Białystok
city and capital of Podlaskie Voivodeship in eastern Poland / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Białystok is the largest city in northeastern Poland and is the capital of the Podlaskie Voivodeship. It is in the Podlaskie Plain on the banks of the Biała River in the Podlaskie region, known collectively as the Green Lungs of Poland.
Białystok | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 53°08′07″N 23°08′44″E | |
Country | Poland |
Voivodeship | Podlaskie |
County | city county |
Established | 1437 |
Town rights | 1692 |
Districts | 29: Osiedla
|
Government | |
• Mayor | Tadeusz Truskolaski[2] (PO) |
Area | |
• Total | 102.13 km2 (39.43 sq mi) |
Highest elevation | 160 m (520 ft) |
Lowest elevation | 120 m (390 ft) |
Population (31 December 2020) | |
• Total | 296,958 (10th)[3] |
• Density | 2,907/km2 (7,530/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Postal code | 15-001 to 15-999 |
Area code | +48 85 |
Car plates | BI |
Website | www |
The city charter dates back to 1692, but settlement activity in the area dates back to the 14th century. Białystok has traditionally been one of the leading center of academic, cultural and artistic life in Podlaskie and is the most important economic center in northeastern Poland. The location of the city in the neighborhood of Belarus, Lithuania and Russia, with convenient transportation connections, creates excellent conditions for economic and cultural development of the city. The geographical and historical conditions helped to foster Białystok as a place where people of different cultures, religions and nationalities lived together for centuries. It has shaped the specific character of the city – openness, friendliness and hospitality.
Among cities of Poland, Białystok is second in terms of population density, eleventh in population, and thirteenth in area. The city and its adjacent municipalities constitute Metropolitan Białystok.