From 1. January 2024, dozens of new towns will appear in Poland. A decree issued by the Council of Ministers changes the status of 34 towns, which until now have been villages. The largest number of towns will be added in the Łódzkie and Mazowieckie voivodeships.
To obtain the status of a town, a locality must have an urban architectural layout built along with infrastructure. The granting of town status also requires consultation with residents.
On 1 January 2024, Bobrowniki and Kikół in the Lipno poviat and Gąsawa in the Żnin poviat in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie voivodeship will be granted city status. New towns in Lubelskie Voivodeship are Piszczac in Bialski Poviat, Turobin in Biłgoraj Poviat and Czemierniki in Radzynski Poviat. In Lubuskie Province, Brody in Żary County will become a town.
In Łódzkie Voivodship, Grabów in Łęczycki Poviat, Kiernozia in Łowicz Poviat, Białaczów and Żarnów in Opoczynski Poviat, Inowłódz in Tomaszów Poviat, Osjaków in Wieluński Poviat, Bolesławiec in Wieruszowski Poviat and Parzęczew in Zgierz Poviat will become towns.
The largest number – 11 towns will be added in the Mazowieckie Voivodeship. They include: Maciejowice in Garwolin poviat; Głowaczów and Magnuszew in Kozienicki poviat; Ciepielów and Sienno in Lipski poviat; Dobre and Siennica – Minsk poviat; Osieck – Otwock poviat; as well as Gielniów and Odrzywół in Przysłuski poviat and Przytyk in Radom poviat.
Strzeleczki in Krapkowicki poviat became a town in Opolskie voivodeship, Bircza in Przemyskie poviat and Jawornik Polski in Przeworski poviat became a town in Podkarpackie voivodeship. The new town in Śląskie Voivodeship is Przyrów in Częstochowa Poviat, and in Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship Gowarczów in Konecki Poviat and Bogoria in Staszów Poviat. In Wielkopolskie Voivodeship, two towns will appear: Rychtal in Kępiński Poviat and Mieścisko in Wągrowiecki Poviat.
From the new year, the name of the Słupsk rural municipality will also change. It will now be called Redzikowo. This has to do with the US army base and missile defence shield built there. The authorities wanted the municipality’s projects to be associated specifically with it and not be confused with the city of Slupsk.
Arkadiusz Słomczyński