Świerzawa

Świerzawa (Polish: [ɕfjɛˈʐava]; formerly Polish: Szunów,^[3] German: Schönau) is a town in Złotoryja County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland.^[4] It is the seat of the administrative district (gmina) called Gmina Świerzawa. It lies on the Kaczawa River, approximately 13 km (8 mi) south of Złotoryja and 81 km (50 mi) west of the regional capital Wrocław.

Świerzawa
Town center with the town hall in the foreground and Saint Joseph church in the background
Coat of arms
Świerzawa
Coordinates: 51°1′N 15°54′E
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Lower Silesian
County	Złotoryja
Gmina	Świerzawa
Town rights	1296
Government
• Mayor	Paweł Kisowski
Area
• Total	1.76 km2 (0.68 sq mi)
Population  (2019-06-30[1])
• Total	2,286
• Density	1,300/km2 (3,400/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	59-540[2]
Vehicle registration	DZL
Website	http://www.swierzawa.pl

As of 2019, the town has a population of 2,286.

History

Romanesque Saints John the Baptist and Catherine church, the oldest church in Świerzawa

It was initially a Polish stronghold, possibly besieged during the first Mongol invasion of Poland in 1241.^[3] It was granted town rights by Duke Bolko I the Strict in 1296,^[3] when it was part of the Duchy of Jawor within fragmented Piast-ruled Poland. In 1426, the town was captured and devastated by the Hussites.^[3] The town was affected by fires in 1487 and 1639.^[3] The local church was taken by Protestants during the Reformation and then restored to the Catholics in 1637.^[3] During the Thirty Years' War, in 1640, it was the site of a Swedish victory against the Austrians.^[3]

Demographics

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% 1880 1,518 —     1890 1,497 −1.4% 1900 1,707 +14.0% 1910 1,753 +2.7% 1925 1,810 +3.3%	Year Pop. ±% 1939 1,911 +5.6% 1950 1,048 −45.2% 1960 2,139 +104.1% 2010 2,364 +10.5%
Source: [5][6]

Twin towns – sister cities

See twin towns of Gmina Świerzawa.