Ruda Śląska

Infobox Settlement
name = Ruda Śląska


imagesize = 250px
image_caption = City view

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image_shield = POL Ruda Śląska alt COA.svg
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position = bottom
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = POL
subdivision_type1 = Voivodeship
subdivision_name1 = Silesian
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = "city county"
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Andrzej Stania
established_title = Established
established_date = 13th century
established_title3 = Town rights
established_date3 = 1959
area_total_km2 = 77.7
population_as_of = 2007
population_total = 149346
population_density_km2 = auto
population_metro = 3487000
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2
latd = 50 | latm = 16 | lats = | latNS = N | longd = 18 | longm = 42 | longs = | longEW = E
postal_code_type = Postal code
postal_code = 41-700 to 41-718
area_code = +48 32
blank_name = Car plates
blank_info = SRS, SL
website = http://www.rudaslaska.pl/ Ruda Śląska Audio-IPA-pl|Ruda Slaska.ogg|'|r|u|d|a|-|'|ś|l|ą|s|k|a is a city in south Poland with 149,000 inhabitants (2001), member of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union.

It is situated in the Silesian Voivodship (since 1999), having previously been in Katowice Voivodship (1975-1998).

ubdivisions

The city or Ruda Śląska is divided into the following subdivisions:

1. Ruda
2. Czarny Las
3. Godula
4. Orzegów
5. Bykowina
6. Halemba
7. Kochłowice
8. Chebzie
9. Nowy Bytom
10. Wirek
11. Bielszowice

History

A large village is known to have existed at the location of the today's city center in 1243. The city name appears to indicate the awareness of existence and perhaps exploitation of ores from the early times.

The area underwent rapid industrialization (coal, steel, zinc) in the 19th and the beginning of 20th century. However, it remained a cluster of industrial settlements and villages until the 1950s, when it was administratively united. It never developed into a truly unified city.

After the fall of communism in 1989, the significant heavy industry was largely scaled down or restructured. The area has been transforming to a service-based economy. The well-known still operating coal mine is "Halemba".

Since 2007, Ruda Śląska has been a member of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union, the largest legally recognized urban area in Poland.

Transport and Infrastructure

Significant roadways are Highway A4 and the Drogowa Trasa Średnicowa. There are several small railways stations, mainly on the line Katowice-Gliwice.

Since 1950 Ruda Śląska is site of a transmission facility, which was used from 1950 to 1988 for medium-wave radio broadcasting.

Higher Education

The neighboring cities of Katowice and Gliwice are large academic centers. Ruda Śląska is a seat of Higher Academy of Commerce (Wyższa Szkoła Handlowa).

ports

* Zgoda Ruda Śląska - women's handball team playing in Polish Ekstraklasa Women's Handball League: Polish Cup winner 2004; 6th place in 2003/2004 season.

Famous people

*Otylia Jędrzejczak (born December 13 1983) - Olympic gold medalist and world record-holder in swimming
*Ernest Pohl
*Erwin Wilczek
*Marcin Baszczynski
*Paweł Cyganek
*Franciszek BukalRuda Śląska is the largest population center in Poland never to have been visited by Lech Wałęsa.