Biłgoraj County

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Wikipedia

Biłgoraj County
Powiat biłgorajski
County
Flag of Biłgoraj County
Flag
Coat of arms of Biłgoraj County
Coat of arms
Location within the voivodeship
Location within the voivodeship
Coordinates (Biłgoraj): 50°33′N 22°44′E / 50.550°N 22.733°E / 50.550; 22.733
Country Poland
Voivodeship Lublin
Establishment as part of Tarnogród County1810
Establishment of Biłgoraj County1866
Most Recent Reestablishment of Biłgoraj CountyJanuary 1, 1999
SeatBiłgoraj
Gminas
Total 14 (incl. 1 urban)
Government
[1]
 • Bodyexecutive board
 • StarostaAndrzej Szarlip (PiS)
Area
 • Total
1,677.79 km2 (647.80 sq mi)
 • Rank5th
Population
 (2024)[2]
 • Total
95,219
 • Rank6th
 • Density56.753/km2 (146.99/sq mi)
 • Urban
32,910
 • Rural
62,309
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
23-400 to 23-465
Car platesLBL
Websitehttp://www.bilgorajski.pl/

Biłgoraj County (Polish: powiat biłgorajski) is a unit of territorial administration and local government (powiat) in Lublin Voivodeship, eastern Poland. It was established on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is Biłgoraj, which lies 79 kilometres (49 mi) south of the regional capital Lublin.

History

Contemporary Biłgoraj County's territories before the Partitions of Poland were located at the border of two Voivodeships. Most of the county was part of the Ruthenian Voivodeship (historical region of Red Ruthenia), within the lands of Chełm and Przemyśl. A smaller portion of the county, including the areas of today's towns: Biłgoraj, Goraj, and Frampol, was part of the Lublin Voivodeship.[3][4]

In 1807, the Duchy of Warsaw was established. The new administrative division was based on departments, subdivided into counties. The territory of today's Biłgoraj County became part of Tarnogród County in 1810, which was incorporated within the Lublin Department.[5]

Congress Poland

In 1866, following the failure of the January Uprising, the administrative division of Congress Poland was reformed. Tarnogród County was abolished, and in its place, Biłgoraj County was established.

Second Polish Republic

Biłgoraj County map, 1933–1954

When Poland regained independence in 1918, Biłgoraj County became one of the 19 counties of the Lublin Voivodeship, which was established on August 14, 1919.

General Governorate for the Occupied Polish Region

According to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, the Biłgoraj region, along with the rest of the Polish territories east of the Vistula and San rivers, was to be ceded to the Soviet Union. However, changes were made to the occupiers' arrangements. On October 26, 1939, Biłgoraj County was placed under German civilian administration as Landkreis Biłgoraj.

Polish People's Republic

In 1944, the administrative division of Poland was restored to its pre-war shape.

According to the 1952 administrative division, Biłgoraj County was part of the Lublin Voivodeship.

As a result of the administrative reform of 1975, on June 1 of that year, Biłgoraj County was abolished. Its gminas were incorporated into the newly established Zamość Voivodeship.

Third Polish Republic

The administrative reform of 1999 restored Biłgoraj County within the borders of the new Lublin Voivodeship.

Geography

Biłgoraj County alongside Tomaszów County is the southernmost county in the Lublin Voivodeship. It borders Lublin County and Krasnystaw County to the north, Zamość County and Tomaszów Lubelski County to the east, Lubaczów County and Przeworsk County to the south, Leżajsk County to the south-west, Nisko County to the west, and Janów Lubelski County to the north-west.

Protected areas

Protected areas of the county include the following categories:[6][7]

Special Protection Area: Solska Forest (Puszcza Solska).

Landscape parks: Krasnobród Landscape Park, Solska Forest Landscape Park (Park Krajobrazowy Puszczy Solskiej), Szczebrzeszyn Landscape Park.

National Parks: Roztocze National Park.

