Bielitz District

Bielitz District (German: Politischer Bezirk Bielitz, Polish: Powiat polityczny Bielsko) was a political district (equivalent to powiat in Poland) in Austrian Silesia of the Austrian Empire (and since 1867 of Austria-Hungary) existing between 1850–1855 and 1868–1920. Seat of its district captaincy and administrative center was the city of Bielitz (now Bielsko-Biała, Poland).

History

Revolutions of 1848 in the Austrian Empire led to various social, legal and also administrative reforms. In late December 1849, Austrian Silesia was re-established and was initially subdivided into seven political districts, including one with the seat in Bielitz. Political districts were additionally divided into legal districts (German: Gerichtsbezirk). Bielitz political district consisted of three legal districts: Bielitz, Skotschau (Skoczów) and Schwarzwasser (Strumień).[1] In the era of Bach's neo-absolutism political districts were abolished and replaced by district offices (German: Bezirksamt) encompassing territories of the abolished legal districts. Political districts were re-established in 1868.[1] Two years later the town of Bielitz was excluded from the district to form statutory city, but remained the seat of the district. After this the area of the district did not change significantly and up to 1920 was encompassing 758 km² divided into 67 municipalities (17 in Bielitz legal district, 15 in Schwarzwasser, 34 in Skotschau).[2]

According to the censuses conducted in 1880, 1890, 1900 and 1910 the population was as follows:[3]

1880 1890 1900 1910
Bielitz legal district 23,436 25,753 28,400 36,654
Polish-speaking 14,544 (62,5%) 16,181 (63,6%) 17,323 (61,8%) 20,286 (59.3%)
Czech-speaking 52 (0.2%) 89 (0.3%) 146 (0.5%) 403 (1.2%)
German-speaking 8,670 (37.3%) 9,191 (36.1%) 10,559 (37.7%) 13.495 (39.5%)
Skotschau legal district 30,035 30,944 32,418 33,127
Polish-speaking 28,108 (94%) 28,947 (94%) 29,747 (92.5%) 30,114 (91.3%)
Czech-speaking 178 (0,6%) 96 (0.3%) 151 (0.5%) 159 (0.5%)
German-speaking 1,607 (5,4%) 1,758 (5,7%) 2,255 (7%) 2,706 (8.2%)
Schwarzwasser legal district 13,862 14,642 14,775 15,054
Polish-speaking 13,161 (96.2%) 13,564 (94.4%) 13,364 (92.5%) 13,180 (89.6%)
Czech-speaking 38 (0,3%) 76 (0.5%) 109 (0.8%) 101 (0.7%)
German-speaking 476 (3.5%) 729 (5.1%) 963 (6.7%) 1,430 (9.7%)

Traditionally the territory of those two legal districts was inhabited partly by Cieszyn Vlachs especially around Skotschau, speaking Cieszyn Silesian and Bielsko with surrounding villages was forming a German language island (German: Bielitz-Bialaer Sprachinsel).[4] The results of those censuses and factors shaping national identity of the local population became a perennial subject of the political squabbles in the region.[5] In addition to the Polish and German national orientations there was another group living in the area, the Ślązakowcy, who advocated a distinct Silesian national identity. Throughout Cieszyn Silesia this group enjoyed especially popular support among Protestants living in the district.[6]

Additionally in terms of religion in 1910 the population with permanent residence consisted of Roman Catholics (52,456 or 63.3%), Protestants (28,760 or 34.7%), Jews (1,533 or 1.9%).[7]

After World War I and fall of Austria-Hungary the region of Cieszyn Silesia including the territory of Bielitz political district became disputed land between Czechoslovakia and Poland. Local Germans also had a different aspirations. This led to Polish–Czechoslovak War and the division of the region and district on 28 July 1920, by a decision of the Spa Conference. The district of Bielitz/Bielsko as a whole became a part of Poland and was transformed into Bielsko County, without excluded part of municipalities of the former Skotschau/Skoczów legal district that were transferred to Cieszyn County.

