Karviná

Infobox City
official_name = Karviná
native_name =
nickname =
motto =

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imagesize =
image_caption = Town square in Karviná-Fryštát

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image_shield = Karwina herb.svg
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position = none
pushpin_map_caption = Location in the Czech Republic
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Czech Republic
subdivision_type1 = Region
subdivision_name1 = Moravian-Silesian
subdivision_type2 = District
subdivision_name2 = Karviná
parts_type = City parts
parts = 9
p1 = Doly
p2 = Fryštát
p3 = Hranice
p4 = Lázně Darkov
p5 = Louky
p6 = Mizerov
p7 = Nové Město
p8 = Ráj
p9 = Staré Město
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Tomáš Hanzel (ČSSD)
established_title = First mentioned
established_date = 1268
established_title2 = Town rights
established_date2 = 1923
area_magnitude = 1 E8
area_total_km2 = 57.49
population_as_of = 2006
population_note =
population_total = 63045
population_density_km2 = auto
latd = 49
latm = 51
lats = 15
latNS = N
longd = 18
longm = 32
longs = 34
longEW = E
elevation_m = 221
postal_code_type = Postal code
postal_code = 733 01 or 735 06
website = [http://www.karvina.org/ http://www.karvina.org/]
footnotes =

Karviná ( Audio-IPA|Karvina.ogg| [ˈkarvɪnaː] , Polish: Audio-nohelp|Karwina.ogg|"Karwina", _de. 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. [cite web |url= http://www.czso.cz/sldb/sldb2001.nsf/obce/598917?OpenDocument |title= 2001 census data |accessdate= |author= |date= |work= |publisher= Czech Statistical Office ] Polish population is historically declining. There is also a growing Roma community.

History

Till 19th century it was a low importance village of Cieszyn Silesia, lying near the important town of Fryštát. Discovery of coal led to rapid development of Karviná and surrounding villages, railroad tracks 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 became again a part of Czechoslovakia. In 1948 occurred merger of Karviná, Fryštát and surrounding villages of Darkov, Ráj and Staré Město to the one city named Karviná. Coat of arms of Fryštát was chosen as the coat of arms of Karviná. Fryštát became a historical center of this industrial city.

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

People

* Jaroslav Bába, Czech athlete
* Emanuel Grim, Polish Catholic priest and writer
* Zuzana Jandová, Miss Czech Republic 2008
* Louis Kentner, Hungarian pianist
* Eva Kurfürstová, Czech alpine skier
* Gustaw Morcinek, Polish writer
* Petra Němcová, Czech model
* Wilhelm Przeczek, Polish writer
* Denisa Ščerbová, Czech athlete
* Radek Štěpánek, Czech tennis player
* Dana Zátopková, Czech athlete

Sister cities

* Jastrzębie Zdrój, Poland
* Jaworzno, Poland
* Martin, Slovakia
* Rybnik, Poland
* Skoczów, Poland
* Wodzisław Śląski, Poland

Footnotes

References

* cite book
last = Cicha
first = Irena
coauthors = Kazimierz Jaworski, Bronisław Ondraszek, Barbara Stalmach and Jan Stalmach
title = Olza od pramene po ujście
publisher = Region Silesia
date = 2000
location = Český Těšín
pages =
doi =
isbn = 80-238-6081-X

External links

* [http://www.karvina.org/ Official website]