Tomaszów Mazowiecki
Tomaszów Mazowiecki (pronounced [tɔˈmaʂuf mazɔˈvjɛt͡skʲi]) is a large town in central Poland with 61,960 inhabitants (2019).[2] It is situated in the Łódź Voivodeship (since 1999); previously, it was part of Piotrków Voivodeship (1975–1998). Tomaszów occupies an area of 41.3 square kilometres (15.9 sq mi) as of 2002.
Tomaszów Mazowiecki | |
---|---|
![]() Plac Kościuszki, Main Square in Tomaszów | |
![]() Flag | |
![]() ![]() Tomaszów Mazowiecki | |
Coordinates: 51°31′N 20°1′E | |
Country | ![]() |
Voivodeship | Łódź |
County | Tomaszów Mazowiecki County |
Gmina | Tomaszów Mazowiecki (urban gmina) |
Established | 1363[1] |
Town rights | 1830 |
Government | |
• Mayor | Marcin Witko (PiS) |
Area | |
• Total | 41.3 km2 (15.9 sq mi) |
Population (31 December 2019) | |
• Total | 61,960 ![]() |
Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Postal code | 97-200 |
Area code(s) | +48 44 |
Car plates | ETM |
Climate | Dfb |
Website | http://www.tomaszow-maz.eu |
The town is situated on the banks of three rivers, the Pilica, Wolbórka, and Czarna Bielina, and is near the Sulejow Reservoir and the edge of the Puszcza Spalska wilderness area.
History
Tomaszów Mazowiecki was formed in 1788 in the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland by owner these lands – Tomasz Ostrowski based on local supply of the iron ore. Ostrowski invited the first miners and metallurgists from Staropolski Okręg Przemysłowy – old-polish Industrial region.[3][4] The settlement fell into the Prussian Partition in 1793 during the Partitions of Poland, and since 1815 in the Russian Partition. The metal industry was expanded around 1820. Tomaszów received city rights in 1830 during the November Uprising against the Russian Empire in Congress Poland. The first weavers came to Tomaszów from Zgorzelec. The first Lutheran church was established in 1823.[5] In 1825, Antoni Ostrowski transferred from the village of Tobiasze to Tomaszów a Catholic parish with the church of St. Wenceslas – Duke of Bohemia, which was located at Wieczność St., in the area of the first Catholic cemetery (nowadays Słowackiego St).[6][7] In 1831 Qahal was founded.[8] By 1931 the Jewish population of the city grew to 11,310 inhabitants, or about 30% of the general population of Tomaszów.[8]
World War II
During the Nazi-Soviet invasion of Poland in 1939, the city was overrun by Nazi Germany. The Great Synagogue was burned to the ground as first on 16 October 1939; the remaining two synagogues were destroyed on 7–14 November.[8] The Ghetto for the imprisonment of 16,500 Polish Jews was created in December 1940 and closed off from the outside in December 1941. Hunger was rampant, followed by the typhus epidemic. In December 1942, 15,000 Jews were deported aboard Holocaust trains to Treblinka extermination camp. Some 200 Jews from Tomaszów are known to have survived World War II.[8]
Geography
According to 2006 data, Tomaszów has an area of 41.3 square kilometres (15.9 sq mi); about 45 percent of the land is put to agricultural use, 13% is forested, and the city itself covers about 4.03% of the area.
In the valley of the Pilica river in the south-eastern part of the town, there is a unique natural karst spring of water containing calcium salts, that is an object of protection in Niebieskie Źródła Nature Reserve in Sulejów Landscape Park. The origin of the name of the reserve Niebieskie Źródła, which means Blue Springs, comes from the fact that red waves are absorbed by water and only blue and green are reflected from the bottom of the spring, giving that atypical colour.[9] The reserve is situated near the end of Saint Anthony Street (in Polish: ulica świętego Antoniego) that begins in the centre of Tomaszów Mazowiecki, in proximity to the central Kościuszko Square.
