Voivodeships of Poland
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Contour map of Poland, with modern Voivodeships marked
Administrative division of Poland

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See also: Voivodeship

The voivodeship or province (Polish: województwo) has been a high-level administrative subdivision of Poland since the 14th century. Pursuant to the Local Government Reorganization Act of 1998, effective January 1, 1999, 16 new voivodeships were created, replacing the former 49 that had existed from July 1, 1975.

Today's voivodeships are largely based on the country's historic regions, while those of 1975–1998 were centred on and named for individual cities. The new units range in area from under 10,000 km² (Opole Voivodeship) to over 35,000 km² (Masovian Voivodeship), and in population from one million (Lubusz Voivodeship) to over five million (Masovian Voivodeship).

Administrative authority at voivodeship level is shared between a government-appointed governor called a voivode (Polish wojewoda), an elected assembly called a sejmik, and an executive chosen by that assembly. The leader of that executive is called the marszałek województwa (voivodeship marshal). Voivodeships are further divided into powiats (counties) and gminas (communes or municipalities): see Administrative division of Poland.

Some sources, especially in historic contexts, speak of "palatinates" rather than voivodeships. Modern voivodeships are often referred to as provinces, although in some historical contexts this may be misleading, since the word "province" (Polish prowincja) was applied to the three main divisions of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth, these consisting of several voivodeships.

Contents

Voivodeships since 1999

Administrative powers

Competences and powers at voivodeship level are shared between the voivode (governor), the sejmik (regional assembly) and the executive. In most cases these institutions are all based in one city, but in Kuyavian-Pomeranian and Lubusz Voivodeship the voivode's offices are in a different city from those of the executive and the sejmik. Voivodeship capitals are listed in the table below.

The voivode is appointed by the Prime Minister and is the regional representative of the central government. The voivode acts as the head of central government institutions at regional level (such as the police and fire services, passport offices, and various inspectorates), manages central government property in the region, oversees the functioning of local government, coordinates actions in the field of public safety and environment protection, and exercises special powers in emergencies. The voivode's offices collectively are known as the urząd wojewódzki.

The sejmik is elected every four years, at the same time as the local authorities at powiat and gmina level. It passes bylaws, including the voivodeship's development strategies and budget. It also elects the marszałek and other members of the executive, and holds them to account.

The executive (zarząd województwa), headed by the marszałek, drafts the budget and development strategies, implements the resolutions of the sejmik, manages the voivodeship's property, and deals with many aspects of regional policy, including management of European Union funding. Its offices collectively are known as the urząd marszałkowski.

Map and table of voivodeships

Image:Poland administrative division 1999 literki.png
Polish voivodeships since 1999
Abbreviation code car
plates		 Voivodeship Capital Area
km²		 Population
(Dec. 31, 2003)		 Population
(Jun. 30, 2004)
DS 02 D Lower Silesian (dolnośląskie) Wrocław 19 947.76 2 898 313 2 895 729
KP 04 C Kuyavian-Pomeranian (kujawsko-pomorskie) Bydgoszcz¹
Toruń²		 17 969.72 2 068 142 2 067 548
LU 06 L Lublin (lubelskie) Lublin 25 114.48 2 191 172 2 187 918
LB 08 F Lubusz (lubuskie) Gorzów Wielkopolski¹
Zielona Góra²		 13 984.44 1 008 786 1 009 177
LD 10 E Łódź (łódzkie) Łódź 18 219.11 2 597 094 2 592 568
MP 12 K Lesser Poland (małopolskie) Kraków 15 144.10 3 252 949 3 256 171
MA 14 W Masovian (mazowieckie) Warsaw 35 597.80 5 135 732 5 139 545
OP 16 O Opole (opolskie) Opole 9 412.47 1 055 667 1 053 723
PK 18 R Subcarpathian (podkarpackie) Rzeszów 17 926.28 2 097 248 2 097 325
PD 20 B Podlachian (podlaskie) Białystok 20 179.58 1 205 117 1 204 036
PM 22 G Pomeranian (pomorskie) Gdańsk 18 292.88 2 188 918 2 192 404
SL 24 S Silesian (śląskie) Katowice 12 294.04 4 714 982 4 707 825
SW 26 T Świętokrzyskie Kielce 11 672.34 1 291 598 1 290 176
WM 28 N Warmian-Masurian (warmińsko-mazurskie) Olsztyn 24 202.95 1 428 885 1 428 385
WP 30 P Greater Poland (wielkopolskie) Poznań 29 825.59 3 359 932 3 362 011
ZP 32 Z West Pomeranian (zachodniopomorskie) Szczecin 22 901.48 1 696 073 1 695 708
(¹) – seat of voivode, (²) – seat of sejmik and marszałek