Nature reserve: Czartowe Pole Nature Reserve, Obary Nature Reserve, Szum Nature Reserve.

Special Area of Conservation: Dolina Dolnej Tanwi (Valley of the Lower Tanew), Uroczyska Puszczy Solskiej.

Rivers

Following is a list of rivers, which are at least partially, if not predominantly located within county.[8]

Rank Name Total length (km) Outflow
1 Tanew 114.3 San
2 Łada (Biała Łada) 62.8 Tanew
3 Bukowa 54.5 San
4 Pór 46.7 Wieprz
5 Wirowa 36.0 Tanew
6 Złota 33.1 San
7 Czarna Łada 26.3 Łada (Biała Łada)
8 Sopot 24.3 Tanew
9 Gorajka 23.0 Pór
10 Szum 22.3 Tanew
11 Kurzynka 20.2 Tanew
12 Złota Nitka 19.2 Tanew
13 Lubienia 19.2 Tanew
14 Borowina 18.9 Tanew
15 Rakowa 18.5 Bukowa
16 Nitka 16.4 Wirowa
17 Luchówka 15.2 Złota
18 Studzienica 14.9 Tanew
19 Niepryszka 11.5 Szum
20 Łazowna 11.3 Tanew
21 Gruszec 10.4 Bukowa
22 Szpisznica 10.2 Tanew
23 Ratwica 10.0 Czarna Łada
24 Osa 9.4 Łada (Biała Łada)
25 Mucha 8.7 Tanew
26 Bicz 7.7 Kurzynka
27 Smolnik 7.4 Czarna Łada
28 Stok 7.3 Braszczka
29 Braszczka 6.8 Czarna Łada
30 Pasternik 6.4 Lubienia
31 Studczek 6.2 Czarna Łada
32 Kiełbasówka 5.6 Ratwica
33 Czarna 5.6 Sopot
34 Nitka 5.4 Złota Nitka
35 Potok 4.7 Luchówka
36 Szarka 3.2 Czarna Łada
37 Świrek 2.8 Szum

Highest points

Wielka Jeżówka – 337,5 meters above sea level, Tłomska Góra – 325 meters above sea level, Sawina – 325 meters above sea level, Łysiec – 325 meters above sea level, Góra Kopczyna – 311,5 meters above sea level.[9]

Towns and villages

Largest towns in Biłgoraj County as of 2024[10][11]
Rank Name Population
1 Biłgoraj 24,543
2 Tarnogród 3,080
3 Józefów 2,286
4 Frampol 1,320
5 Goraj 884
6 Turobin 797

Administrative division

The county is subdivided into 14 gminas (1 urban, 5 urban-rural and 8 rural). These are listed in the following table, in alphabetical order.

Map of the county subdivided into gminas
The division of a county into gminas
Gmina Type Area (km2)[12] Population (2024)[10] Seat
Aleksandrów rural 54.26 3,140 Aleksandrów
Biłgoraj urban 21.10 24,543 Biłgoraj
Biłgoraj rural 262.64 13,465 Biłgoraj[Note 1]
Biszcza rural 106.31 3,679 Biszcza
Frampol urban-rural 107.61 5,587 Frampol
Goraj urban-rural 67.87 3,820 Goraj
Józefów urban-rural 126.46 6,277 Józefów
Księżpol rural 141.28 6,651 Księżpol
Łukowa rural 148.72 3,862 Łukowa
Obsza rural 113.23 3,986 Obsza
Potok Górny rural 111.16 4,910 Potok Górny
Tarnogród urban-rural 114.25 6,121 Tarnogród
Tereszpol rural 144.01 3,771 Tereszpol
Turobin urban-rural 162.19 5,407 Turobin

Demographics

As of 2024, the county had a total population of 95,219 residents, accounting for almost 5% of the Lublin Voivodeship's total population, making it the 6th most populous county in the voivodeship (excluding city counties). Around 65% of the county's population lives in rural areas, while 35% resides in urban zones.