Economy
Tomaszów Mazowiecki incorporates the Łódź Special Economic Zone, which is one of the 14 special economic zones in Poland.[10] The city is home to a variety of industries: ceramics, construction, chemicals, plastics producers, electrical machinery manufacturers, upholstery, food, logistics and service.
Materials Industry
![](../I/Zak%C5%82ady_w_Tomaszowie_Maz.jpg.webp)
The major minerals companies in the area are Ceramika Paradyż a manufacturer of ceramic tiles[11] and Sacmi which specialises in ceramic tile production machines.[12] The Wagran factory (built on the area of the former Artificial Silk Company of Tomaszów), is a producer of granite sinks[13]
Construction Sector
![](../I/Tomasz%C3%B3w_Mazowiecki_wojew%C3%B3dztwie_%C5%82odzkim._PL%252C_EU._Balex_Metal%252C_fabryka_w_Tomaszowie%252C_CC0.jpg.webp)
Within the construction sector Balex Metal produces high quality steel construction components.[14] Ezbud-Budownictwo focuses on the construction of residential and service premises, sales and management of constructed properties[15] and also produces ready-mixed concrete and other building materials. The company has been engaged in the construction of several housing estates in Tomaszów and Łódź from 1989 onwards and since 2019 has been the main sponsor of Tomaszów's largest football club - "Lechia 1923".[16]
Chemical Industry
![](../I/Tomasz%C3%B3w_Mazowiecki_w_wojew%C3%B3dztwie_%C5%82%C3%B3dzkim%252C_PL%252C_EU._EcoHydroCarbon_(przetwarzanie_odpad%C3%B3w_polimerowych)_na_terenie_dawnego_Wistomu%252C_CCO.jpg.webp)
Major chemical companies in Tomaszów include Sicher Bautechnik which is a producer of construction chemicals,[17] EcoHydroCarbon which specializes in polymer waste processing[18] and Toma a plastics processing company[19] that also operates a private clinic at its plant for employees to use.
Equipment Manufacturers
The region has several specialist equipment manufacturers that include Markom, a producer of welding and transport equipment, and Glass Product, which manufactures automatic fertilization and raw material transport systems.[20]
Carpets and upholstery industry
![](../I/Tomasz%C3%B3w_Mazowiecki_w_wojew%C3%B3dztwie_%C5%82%C3%B3dzkim%252C_PL%252C_EU._Zak%C5%82ady_Toyota_Boshoku%252C_produkuj%C4%85ce_tapicerk%C4%99_do_aut_premium_japo%C5%84skiego_koncernu._Ulica_Piaskowa._CC0.jpg.webp)
The Japanese car manufacturer Toyota has a base in Tomaszów, specializing in the production of upholstery for its range of premium vehicles.[21] Weltom, a producer or carpets and rugs, also has a base in the city. The company was founded by Eleonora and Jan Roland. Their son, Edward Roland, began the business in 1848 from a small workshop consisting of a spinning mill and a weaving mill operated by three people. The workshop was located on Kaliska Street (today Piłsudskiego). In 1905, the company had expanded to employ a hundred and thirty weavers. The company quickly made a name for itself and became known throughout the Russian Empire. After World War II, the company was nationalized and renamed the "Weltom". In the 1990s, the plant underwent a transformation into a joint-stock company. Today, in addition to carpets, the company produces upholstery and coconut wipers. The entire western district of the city (Rolandówka) has been named after the company's founders.[22][23]
Food Industry
![](../I/Fabryka_PepsiCo_w_Tomaszowie_Mazowieckim.jpg.webp)
Within Tomaszów's food and beverage sector PepsiCo produces the famous Cheetos crisps,[24] Chipita produces croissants[25] and Roldrob (Drosed) produces poultry products[26] for customers such as KFC. Additionally, Las Vegas is a producer of energy drinks where the group also own the "Bulwary" shopping center in the city.
Sport
Skating
The sports venue Ice Arena Tomaszów Mazowiecki hosts main international speed skating competitions; including ISU Speed Skating World Cups. It is also an ice hockey venue.