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See also:

Former voivodeships

Poland's voivodeships 1975-1998 (49 voivodeships)

(since 1989, the Third Polish Republic, see also Administrative division of People's Republic of Poland)

Poland's voivodeships after 1975.

This reorganization of administrative division of Poland was mainly a result of local government reform acts of 1973-1975. In place of the three-level administrative division (voivodeship, county, commune), a new two-level administrative division was introduced (49 small voivodeships, and communes). The three smallest voivodeships – Warsaw, Kraków and Łódź – had the special status of municipal voivodeship; the city president (mayor) was also provincial governor.

 

Polish voivodeships and separate cities 1975-1998
Abbreviation Voivodeship Polish name Capital Area
km² (1998)		 Population
(1980)		 No. of cities No. of communes
bp Biała Podlaska Voivodeship bialskopodlaskie Biała Podlaska 5348 286 400 6 35
bk Białystok Voivodeship białostockie Białystok 10 055 641 100 17 49
bb Bielsko-Biała Voivodeship bielskie Bielsko-Biała 3 704 829 900 18 47
by Bydgoszcz Voivodeship bydgoskie Bydgoszcz 10 349 1 036 000 27 55
ch Chełm Voivodeship chełmskie Chełm 3 865 230 900 4 25
ci Ciechanów Voivodeship ciechanowskie Ciechanów 6 362 405 400 9 45
cz Częstochowa Voivodeship częstochowskie Częstochowa 6 182 747 900 17 49
el Elbląg Voivodeship elbląskie Elbląg 6 103 441 500 15 37
gd Gdańsk Voivodeship gdańskie Gdańsk 7 394 1 333 800 19 43
go Gorzów Voivodeship gorzowskie Gorzów Wielkopolski 8 484 455 400 21 38
jg Jelenia Góra Voivodeship jeleniogórskie Jelenia Góra 4 378 492 600 24 28
kl Kalisz Voivodeship kaliskie Kalisz 6 512 668 000 20 53
ka Katowice Voivodeship katowickie Katowice 6 650 3 733 900 43 46
ki Kielce Voivodeship kieleckie Kielce 9 211 1 068 700 17 69
kn Konin Voivodeship konińskie Konin 5 139 441 200 18 43
ko Koszalin Voivodeship koszalińskie Koszalin 8 470 462 200 17 35
kr Kraków Voivodeship krakowskie Kraków 3 254 1 167 500 10 38
ks Krosno Voivodeship krośnieńskie Krosno 5 702 448 200 12 37
lg Legnica Voivodeship legnickie Legnica 4 037 458 900 11 31
le Leszno Voivodeship leszczyńskie Leszno 4 254 357 600 19 28
lu Lublin Voivodeship lubelskie Lublin 6 793 935 200 16 62
lo Łomża Voivodeship łomżyńskie Łomża 6 684 325 800 12 39
ld Łódź Voivodeship łódzkie Łódź 1523 1 127 800 8 11
ns Nowy Sącz Voivodeship nowosądeckie Nowy Sącz 5 576 628 800 14 41
ol Olsztyn Voivodeship olsztyńskie Olsztyn 12 327 681 400 21 48
op Opole Voivodeship opolskie Opole 8 535 975 000 29 61
os Ostrołęka Voivodeship ostrołęckie Ostrołęka 6 498 371 400 9 38
pi Piła Voivodeship pilskie Piła 8 205 437 100 24 35
pt Piotrków Voivodeship piotrkowskie Piotrków Trybunalski 6 266 604 200 10 51
pl Płock Voivodeship płockie Płock 5 117 496 100 9 44
po Poznań Voivodeship poznańskie Poznań 8 151 1 237 800 33 57
pr Przemyśl Voivodeship przemyskie Przemyśl 4 437 380 000 9 35
rs Radom Voivodeship radomskie Radom 7 295 702 300 15 61
rz Rzeszów Voivodeship rzeszowskie Rzeszów 4 397 648 900 13 41
se Siedlce Voivodeship siedleckie Siedlce 8 499 616 300 12 66
si Sieradz Voivodeship sieradzkie Sieradz 4 869 392 300 9 40
sk Skierniewice Voivodeship skierniewickie Skierniewice 3 959 396 900 8 36
sl Słupsk Voivodeship słupskie Słupsk 7 453 369 800 11 31
su Suwałki Voivodeship suwalskie Suwałki 10 490 422 600 14 42
sz Szczecin Voivodeship szczecińskie Szczecin 9 981 897 900 29 50
tg Tarnobrzeg Voivodeship tarnobrzeskie Tarnobrzeg 6 283 556 300 14 46
ta Tarnów Voivodeship tarnowskie Tarnów 4 151 607 000 9 41
to Toruń Voivodeship toruńskie Toruń 5 348 610 800 13 41
wb Walbrzych Voivodeship wałbrzyskie Wałbrzych 4 168 716 100 31 30
wa Warsaw Voivodeship warszawskie Warsaw 3 788 2 319 100 27 32
wl Włocławek Voivodeship włocławskie Włocławek 4 402 413 400 14 30
wr Wrocław Voivodeship wrocławskie Wrocław 6 287 1 076 200 16 33
za Zamość Voivodeship zamojskie Zamość 6 980 472 100 5 47
zg Zielona Góra Voivodeship zielonogórskie Zielona Góra 8 868 609 200 26 50