The total fertility rate in 2024 was estimated at 0,985 children per woman.[13] Biłgoraj County's population reached its peak in 1998. The total population is expected to decline by 30% by 2060.[14]

In 2024, about 46,840 of the county's residents were men, and 48,379 were women. Approximately 17.1% (16,335) of the population was under the age of 17; 58.2% (55,426) were between the ages of 18 and 64 for men, and 18 and 59 for women; and 24.7% (23,458) were above the age of 64 for men and 60 for women.[15] In the same year, the county had a population density of 56.753 people per square kilometer.

Vital statistics[16]
Year Population Men Women Urban Rural Live births Deaths total Natural change Total fertility rate
2024 95,219 46,840 48,379 32,910 62,309 544 1074 -530 0,985[13]
2023 96,158 47,323 48,835 32,423 63,735 563 1062 -499 0,988[17]
2022 97,055 47,733 49,322 32,764 64,291 691 1106 -415 1,185[18]
2021 97,771 48,096 49,675 33,063 64,708 710 1432 -722 1,170[19]
2020 100,333 49,454 50,879 33,323 67,010 826 1261 -435 1,204[20]
2019 100,919 49,765 51,154 33,551 67,368 865 1030 -165 1,240[21]
2018 101,435 50,005 51,430 33,671 67,764 884 1094 -210 1,234[22]
2017 101,949 50,254 51,695 33,876 68,073 955 1063 -108 1,316[23]
2016 102,272 50,391 51,881 33,874 68,398 951 1067 -116 1,294[24]
2015 102,647 50,576 52,071 34,232 68,415 954 1050 -96 1,284[25]
2014 102,941 50,685 52,256 34,355 68,586 906 1008 -102 1,202[26]
2013 103,366 50,922 52,444 34,635 68,731 885 1032 -147 1,164[27]
2012 103,569 51,044 52,525 34,732 68,837 1040 1037 3 1,354[28]
2011 103,727 51,117 52,610 34,766 68,961 974 1101 -127 1,249[29]
2010 103,005 50,785 52,220 34,386 68,619 1050 1016 34 1,316[30]
2009 103,226 50,865 52,361 34,363 68,863 1102 1164 -62 1,399[31]
2008 103,623 50,989 52,634 34,571 69,052 1104 1057 47 1,415[32]
2007 103,759 51,125 52,634 34,477 69,282 1043 1062 -19 1,334[33]
2006 104,001 51,309 52,692 34,500 69,501 1039 1069 -30 1,343[34]
2005 104,423 51,552 52,871 34,460 69,963 N/A N/A N/A N/A
2004 104,648 51,717 52,931 34,312 70,336 N/A N/A N/A N/A
2003 104,877 51,795 53,082 34,242 70,635 N/A N/A N/A N/A
2002 104,874 51,812 53,062 33,957 70,917 N/A N/A N/A N/A
2001 105,031 51,901 53,130 33,820 71,211 N/A N/A N/A N/A
2000 105,448 52,139 53,309 33,950 71,498 N/A N/A N/A N/A
1999 105,375 52,064 53,311 33,865 71,510 N/A N/A N/A N/A
1998 106,301 52,718 53,583 34,697 71,604 N/A N/A N/A N/A
1997 106,223 52,668 53,555 34,421 71,802 N/A N/A N/A N/A
1996 106,127 52,610 53,517 34,229 71,898 N/A N/A N/A N/A
1995 105,960 52,504 53,456 34,045 71,915 N/A N/A N/A N/A
Population projections[14]
Year Population Men Women
2025 94,674 46,556 48,118
2030 91,253 44,786 46,467
2035 87,220 42,750 44,470
2040 82,980 40,629 42,351
2045 78,684 38,492 40,192
2050 74,392 36,368 38,024
2055 70,124 34,258 35,866
2060 65,860 32,117 33,743

Politics

The executive board

The executive body of Biłgoraj County is the executive board. It consists of the starosta (head of the board), the deputy starosta, and other members. The board is elected by the district council. The current board was elected on May 6, 2024.[35][36]

  • Andrzej Szarlip — Starosta of Biłgoraj County,
  • Beata Strzałka — Deputy Starosta of Biłgoraj County,
  • Tomasz Rogala — Full-time Member of the County Board,
  • Bartłomiej Świtała — Full-time Member of the County Board,
  • Jan Małysza — Member of the Board,
  • Małgorzata Liwosz-Rudy — Secretary of Biłgoraj County.

