Iława

For the village of the same name, see Iława, Opole Voivodeship.
Iława

Town view

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Iława
Coordinates: 53°35′47″N 19°33′56″E / 53.59639°N 19.56556°E / 53.59639; 19.56556
Country  Poland
Voivodeship Warmian-Masurian
County Iława County
Gmina Iława (urban gmina)
Established 1305
Town rights 1305
Government
 • Mayor Włodzimierz Ptasznik
Area
 • Total 21.88 km2 (8.45 sq mi)
Highest elevation 150 m (490 ft)
Lowest elevation 100 m (300 ft)
Population (2010)
 • Total 32,276
 • Density 1,500/km2 (3,800/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 14-200 to 14-210
Area code(s) +48 89
Car plates NIL
Website http://www.ilawa.pl

Iława [iˈwava] (German: Deutsch Eylau ( listen)) is a town in northeastern Poland with 32,276 inhabitants (2010). It is situated in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship (since 1999); previously it was in Olsztyn Voivodeship (1975–1998). It is the capital of Iława County.

History

The town was founded in Prussia in 1305 and is documented in a manuscript by Luther von Braunschweig in 1317. It was built on the Eylenz (Iławka) River between Lakes Geserich (Jeziorak) and Eylenz (Iławskie). This location makes it a popular vacation area. The town was under the jurisdiction of the komtur of Christburg (Dzierzgoń) and since 1340 under Osterode (Ostróda). In 1457 it was sold to King Casimir IV Jagiellon of Poland during the Thirteen Years' War between the cities of Prussia and Poland on one side and the Teutonic Order on the other.

As Deutsch Eylau, the town became part of the Duchy of Prussia in 1525 and the Kingdom of Prussia in 1701. Administered within the new province of West Prussia in 1773, it became part of the German Empire in 1871.

In 1862 the Oberland Canal (Elbląg Canal) was built between Elbing (Elbląg) and Eylau by engineer Georg Steenke, which enabled the inland town to transport bulk of lumber, farm products, and other goods north to Elbing and the Baltic Sea. This was superseded ten years later by rail transport, when the Thorn (Toruń)-Insterburg (Chernyakhovsk) railway line was constructed.

The East Prussian plebiscite of 1920 ostesibly allowed the residents to cast votes either in favor of remaining in Germany or becoming a part of Poland. The vote was largely boycotted by ethnic Poles, amid in mass persecution of Polish activists by the German side, going as far as engaging in regular hunts and murder against them to influence the vote. Ultimately the town voted to remain in Germany by 4,746 to 235 votes. It became part of Regierungsbezirk West Prussia in the Province of East Prussia.

After World War II the region was placed under Polish administration by the Potsdam Agreement under territorial changes demanded by the Soviet Union. Most Germans fled or were expelled and replaced with Poles expelled from the Polish areas annexed by the Soviet Union.

Notable residents

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Iława is twinned with:

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Iława.

Coordinates: 53°36′N 19°34′E / 53.600°N 19.567°E / 53.600; 19.567


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