of Commerce and Business of the Silesian University in Opava. In 1995 Karviná became a statutory city.

Karviná is also an important cultural and educational center of the Polish minority in the Czech Republic.

Sport

Karviná, as a multi-ethnic city of Cieszyn Silesia, was a home to many football clubs established by particular ethnic groups after World War I. At that time many football clubs within the Polish, German, Czech and Jewish communities were founded. The best known and most successful Polish club was PKS Polonia Karwina, founded in 1919. After World War II, the German and Jewish clubs were not re-established. The Czech and Polish clubs still existed until the 1950s, when as a part of communist unification of sport life in Czechoslovakia, Czech clubs were joined to ZSJ OKD Mír Karviná and the Polish Polonia Karwina was incorporated into that club. Today, the only football club in the city is MFK Karviná, playing in the first division.

Karviná is also home to a successful handball club, HCB Karviná, which became twice Czechoslovak champions and nine times Czech champions. Other sport clubs in the city include 2 ice hockey teams SK Karviná (playing in the lower division) and HC Baník Karviná (playing in the 2nd Czech league); and the athletics club.

People

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Karviná is twinned with:[2]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ "2001 census data". Czech Statistical Office.
  2. ↑ "Partnerská města". Statutární město Karviná. Retrieved 2009-10-09.
  3. ↑ "Rybnik Official Website - Twin Towns". Urząd Miasta Rybnika, ul. Bolesława Chrobrego 2, 44-200 Rybnik. Archived from the original on 28 May 2009. Retrieved 2008-11-01.

References

Coordinates: 49°51′15″N 18°32′34″E / 49.85417°N 18.54278°E / 49.85417; 18.54278

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