Education
![](../I/Tomasz%C3%B3w_Mazowiecki%252C_wojew%C3%B3dztwo_%C5%82%C3%B3dzkie._Filia_Universytetu_%C5%81%C3%B3dzkiego_w_Tomaszowie._PL%252CEU%252C_CC0.jpg.webp)
There are seven high schools in Tomaszów Mazowiecki as well as branches of notable universities including:
- Branch of University of Łódź
- Branch of Pułaski University of Technology and Humanities in Radom (pl)
- Branch of Wyższa Szkoła Biznesu i Przedsiębiorczości in Ostrowiec (pl)
Points of interest
In the city there is first in Poland year-round ice skating rink that serves for speed skating, figure skating, ice hockey, short track and roller skating. It is located near Pilica River.[29]
During the occupation of Poland in World War II, several strategic bunkers were built by Nazi Germany near Tomaszów Mazowiecki. The construction of the two large air-raid shelters was started in early 1940. The so-called Konewka Bunkers (now a tourist attraction) were a complex of various concrete structures hidden in the woods, including an enormous 380 metres (1,250 ft) long bunker capable of protecting an entire trainset from the possible air raid. The shelters in Konewka and in Jelen, built of reinforced concrete, served as unloading stations for military cargo.[30]
Sulejowski Reservoir
![](../I/Widok_na_Zalew_Sulejowski_od_strony_Tomaszowa_Mazowieckiego.jpg.webp)
The Sulejow Lake is a large reservoir built from 1969–1973 in order to help meet the demand for fresh drinking water in the city of Łódź and the city of Tomaszów Mazowiecki. The reservoir is situated on the territory of three gminas: Tomaszów, Piotrków and Wolbórz. It is a popular place for water sports, including windsurfing, canoeing and sailing.
Transport
Since 1929 in the city exist bus public transport. Now, this is 773 routes during weekdays and 375 at the weekend. Since 2018, public transport in the city is free of charge.
Several national and regional routes cross each other in the city:
International relations
![](../I/Budynek_Starostwa_Powiatowego_na_rogu_%C5%9Bw.Antoniego_i_Szkolnej.jpg.webp)
Twin towns — Sister cities
Tomaszów Mazowiecki is twinned with:
Mionica, Serbia
Prato, Italy
Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine[31]
Linares, Spain
Polonezköy, Turkey
Notable residents
- Oskar Lange (born 1904), Polish economist
- Bolesław Mołojec (born 1909), Polish communist activist, prominent commander in The International Brigades during War in Spain
- Michael Sela (born 1924), Israeli immunologist; President of the Weizmann Institute of Science
- Maria Ciach (born 1933), Polish javelin thrower
- Heidi Knake-Werner (born 1943), German politician (Die Linke)
- Bogusław Mec (born 1947), Polish singer
- Wanda Panfil-González (born 1959), Polish long-distance runner
- Jaromir Radke (born 1969), Polish speed skater
- Izabela Kuna (born 1970), Polish actress
- Karolina Bosiek (born 2000), Polish speed skater
Gallery
- Hospital
- Railway station
- List of olympic winners from Tomaszów Mazowiecki
- Hotel Mazowiecki in the city center
- The oldest secondary school (AD 1903) Listed in the rank of the top 500 schools in Poland
- The largest shopping center- "Galeria Tomaszów", former textile factory
- The largest shopping center on the Wolbórka river - "Galeria Tomaszów"
- Police station
- Chipita's factory
- Main square by night
- Parish church of St Anthony
- The Ostrowski Palace, built in 1812. Now, regional museum.
- The Knothe Family house. Now, children's library
- Modern block of flats, 14st Brygady Street
- One of telecom retail stores
- Evangelical-Augsburg Church
- 100 meters high television mast in the telecommunications complex in the city center
- Complex of special schools
- One of stadiums of city football club "Lechia 1923"
- Electric kick scooters on the street
References
- Ogólnopolska Konferencja Naukowa w Tomaszowie Mazowieckim, skansenpilicy.pl
- "Local Data Bank". Statistics Poland. Retrieved 7 July 2020. Data for territorial unit 1016011.