Poland's voivodeships 1945-1975 (14+2 voivodeships, then 17+5)

People's Republic of Poland

After World War II, the new administrative division of the country was based on the prewar one. The areas in the east that had not been annexed by the Soviet Union had their borders left almost unchanged. The newly acquired territories in the west and north were organized into the voivodeships of Szczecin, Wrocław and Olsztyn, and partly joined to Gdańsk, Katowice and Poznań voivodeships. Two cities were granted voivodeship status: Warsaw and Łódź.

Poland's voivodeships after 1957.

In 1950, new voivodeships were created: Koszalin (previously part of Szczecin), Opole (previously part of Katowice), and Zielona Góra (previously part of Poznań, Wrocław and Szczecin voivodeships). In addition, three more cities were granted voivodeship status: Wrocław, Kraków and Poznań.

 

Polish administrative division 1945-1975
Car plates
(since 1956)		 Voivodeship Capital Area
km² (1965)		 Population
(1965)
A białostockie Białystok 23 136 1 160 400
B bydgoskie Bydgoszcz 20 794 1 837 100
G gdańskie Gdańsk 10 984 1 352 800
S katowickie Katowice 9 518 3 524 300
C kieleckie Kielce 19 498 1 899 100
E koszalińskie ¹ Koszalin 17 974 755 100
K krakowskie Kraków 15 350 2 127 600
F Łódzkie Łódź 17 064 1 665 200
L lubelskie Lublin 24 829 1 900 500
O olsztyńskie Olsztyn 20 994 956 600
H opolskie ¹ Opole 9 506 1 009 200
P poznańskie Poznań 26 723 2 126 300
R rzeszowskie Rzeszów 18 658 1 692 800
M szczecińskie Szczecin 12 677 847 600
T warszawskie Warsaw 29 369 2 453 000
X wrocławskie Wrocław 18 827 1 967 000
Z zielonogórskie ¹ Zielona Góra 14 514 847 200
car plates
(since 1956)		 Separate city Area
km² (1965)		 Population
(1965)
I Łódź 214 744 100
W Warsaw 446 1 252 600
 ? Kraków ² 230 520 100
 ? Poznań ² 220 438 200
 ? Wrocław ² 225 474 200
¹ – new voivodeships created in 1950; ² – cities separated in 1957


Poland's voivodeships 1921-1939 (15+1 voivodeships +1 Autonomous Silesian)

Further information: Administrative division of Second Polish Republic
Polish voivodeships, 1922-1939.
Polish voivodeships, 1922-1939.

 

Polish voivodeships in the interbellum
(data as per April 1, 1937)
car plates
(since 1937)		 Voivodeship
Separate city		 Capital Area
in 1000 km² (1930)		 Population
in 1000 (1931)
00-19 City of Warsaw Warsaw 0.14 1179.5
85-89 warszawskie Warsaw 31.7 2460.9
20-24 białostockie Białystok 26.0 1263.3
25-29 kieleckie Kielce 22.2 2671.0
30-34 krakowskie Kraków 17.6 2300.1
35-39 lubelskie Lublin 26.6 2116.2
40-44 lwowskie Lwów 28.4 3126.3
45-49 łódzkie Łódź 20.4 2650.1
