Jastrzębie-Zdrój, Silesian Voivodeship, Poland

🇵🇱 Jastrzębie-Zdrój is a city in south Poland. Its name comes from the Polish words jastrząb and zdrój. From 1861 until the 20th century it was a spa village. It was granted city rights in 1963. Jastrzębie-Zdrój is currently situated in the Silesian Voivodeship. In the early 1980s, the city was one of main centres of workers' protests, which resulted in creation of Solidarity.

History The first written documentation, relating to this area, date back to around 1305 (Liber fundationis episcopatus Vratislaviensis). Administratively, the town is made up of several old settlements, whose origins go back to the distant past. The original name of the town was Jastrzemb. The origin of the name, which means 'hawk' in Polish, is connected with the legend of the black knight. From the 16th century to the beginning of the 19th century, it was part of the administration of Wodzisław. Between 1858 and 1860, trial excavations of hard coal were performed all over the area of Jastrzębie Dolne. These excavations ended up discovering springs containing iodine and bromine brine solutions. In 1860, the count of Königsdorff acquired the lands and suggested the construction of bath facilities. Thus, in 1862, the health resort of Bad Königsdorff-Jastrzemb was brought into life. Shortly after, the town joined the exclusive circle of the most prestigious health resorts in Europe.

In 1896, the natural health centre was taken over by a Polish doctor, Mikołaj Witczak, who lent great service to the development of health-resort in Bad Königsdorff-Jastrzemb. His managerial skills together with wise investment made Jastrzębie-Zdrój a highly appreciated and fashionable health resort inside the German Empire and the interbellum Poland. Consequently, numerous health facilities were then set up.

In the plebiscite in Silesia in 1921, about 85% of the inhabitants of Jastrzębie Zdrój voted for Poland, a significant part of the inhabitants also took part in the Silesian uprisings in order to unite with Poland. Finally, in 1922, Jastrzębie-Zdrój was incorporated into Poland.

The history of Jastrzębie-Zdrój as a health resort came to its end in the 1960s, when all over the area began the intensive exploitation of coking coal deposits. Within a period of 12 years, five coal mines were set up. Between 1954–1975, Jastrzębie was part of the Wodzisław County. During the time of political transformation in Poland, Jastrzębie-Zdrój went down the annals of Polish modern history as the place where the so-called "the Jastrzębskie Agreement" was concluded. The signing of the protocol initiated the process of political, economic and social changes in Poland.

Population Jastrzębie-Zdrój ranks as Poland's 36th largest city. Jastrzębie-Zdrój's unemployment rate is lower (7%) than the national average of 8.8% (as of November 2010).

Districts Jastrzębie-Zdrój is a powiat (county) divided into 15 districts and 6 sołectwos that have its own administrative body. Most of the districts are suburban, some are densely built with many blocks of flats generating huge housing estates, and the rest are of civic nature: 1 Arki Bożka; 2 Barbary; 3 Bogoczowiec; 4 Chrobrego; 5 Gwarków; 6 Jastrzębie Górne i Dolne; 7 Morcinka; 8 Pionierów; 9 Przyjaźń; 10 Staszica; 11 Tuwima; 12 Tysiąclecia; 13 Zdrój; 14 Złote łany; 15 Zofiówka; Sołectwos: 1 Borynia; 2 Bzie; 3 Moszczenica; 4 Ruptawa; 5 Skrzeczkowice; 6 Szeroka.

Sport The most famous clubs • GKS Jastrzębie – men's professional football club • Jastrzębski Węgiel – men's professional volleyball club, two–time Polish Champion, PlusLiga • JKH GKS Jastrzębie – men's professional ice hockey club, Polska Hokej Liga.

Other clubs • BKS Jastrzębie – boxing • UKH Białe Jastrzębie – women's ice hockey • LKS Granica Ruptawa – football • LKS Zryw Bzie – football • LKS Hadex Szeroka – football • Koka Jastrzębie – judo • UKS Romi Jastrzębie – women's handball.