Municipal division

As of 1910:[8]

Sealing stamp of the k.k. Bezirkshauptmannschaft, i.e. Bielitz District Captaincy
Bielitz legal district (Gerichtsbezirk Bielitz)
  1. Alexanderfeld
  2. Alt Bielitz
  3. Batzdorf
  4. Bistrai
  5. Braunau
  6. Czechowitz
  7. Dziedzitz
  8. Ellgoth
  9. Ernsdorf
  10. Heinzendorf
  11. Kamitz
  12. Nieder Kurzwald
  13. Ober Kurzwald
  14. Lobnitz
  15. Matzdorf
  16. Nikelsdorf
  17. Zabrzeg
Schwarzwasser legal district (Gerichtsbezirk Schwarzwasser)
  1. Bonkau
  2. Chybi
  3. Drahomischl
  4. Fröhlichhof
  5. Illownitz
  6. Landek
  7. Mnich
  8. Ochab
  9. Pruchna
  10. Riegersdorf
  11. Schwarzwasser (town)
  12. Zablacz
  13. Zaborz
  14. Zarzicz
  15. Zbitkau
Skotschau legal district (Gerichtsbezirk Skotschau)
  1. Baumgarten
  2. Bielowitzko
  3. Brenna
  4. Godzischau
  5. Golleschau
  6. Grodzietz
  7. Klein Gurek
  8. Gross Gurek
  9. Harbutowitz
  10. Hermanice|Hermanitz
  11. Iskrzyczyn
  12. Kisielau
  13. Kitschitz
  14. Kostkowitz
  15. Kowali
  16. Nieder Kozakowitz
  17. Ober Kozakowitz
  18. Lazy
  19. Lippowetz
  20. Lonczka
  21. Miendzyswietz
  22. Nierodzim
  23. Perstetz
  24. Pogorz
  25. Rostropitz
  26. Schimoradz
  27. Skotschau (town)
  28. Swientoszuwka
  29. Ustron M. (market town)
  30. Weichsel
  31. Wieszczont
  32. Willamowitz
  33. Wislitz
  34. Zeislowitz

References
  1. Krzysztof Nowak (2013). Śląsk Cieszyński od Wiosny Ludów do I wojny światowej (1848–1918). Cieszyn: Starostwo Powiatowe w Cieszynie. pp. 12–13. ISBN 978-83-935147-3-1.
  2. Wnętrzak, Grzegorz (2014). Stosunku polityczne i narodowościowe na pograniczu Śląska Cieszyńskiego i Galicji zachodniej w latach 1897-1920. Toruń: Wydawnictwo Adam Marszałek. pp. 20, 24. ISBN 978-83-7780-882-5.
  3. Piątkowski, Kazimierz (1918). Stosunki narodowościowe w Księstwie Cieszyńskiem (in Polish). Cieszyn: Macierz Szkolna Księstwa Cieszyńskiego. pp. 12, 72–75.
  4. "hałcnowski i bielsko-bialska wyspa językowa". inne-jezyki.amu.edu.p (in Polish). Dziedzictwo językowe Rzeczypospolitej. 2014. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  5. Janusz Gruchała; Krzysztof Nowak (2013). Śląsk Cieszyński od Wiosny Ludów do I wojny światowej (1848–1918). Cieszyn: Starostwo Powiatowe w Cieszynie. p. 20. ISBN 978-83-935147-3-1.
  6. Hannan, Kevin (1996). Borders of Language and Identity in Teschen Silesia. New York: Peter Lang. p. 47. ISBN 0-8204-3365-9.
  7. Piątkowski, Kazimierz (1918). Stosunki narodowościowe w Księstwie Cieszyńskiem (in Polish). Cieszyn: Macierz Szkolna Księstwa Cieszyńskiego. p. 57.
  8. Ludwig Patryn (ed) (1912). Die Ergebnisse der Volkszählung vom 31. Dezember 1910 in Schlesien (in German). Troppau.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)

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