Kłobuck

Kłobuck
Saints Martin and Margaret church in Kłobuck
Flag Coat of arms
Kłobuck
Coordinates:50°55′N18°56′E
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Silesian
County	Kłobuck
Gmina	Kłobuck
Area
• Total	47.53 km2(18.35 sq mi)
Highest elevation	284 m (932 ft)
Lowest elevation	240 m (790 ft)
Population (2019-06-30)
• Total	12,934
• Density	270/km2(700/sq mi)
Postal code	42-100
Climate	Cfb
Website	http:// gminaklobuck.pl

Kłobuck[ˈkwɔbut͡sk]is a town in southernPoland,with 12,934 inhabitants (2019). Located in theSilesian Voivodeship,about 15 km northwest ofCzęstochowa,it is the capital ofKłobuck County.Historically, Kłobuck belongs toLesser Poland,and is located in its extreme northwestern corner, near the border with two other Polish historical provinces –Greater Poland,andSilesia.The town lies among the hills ofLesser Poland Upland.Most of Kłobuck lies 240 to 260 metres above sea level, and the highest point within town's limits isDębowa Góra(284 metres). Kłobuck has the area of 47 km²,with forests taking up 20%.

Etymology

In the past, the name of the town was spelled in many different ways – Kłobucko, Kłobuczko, Kłobuczek. Current name has been used since the late 19th century, and it most probably comes from ancient Polish wordkłobuk,which is a type of headgear. Another explanation is that kłobuk means “top”, or “summit”, and at the time of its location, the town was on the top of Lesser Poland, as its most extreme northwestern urban centre.

History

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1921	5,222	—
1931	8,542	+63.6%
2010	13,085	+53.2%
Source:

Kłobuck was granted town rights in 1339, during the reign of KingCasimir III the Great.At that time, it was located along the busy merchant road from Lesser Poland to Greater Poland. Further north, nearWieluń,the road split into two directions – northwest toPoznań,and southwest toWrocław.According toJan Długosz,who himself was a canon at Kłobuck, the local St Martin and Margaret Church was built in 1144. Kłobuck was a major local trade center well before receiving its official status as a town. It had a number of artisans, and in 1658 it became the seat of astarosta.As a result ofThe Delugeand accordingly because of the increase of levies paid toJasna Góramonastery, the city began to deteriorate. For hundreds of centuries, until 1793 (seePartitions of Poland), the town belonged toLelówCounty in theKraków Voivodeshipin theLesser Poland Province.Annexed by theKingdom of Prussia,it briefly was part ofNew Silesia.In 1807 Kłobuck was incorporated into the short-lived PolishDuchy of Warsaw,and after its dissolution it fell to theRussian Empirein 1815. Between 1870 and 1917 Kłobuck was a village, upon order of Tsarist authorities.

World War II memorial

In theSecond Polish Republic,Kłobuck belonged to Częstochowa County ofKielce Voivodeship.In May 1939,National DefenceBattalion “Kłobuck” was formed here. During the Germaninvasion of Polandat the start ofWorld War II,on September 1, 1939, theBattle of Mokratook place 5 kilometres north of Kłobuck. During the war, the town was incorporated into theThird Reich,as part of the County ofBlachownia(German:Landkreis Blachstädt),Upper Silesia Province.Most of Kłobuck's 2,000 Jews were murdered in theHolocaust.

Some Jewish families that survived the Holocaust moved to other countries, notably, Australia, Canada, Sweden, Israel and the USA. A Jewish Survivor, Zeleg Berkowitz, moved to Sweden and documented the Jewish communities life in Pre-Holocaust Klobuck.

In the immediate postwar period, Kłobuck returned to Kielce Voivodeship, but in 1950, together with Częstochowa, it was moved toKatowice Voivodeship.In 1952, Kłobuck County was created, and in 1975–1999, the town belonged to Częstochowa Voivodeship. After the war, Kłobuck quickly developed in the 1950s and 1960s, when several heavy industry enterprises were opened, and iron ore deposits were found.

Geography

Kłobuck is located on the border of twomesoregions:Wieluń Upland and Krzepice Slip, which form a part of Wieluń-Woźniki Upland. Kłobuck is located by the Biała Oksza river and Czarna Oksza river.

Landscape

The city is located on a hilly fragment of Woźniki-Wieluń Upland. The highest point within the town's limits is Dębowa Góra – 284 meters above the sea level.

Land use

Kłobuck has an area of 47,46 km².About 71% of the area is used for agricultural purposes (mostly for arable farming and grazing). About 20% of the town's area is forested, whilst 9% of the land is covered by houses, industrial estates and infrastructure such as roads.

Nature

Dębowa Góra nature reserve is located within the town's limits, 2 km from the town centre. This nature reserve gives special protection to the remains of primeval oak and hornbeam forests. Most of the forests within Kłobuck's limits are a part of the Kłobuck forest district (Nadleśnictwo Kłobuck). There are no big natural bodies of water within the town's limits. The Zakrzew reservoir is located on the border of Rybno village and Kłobuck.

Sights

• Church of Saint Martin and Margaret – church built in its original form in 12th and 13th century. The first stone church was built in 1144 in aRomanesquestyle. In the beginning of the 15th century, Kłobuck parish was one of the biggest in Poland covering the area of 800 km².Between 1443 and 1458,Jan Długosz,one of the most famous chroniclers in Poland was a parish priest in Kłobuck. Certain church buildings are listed on historical monuments list. They include a church building from the 14th century, vicarage and granary (both built in the 15th century).
• Palace in Kłobuck Zagórze – historic palace built in 1795 in the neo gothic style. It is surrounded by a park with an area of 4.3 ha. The palace was built for a Prussian ministerChristian Graf von Haugwitz.Subsequent owners includedBenedykt Lemański,Guido Henckel von Donnersmarck,andGrand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich of Russia.After the First World War the palace became a property of the Treasury of State. Between 1918 and 1939 a Forestry School was located in the palace and between 1952 and 1972 the seat of the County Council. Subsequently, a garments factory "Elegance" was located there. Recently, refurbishment works have started in the palace.

Transport

Main road connections from the Kłobuck include connection withWieluń(to the north-west) andCzęstochowa(to the south-east) via theNational RoadDK 43.Kłobuck also has a rail station, alongPolish Coal Trunk-Line,which since 2006 has been used freight trains only.

Twin towns – sister cities

Seetwin towns of Gmina Kłobuck.

Gallery

• 
  Town square
• 
  Palace in Zagórze
• 
  Historic municipal bath
• 
  National Insurance building

External links

• Webpage about the city
• Information about local authority
• Kłobuck County webpage
• The Jewish community life in Kłobuck before WW II
• Jewish Community in Kłobuckon Virtual Shtetl