Miasta regionu górnej Wisły w XIX–XXI w. (1857–2009)

Abstract

The article discusses the urban settlement patterns in the upper Vistula region and their changes in the years 1857–2009. The detailed analysis concerns the period from the beginning of forming the basis of industrialization until the contemporary times when the traditional industry has lost its role as a cityforming factor. At the beginning of the 21st century, the region that currently includes 21 districts of the total area of 14,300 km2 was inhabited by 3,5 million people, 55% of whom lived in 62 cities of different size. The analysis that was conducted in a few sub-periods showed that since their establishment, the cities developed mainly due to individually functioning economic and social factors. The fact that large Vistula areas were located on the borderland for an extended period of time played an important role in the process. Later on, industrialization factors led to the creation of a few characteristic settling arrangements which currently create the core of the spatial structure of the upper Vistula region.