The district council

The Biłgoraj District Council is a subregional-level elected legislature. The current council was elected on April 7, 2024.[37]

Composition
Political party Members Affiliation
▌Law and Justice (PiS) 12 Government
▌Third Way (PSL-PL2050) 3 Opposition
▌KWW — Biłgorajszczyzna 3
▌KWW — Prawicowa Polska Marcina Romanowskiego 3
Total 21 —

National elections

Biłgoraj County is part of Sejm constituency no. 7 (Chełm) for the lower house of the Polish Parliament.

For the upper house of the Parliament of Poland, Biłgoraj County is part of the Senate constituency of Zamość.

For elections to the European Parliament, Biłgoraj County is part of the Lublin constituency.

Symbols

Since June 27, 2000, the county symbol is three silver bars, above which is a half-bear, half-eagle with a golden crown around its neck. This is a combination of the Korczak (three silver bars) coat of arms, used by the founder of Biłgoraj, Adam Gorajski, and the symbolism of the Przemyśl Land (eagle) and the Chełm Land (bear).[38]

Notes

  1. ↑ Seat is not part of the gmina.

References

  1. ↑ "Kontakt". bilgorajski.pl (in Polish). Biłgoraj County. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
  2. ↑ "Statistics Poland". demografia.stat.gov.pl. Statistics Poland. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  3. ↑ "Ziemia chełmska (XVI-XVIII w.) [MAPY]". Regiony historyczne (in Polish). Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  4. ↑ "Województwo ruskie (XVI-XVIII w.) [MAPY]". Regiony historyczne (in Polish). Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  5. ↑ "Historia powiatu". Powiat Biłgorajski (in Polish). Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  6. ↑ "Ochrona środowiska (GDOŚ)". polska.geoportal2.pl. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
  7. ↑ "Parki i rezerwaty". Powiat Biłgorajski (in Polish). Retrieved 2025-10-24.
  8. ↑ "Rzeki w Polsce - mapa interaktywna wszystkich rzek". mapa.wirtualneszlaki.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2025-10-24.
  9. ↑ "Szlaki wykaz". Powiat Biłgorajski (in Polish). Retrieved 2025-10-24.
  10. 1 2 "GUS - Bank Danych Lokalnych". bdl.stat.gov.pl. Category K3, group G7, subgroup P1336. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
  11. ↑ "Powiat". Powiat Biłgorajski (in Polish). Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  12. ↑ "GUS - Bank Danych Lokalnych". bdl.stat.gov.pl. Category K3, group G441, subgroup P1410. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
  13. 1 2 Statistical Office in Lublin (July 2025). "Demographic situation of Lubelskie Voivodship in 2024". lublin.stat.gov.pl. Table 12., p. 97. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
  14. 1 2 "Prognoza ludności wg płci i 5-letnich grup wieku na lata 2023-2060 (opracowana na bazie NSP 2021)". bdl.stat.gov.pl. Retrieved 2025-09-29.
  15. ↑ "GUS - Bank Danych Lokalnych". bdl.stat.gov.pl. Category K3, group G7, subgroup P1342, Data for territorial unit 0602000. Retrieved 2025-10-19.
  16. ↑ "Wyniki badań bieżących - Baza Demografia - Główny Urząd Statystyczny". demografia.stat.gov.pl. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  17. ↑ Statistical Office in Lublin (July 2024). "Demographic situation of Lubelskie Voivodship in 2023". lublin.stat.gov.pl. Table 12., p. 97. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
  18. ↑ Statistical Office in Lublin (July 2023). "Demographic situation of Lubelskie Voivodship in 2022". lublin.stat.gov.pl. Table 12., p. 97. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
  19. ↑ Statistical Office in Lublin (April 2023). "Demographic situation of Lubelskie Voivodship in 2021". lublin.stat.gov.pl. Table 12., p. 97. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