- Ostrowski, Antoni. Wspomnienie o życiu Tomasza z Rawitow hr. Ostrowskiego, prezesa seantatu KP. Warsaw: Archiwum Główne Akt Dawnych – Archiwum Ostrowskich z Ujazdu. pp. 39–40. ISBN 9788301011888.
- Seweryn, Tadeusz (1927). Historia powstania i rozwoju miasta Tomaszowa Mazowieckiego 1789–1900. Echo Mazowieckie. pp. 7–32.
- Rudź, Włodzimierz (1980). Wytwórczość górniczo–hutnicza w Tomaszowie Mazowieckim. Warszawa: Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe. p. 77. ISBN 9788301011888.
- Seweryn, Tadeusz. Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i innych krajów słowiańskich. p. 12. ISBN 83-85490-09-4.
- Redakcja (2013-10-16). "Tomaszów wczoraj i dziś: Kościół św. Wacława [STARE ZDJĘCIA]". Tomaszów Mazowiecki Nasze Miasto (in Polish). Retrieved 2020-07-09.
- Fronczkowski M. (2015). "History of Tomaszów Mazowiecki". "Tomaszowscy Żydzi", Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Tomaszowa Mazowieckiego. Muzeum Historii Żydów Polskich POLIN. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
- http://www.touristlink.com/poland/blue-springs-of-tomaszow-mazowiecki/overview.html
- "PAIH | Łódź Special Economic Zone". www.paih.gov.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2019-06-07.
- "Polska jest trzecim producentem płytek ceramicznych w UE". www.rp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2019-06-07.
- "Polonia: Sacmi apre una nuova sede a Tomaszow | WSI". Wall Street Italia (in Italian). 2006-11-01. Retrieved 2019-06-07.
- Obszarny, Marek (2010-12-10). "W Tomaszowie rusza nowa fabryka". tomaszowmazowiecki.naszemiasto.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2019-06-07.
- rankingi.wprost.pl/200-najwiekszych-firm
- "Description of the investment « Zakładowa 87" (in Polish). Retrieved 2019-06-07.
- "Historia | Ezbud.pl". ezbud.pl. Retrieved 2019-06-07.
- https://www.pb.pl/gazele/gazela/24880
- "O firmie | EcoHydroCarbon". Retrieved 2019-06-07.
- "Toma – Przetwórstwo tworzyw sztucznych – Tomaszów Mazowiecki". www.pphtoma.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2019-06-07.
- "Glass-Produkt". www.glass-produkt.com.pl. Retrieved 2019-06-07.
- "TIT - Tomaszowski Informator Tygodniowy - przegląd artykułu". tomaszow-tit.pl. Retrieved 2019-06-07.
- Dębiec, Joanna (2012-07-15). "Stare dzieje tomaszowskiej Rolandówki. Urocza dzielnica słynąca z wyrobu dywanów". tomaszowmazowiecki.naszemiasto.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2019-06-07.
- "Dywany Weltom - o firmie". www.weltom.pl. Retrieved 2019-06-07.
- "PepsiCo.com". www.pepsicopoland.com. Retrieved 2019-06-07.
- "Home". www.chipita.com. Retrieved 2019-06-07.
- "Roldrob S.A. – Grupa Drosed – polskie produkty" (in Polish). Retrieved 2019-06-07.
- "FM Logistic rozbuduje centrum w Tomaszowie Mazowieckim". www.dlahandlu.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2019-06-07.
- "Syntom Metal Recycling Sp. z o.o. - Skup złomu, złom, surowce wtórne". www.syntom.pl. Retrieved 2019-06-07.
- "New USD 13 million speed skating arena opens in Poland".
- PPHU IMAX (2017). "Bunker in Konewka. Tourist Route - Poland". Lodz.
- "Офіційний сайт міста Івано-Франківська" (in Ukrainian). mvk.if.ua. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
External links
![]() |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tomaszów Mazowiecki. |