Kazincbarcika

Infobox Settlement
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = HUN
timezone=CET
utc_offset=+1
timezone_DST=CEST
utc_offset_DST=+2
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position =
pushpin_map_caption =Location of Kazincbarcika
pushpin_mapsize =

official_name=Kazincbarcika


subdivision_type1=County
subdivision_name1=Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén
area_total_km2=36.70
population_total=31575|population_footnotes=
population_as_of=2005|population_density_km2=860.35
postal_code_type=Postal code
postal_code=3700
area_code=48
latd=48.25315
longd=20.64563

Kazincbarcika is the third largest city of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county, Northern Hungary. It lies in the valley of the river Sajó, convert|20|km|mi|0|abbr=on away from the county capital, Miskolc.

History

Kazincbarcika was created during the Socialist industrialization, when several villages were unified with the aim of creating an industrial city. The village of "Sajókazinc" was first mentioned in 1240. It was a mainly agricultural village until 1850, when the first coal mine was opened. The village of Barcika came into existence with the unification of two villages, Upper- and Lower-Barcika. Although a mine was opened nearby, agriculture remained the villagers' main occupation until the 1920s, when a large power plant was built.

After World War II, Sajókazinc and Barcika were united under the name Kazincbarcika. In 1954 it was granted town status, and the nearby village of Berente was annexed. The town already had 11,000 residents. The new factory took an active role in developing the town, and its job opportunities drew people from all over the country.

In the 1970s Kazincbarcika already had 30,000 residents. In the 1980s mining and heavy industry faced a crisis, and the rate of unemployment was high. The district of Berente separated from the city and became an independent village.

It seems that now Kazincbarcika has passed through the crisis.

Tourist sights

* City Gallery
* Small gallery (with photo exhibitions)
* Protestant church of Felsőbarcika (Baroque, 18th century)
* Greek Catholic church (1995)
* John Lennon monument

Gallery

Famous people

* Béni Egressy composer (was born in 1814, as son of the pastor of the church of Sajókazinc)

Twin towns

* Burgkirchen, Germany
* Dimitrovgrad, Bulgaria
* Knurów, Poland
* Revúca, Slovakia
* Sânnicolau Mare, Romania
* Świdnica, Poland
* Tiachiv (Тячів), Ukraine

External links

* [http://www.kazincbarcika.hu Official site]
* [http://www.kazincbarcika.net/html/kepek_a_multbol.html Pictures of the history of the city]

*The area of convert|36.4|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on is approximate only, as territorial disputes with Berente were still going on at the time of the 2001 census.