| dc.description.abstract | Podhale, in comparison to other regions in the Carpathians, was characterized
by greater dynamics of demographic development. Progres of urbanization is slower
there than in other regions but this is caused by mountain specifics of the region and
by functional structure of towns. During last years slower increase of population
number is marked in towns, not in villages. Observations of changes in population
allowed to make a typology of village settlement units. The greatest number is of
progressive villages with a high or very high annual population growth. Only some
of villages present stagnation or demographic regression. Their number and
distribution were changeable in particular inter-census periods. Increase of
population was a continuous process in majority of the settlement units. Irregularity
in their demographic development (increase and decrease) was characteristic for
some villages only. Continuous decrease of population was noticed in some villages.
Natural growth as well as settlements of immigrative character decided about
demographic growth in Podhale.
Villages of emigrational character predominate but population number increases
as migrational loss concerned only a part of natural growth. The smallest number was
of emigrational villages with decreasing number of inhabitants. Following the post war
changes in Podhale population it may be stated that the transition from explosive to
lowered and finally to medium demographic growth was common feature for majority
of villages in Skalne Podhale, Pogórze Zachodnie as well as for villages situated along
the railway track Rabka - Nowy Targ - Zakopane. Spisz and Orava present another
type of population growth as demographic boom has begun there for 10 years.
Dynamic increase of population in post war times influenced density of
population and caused changes in size structure of settlements. Number of small
villages decreased, number of units with 1 000 - 2 000 inhabitants was doubled and
they make predominant size category in Podhale village pattern. Increase of number
of population in big villages, with population over 3 000, is unfavourable for that
region. | en_EN |