  20. ↑ Statistical Office in Lublin (October 2021). "Demographic situation of Lubelskie Voivodship in 2020". lublin.stat.gov.pl. Table 12., p. 94. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
  21. ↑ Statistical Office in Lublin (July 2020). "Demographic situation of Lubelskie Voivodship in 2019". lublin.stat.gov.pl. Table 12., p. 94. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
  22. ↑ Statistical Office in Lublin (July 2019). "Demographic situation of Lubelskie Voivodship in 2018". lublin.stat.gov.pl. Table XII., p. 123. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
  23. ↑ Statistical Office in Lublin (July 2018). "Demographic situation of lubelskie voivodship in 2017". lublin.stat.gov.pl. Table XII., p. 117. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
  24. ↑ Statistical Office in Lublin (July 2017). "Population, vital statistics and migration in lubelskie voivodship in 2016". lublin.stat.gov.pl. Table – IV. D., p. 73. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
  25. ↑ Statistical Office in Lublin (July 2016). "Population, vital statistics and migration in lubelskie voivodship in 2015". lublin.stat.gov.pl. Table 38, p. 108. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
  26. ↑ Statistical Office in Lublin (July 2015). "Population, vital statistics and migration in lubelskie voivodship in 2014". lublin.stat.gov.pl. Table 38, p. 107. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
  27. ↑ Statistical Office in Lublin (July 2014). "Population, vital statistics and migration in lubelskie voivodship in 2013". lublin.stat.gov.pl. Table 38, p. 101. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
  28. ↑ Statistical Office in Lublin (July 2013). "Population, vital statistics and migration in lubelskie voivodship in 2012". lublin.stat.gov.pl. Table 36, p. 97. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
  29. ↑ Statistical Office in Lublin (December 2012). "Population, vital statistics and migration in lubelskie voivodship in 2011". lublin.stat.gov.pl. Table 36, p. 95. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
  30. ↑ Statistical Office in Lublin (July 2011). "Population, vital statistics and migration in lubelskie voivodship in 2010". lublin.stat.gov.pl. Table 35, p. 93. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
  31. ↑ Statistical Office in Lublin (July 2010). "Population, vital statistics and migration in lubelskie voivodship in 2009". lublin.stat.gov.pl. Table 35, p. 91. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
  32. ↑ Statistical Office in Lublin (July 2009). "Population, vital statistics and migration in lubelskie voivodship in 2008". lublin.stat.gov.pl. Table 34, p. 67. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
  33. ↑ Statistical Office in Lublin (July 2007). "Population, vital statistics and migration in lubelskie voivodship in 2007". lublin.stat.gov.pl. Table 32, p. 64. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
  34. ↑ Urząd Statystyczny w Lublinie. "Ludność, ruch naturalny i migracje w województwie lubelskim w 2006 r." lublin.stat.gov.pl (in Polish). Table 30, p. 56. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
  35. ↑ Wschodni, Dziennik. "Starosta pozostanie starostą, a wicestarostą b. posłanka". Dziennik Wschodni (in Polish). Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  36. ↑ "Biuletyn Informacji Publicznej - Starostwo Powiatowe w Biłgoraju". spbilgoraj.bip.lubelskie.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2022-09-30. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  37. ↑ "Wybory Samorządowe 2024". wybory.gov.pl. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  38. ↑ "Herb powiatu". Powiat Biłgorajski (in Polish). Retrieved 2025-10-07.