- Złotów
Infobox Settlement
name = Złotów
imagesize = 250px
image_caption = Urban Lake, view over the Złotów Old Town
image_shield = POL Złotów COA 1.svg
pushpin_
pushpin_label_position = bottom
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = POL
subdivision_type1 = Voivodeship
subdivision_name1 = Greater Poland
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 =Złotów County
subdivision_type3 =Gmina
subdivision_name3 = Złotów (urban gmina)
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Stanisław Wełniak
established_title = Established
established_date =8th century
established_title3 = Town rights
established_date3 = before1370
area_total_km2 = 11.58
population_as_of = 2006
population_total = 18468
population_density_km2 = auto
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2
latd = 53 | latm = 21 | lats = 37 | latNS = N | longd = 17 | longm = 2 | longs = 27 | longEW = E
elevation_m = 110
postal_code_type = Postal code
postal_code = 77-400
area_code = +48 067
blank_name = Car plates
blank_info = PZL
website = http://www.zlotow.euZłotów [IPA-pl|'|z|ł|o|t|u|f] is a town in northern
Wielkopolska inPoland with a population of 19,200 inhabitants (2005). It is today part ofWielkopolska Province, but was previously inPiła Voivodship (1975-1998). Since 1999 Złotów has been the county town ofZłotów County .The town is located on the river Głomia and is surrounded by five lakes. A railway line connects it to
Piła andChojnice , with buses operating locally. It has three parish churches, one of them being located in an old Lutheran church built in 1831.History
Złotów is the historical centre of the northern part of Krajna. Human activity in the region goes as far back as the 8th century BC. It was first mentioned in 1370 in the chronicle of
Janko of Czarnkow . Originally known as Wielatowo or Słotowo, it was destroyed in 1455 during the war with the Teutonic Knights. The town belonged to the Potulicki family, which provided it with a new castle at the beginning of 17th century. Later it passed to the Grudziński family. The castle was destroyed during the Swedish invasion in 1656.A new church, still standing today, was founded there in 1664 by Andrzej Karol Grudziński. After the first partition of Poland in 1772 Złotów was incorporated into Prussia and was given county ("kreis") town status in 1818. From 1772 to 1945 as part of
Prussia (laterGermany ) it was known asFlatow . In 1871 a railway line from Piła was completed. Around this time many local people emigrated to America. The local synagogue was destroyed during theKristallnacht in 1938. The town was taken by Soviet forces onJanuary 31 ,1945 . AfterWorld War II the town and some of the county was awarded to Poland.Notable residents
*
Michal Hube , a well known penal expert during the 18th century
*Walter Krueger (1881-1967), aUnited States army general.Today
Today the town has been extensively expanded with many blocks of flats to meet the rising population. Unemployment is high, even though some of the inhabitants use family ties to migrate regularly to Germany and the Netherlands as seasonal workers. The local Metaplast windows fitting factory is the biggest industrial employer.
The
Euro Eco Meeting is organized regularly there each July. The local women'svolleyball team,Sparta Złotów , plays on the third national level.Partner towns in Germany include
Rathenow ,Eggesin , andGifhorn . There has also been some cooperation withGoole inEngland andNieśwież inBelarus .Neighbouring villages include:
Święta (Schwente),Blękwit (Blankwitt),Nowy Dwór (Neuhof),Kujan ,Górzna (Gursen),Zakrzewo ,Stara Wiśniewka (Lugetal),Skic (Skietz), andSławianowo (Steinmark).ee also
*
Sparta Zlotów External links
*http://www.zlotow.pl/ - official town site
*http://zlotowinfo.republika.pl/ - unofficial town site
*http://www.zlotow-powiat.pl/ - county site with some information on the town
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