50-54 nowogródzkie Nowogródek 23.0 1057.2
55-59 poleskie Brześć nad Bugiem 36.7 1132.2
60-64 pomorskie Toruń 25.7 1884.4
65-69 poznańskie Poznań 28.1 2339.6
70-74 stanisławowskie Stanisławów 16.9 1480.3
75-79 ? Auton. śląskie Katowice 5.1 1533.5
80-84 tarnopolskie Tarnopol 16.5 1600.4
90-94 wileńskie Wilno 29.0 1276.0
95-99 wołyńskie Łuck 35.7 2085.6


Voivodeships in Congress Poland 1816-1837

Further information: Administrative division of Congress Poland

From 1816 to 1837 there were 8 voivodeships in Congress Poland.

Voivodeships in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth 1569-1795

Further information: Administrative division of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Voivodes of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Voivodeships of the Republic of the Two Nations ("Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth").
Voivodeships of the Republic of the Two Nations ("Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth").
Voivodeships of the Commonwealth of the Two Nations in 1635
Voivodeships of the Commonwealth of the Two Nations in 1635

Greater Poland (Wielkopolska)

Lesser Poland (Małopolska)

Grand Duchy of Lithuania

Here the first name given is English, then in brackets – Lithuanian, and then Polish.

Duchy of Livonia

Etymology and usage of "voivodeship"

The Polish term województwo, designating a second-level Polish or Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth administrative unit, derives from "wojewoda" (etymologically, "war leader," but now used only for the governor of a województwo) and the suffix "-ztwo (a "state or condition").

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word voivodeship appeared in English for the first time in 1792, spelled woiwodship, in the sense of "the district or province governed by a voivode." The word subsequently also appeared, for the first time in 1886, in the sense of "the office or dignity of a voivode."

The English word "voivodeship," which is a hybrid of voivode and -ship (a suffix likewise meaning a "state or condition") that replicates those two elements found in the Polish original, has never been much used in English. The 2,478-page Random House Dictionary of the English Language, second edition, unabridged (1987), while including "voivode," does not list or otherwise refer to "voivodeship." It is not an acceptable word in the official Scrabble dictionary, and has never been used in the New York Times crossword puzzle.

See also

External links

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