Bielsk Podlaski

See also: Bielsk, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship

Bielsk Podlaski
Coat of arms
Bielsk Podlaski
Coordinates: 52°46′N 23°12′E / 52.767, 23.2
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Podlaskie
County	Bielsk
Gmina	Bielsk Podlaski (urban gmina)
Established	12th century
Town rights	1495
Government
- Mayor	Eugeniusz Berezowiec
Area
- Total	26.88 km² (10.4 sq mi)
Population (2007)
- Total	26,577
- Density	988.7/km² (2,560.8/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	17-100 to 17-102
Area code(s)	+48 085
Car plates	BBI
Website: http://www.bielsk-podlaski.pl

Bielsk Podlaski [ˈbjɛlsk pɔdˈlaski] ( listen) is an Urban Gmina (Polish: gmina miejska) (Town) in Bielsk County, Podlaskie Voivodeship. It is located north-eastern Poland.

[edit] Geography

Bielsk Podlaski is located in the geographical region of Europe known as the Wysoczyzny Podlasko – Bialoruskie (English: Podlaskie and Belarus Plateau) and the mezoregion known as the Równinę Bielską (English: Bielsk Plain).

The town covers an area of 32.43 square kilometres (12.5 sq mi).

[edit] Location

It is located approximately:

• 195 kilometres (121.2 mi) northeast of Warsaw, the capital of Poland
• 50 kilometres (31.1 mi) southwest of Białystok, the capital of the Podlaskie Voivodeship

[edit] Climate

The region has a continental climate which is characterized by high temperatures during summer and long and frosty winters. The average amount of rainfall during the year exceeds 550 millimetres (21.7 in).

[edit] History

Bielsk Podlaski was given city status in 1495.

The town is situated in the Podlaskie Voivodeship (since 1999); previously, it was in Białystok Voivodeship (1975-1998) (1975-1998). It is the capital of Bielsk County.

The Carmelites Church in Bielsk and monastery was founded in 1641 by Adam Kazanowski (Starost of Bielsk from 1638) and dedicated to the Mother of God of Mount Carmel. The project was also financed by his wife Elżbieta (Halszka) Słuszczanka (about 1619-1671).

Bielsk Podlaski has a rich Jewish history which was wiped out in the Holocaust. More information can be found at Bielsk Podlaski JewishGen including the full text of the English section of the Bielsk Podlaski Memorial Book and documents of the organization of US immigrants from Bielsk Podlaski called The Bielsker Bruderlicher Unterstitzungs Verein. [1]

[edit] Demographics

Detailed data as of 31 December 2007:^[2]

[edit] Municipal Government

Bielsk Podlaski (Town) in Bielsk County

It is the seat of Gmina Bielsk Podlaski, but is not part of Gmina Bielsk Podlaski.

[edit] Executive Branch

The chief executive of the government is the Mayor (Polish: Burmistrz).

[edit] Legislative Branch

The legislative portion of the government is the Council (Polish: Rada) comprised of the President (Polish: Przewodniczšcy), the Vice President (Polish: Wiceprzewodniczšcy) and thirteen councilors.

[edit] Neighbouring Political Subdivisions

Bielsk Podlaski (town) is bordered by Gmina Bielsk Podlaski.

[edit] Transport

[edit] Roads and Highways

Bielsk Podlaski is at the intersection of two National Road and a Voivodeship Road:

• National Road 19 19 - Kuźnica Białystoka Border Crossing (Belarus) - Kuźnica - Białystok - Bielsk Podlaski - Siemiatycze - Międzyrzec Podlaski - Kock - Lubartów - Lublin - Kraśnik - Janów Lubelski - Nisko - Sokołów Małopolski - Rzeszów
• National Road 66 66 - Zambrów - Brańsk - Bielsk Podlaski - Kleszczele - Czeremcha - Połowce Border Crossing (Belarus)
• Voivodeship Road 689 689 - Bielsk Podlaski - Hajnówka - Białowieża -:CLOSED: Border Crossing (Belarus)

[edit] Photo Gallery

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Bielsk Podlaski

Basilica	Orthodox church of The Assumption of the Archangel Michael	Orthodox church of St. Mary's Birth	Orthodox cathedral Church of The Lord's Resurrection
Castle Hill park	The Church of the St. Mary the Virgin	The Hall. Presently a museum	Iconographic school in Bielsk Podlaski
Old wooden buildings on the Kościuszki Street	Former monasterial building complex. Presently, The School of Music	Former monasterial building complex. Presently, The School of Music

v • d • e Gminas of Bielsk County Urban gminas Bielsk Podlaski (seat) • Brańsk Rural gminas Gmina Bielsk Podlaski • Gmina Boćki • Gmina Brańsk • Gmina Orla • Gmina Rudka • Gmina Wyszki

[edit] References