Gniewkowo

Infobox Settlement
name = Gniewkowo
imagesize = 250px
image_shield = POL Gniewkowo COA.svg
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position = bottom
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = POL
subdivision_type1 = Voivodeship
subdivision_name1 = Kuyavian-Pomeranian
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Inowrocław
subdivision_type3 = Gmina
subdivision_name3 = Gniewkowo
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Adam Roszak
established_title = Established
established_date = 12th century
established_title3 = Town rights
established_date3 = 1268
area_total_km2 = 9.18
population_as_of = 2006
population_total = 7254
population_density_km2 = auto
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2
latd = 52 | latm = 54 | lats = | latNS = N | longd = 18 | longm = 25 | longs = | longEW = E
postal_code_type = Postal code
postal_code = 88-140
area_code = +48 52
blank_name = Car plates
blank_info = CIN
website = http://www.gniewkowo.com.pl Gniewkowo [IPA-pl|g|ń|e1|f|'|k|o|w|o] (Argenau in German) is a town in northern Poland with a population of 7, 301 (2005). The town is part of the "inowroclawski" powiat (county) and is the administrative seat of a gmina (commune) named Gniewskowo as well.

Location

Gniewkowo is located to the south of the Bydgoszcz forest on route 52, 15 km northeast of Inowrocław and 23 km southwest of Toruń.

History

Archaeological digs have shown that the site was already populated by the Bronze Age. The first historical mention of the town dates from 1185. In 1268 the town was granted city rights. In 1314 Siemomysł of Inowrocław’s duchy was divided among his three sons; Casimir inherited the Gniewkowo region which became a small autonomous duchy. The Teutonic Knights laid siege to Gniewkowo in 1332 during their war with Poland. To avoid capture Casimir set fire to his chateau and abandoned the town. He would not regain control of the duchy until the Treaty of Kalisz in 1343.

In 1364/1365, Władysław (Ladislas) the White mortgaged Gniewkowo to Casimir III the Great. In 1408 the city hosted a meeting between Jogaila and the Teutonic Knights over the disputed Dobrzyń territory. From 1409 to 1411 Gniewkowo played an important role in the conflict between Poland and the Teutonic Order.

Gniewkowo was ravaged by several fires during the XVI century, limiting its development. During the XVII century, war with Sweden and outbreaks of disease laid waste to the town.

Gniewkowo was annexed by Prussia in 1772 after the first partition of Poland (from 1807 to 1815 Gniewkowo was part of the Duchy of Warsaw), during which time the economy began to develop. Starting in 1843, a road linked the city to Inowrocław and Toruń. Jews and Germans became more and more prominent, while the local Polish population suffered from an official policy of discrimination. A general strike broke out after German became the required official language for religious classes. Electricity became available city-wide in 1908.

On January 17, 1920, after a year of fighting, Gniewkowo rejoined a newly independent Poland. The town suffered greatly during the Polish economic crisis that followed World War I. On the eve of World War II the unemployment rate was 70%.

During World War II 4,000 civilians taken from Gniewkowo and the nearby towns of Inowrocław, Bydgoszcz and Toruń were executed by the Nazis in the woods surrounding the town. Gniewkowo was liberated by the Red Army on January 21, 1945.

Economy

Local companies:

* "Bonduelle S.A." (Food industry)
* "Cykoria S.A." (Food industry)
* "Interlight Production and Selling" (Candle manufacturing)
* "Cerama" (Construction)
* "Euro-Granit" (Construction)
* "Jerzy Rutkowski Ltd" (Furnace manufacturing)
* "TG Tapicernia" (Furniture manufacturing)
* "Maciejczyk S. J." (Furniture manufacturing))

References