Bytom
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Bytom (pronounce: Missing image
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Image:Ltspkr.png
['bitɔm]) is a city in southern Poland with 205,560 inhabitants (1999).
Since 1999 it has been situated in the Silesian Voivodship, previously lying in the Katowice Voivodship (1975-1998).
Bytom is one of the oldest cities of Upper Silesia and has a history reaching back to the 11th century. The town charter was already granted by the 1254. The location of Bytom, lying at a crossroads connecting north and south; and east and west have meant the city has had a turbulent history. This turbulence has caused many changes in culture, habits and economy in the city. The inhabitants of Bytom have for many years cultivated contacts with various cities - including very distant ones and their activities are strongly supported by local authorities.
Bytom was moved from hand to hand as the time went by. It belonged to Poland (was even independent 1281-1355), then paid tribute to the King of Czechs, then belonged to the Habsburgs, then Prussia, then Germany, finally in 1945 it went back under the Polish rule.
Bytom is now an average post-industrial city. The majority of coal mines are now closed, steel mills are slowly fading out as well. The city is now struggling to transfer its profile from industry to services - which is normal all over the world. It is good to notice that Bytom cooperate with two cities with more-less the same problems: Recklinghausen (Germany) and Butte-Silver Bow (USA). The city has quite considerable unemployment rate, but it is mostly located in the poorest part of city, Bobrek.
Education
- Wyższa Szkoła Ekonomii i Administracji
- Silesian University Of Technology - Faculty of Transport (http://www.polsl.pl)
Politics
Bytom/Gliwice/Zabrze constituency
Members of Parliament (Sejm) elected from Bytom/Gliwice/Zabrze constituency
- Jan Chojnacki, SLD-UP
- Stanisław Dulias, Samoobrona
- Andrzej Gałażewski, PO
- Ewa Janik, SLD-UP
- Józef Kubica, SLD-UP
- Wacław Martyniuk, SLD-UP
- Wiesław Okoński, SLD-UP
- Wojciech Szarama, PiS
- Krystyna Szumilas, PO
- Marek Widuch, SLD-UP