In the 14th century, Racibórz was one of the most populous cities in Upper Silesia. However, over time, its population remained relatively stable, and the city began to lose its significance. Only in the past two centuries has Racibórz seen significant population growth, but it has not regained its former prominence due to the parallel growth of other cities.
History The first mention of Racibórz dates back to 1108, but the population of the city during that period is difficult to determine. By the mid-14th century, Racibórz had around 3,100 inhabitants, making it one of the most populous cities in Upper Silesia. It had a similar population at the end of the 18th century. Since the 19th century, the population gradually increased, and by the end of the century, over 21,000 people lived in the city. In the 20th century, population growth was further amplified by the incorporation of neighboring towns into the city's borders. By the early 20th century, the population surpassed 30,000, and Racibórz became an urban county. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, the population reached 50,000. However, in the 1930s, there was no further population growth, and the number even began to decrease. Despite this, Racibórz remained one of the important urban centers in Upper Silesia. From 1924 to 1938, although Opole was the capital of the Province of Upper Silesia, Racibórz hosted the regional parliament (Landtag). At the end of World War II, Racibórz had only around 3,000 inhabitants, but by a year and a half later, the population had grown to almost 20,000, and by the late 1950s, it surpassed 30,000. Over the following years, Racibórz continued to increase in population, peaking in 1991 at 65,300 residents. Despite this growth, the city gradually lost importance in the region, partly due to the rapid expansion of cities in the Upper Silesian Industrial Region and the formation of the Rybnik Coal Area in the 1960s. Between 1950 and 1975, when Racibórz was still part of Opole Voivodeship, it was the second-largest city in the province, after Opole. Since 1991, the population has declined. According to data from 31 December 2009, the population stood at 56,484, ranking 81st in Poland by population size. According to demographic projections by Statistics Poland, the population will continue to decrease, falling below 50,000 after 2015, and reaching 41,115 by 2030.
Population The earliest traces of human settlements in the area of present-day Racibórz date back to the period before the penultimate Riss glaciation. These traces come from Studzienna and are dated to between 240,000 and 180,000 BC. Additionally, findings from later prehistoric periods have been discovered, including traces of settlements. Further evidence comes from the Early Middle Ages, when a defensive settlement of the Golensizi tribe existed on the Ostróg hill.
Population of Racibórz from the city's origins to the 19th century The first mention of Racibórz dates back to 1108. The population during the city's early years is difficult to determine. The growth of the population was influenced by both natural increase and the influx of people. However, wars, diseases, fires, and other natural disasters caused fluctuations in the population. According to estimates based on Peter's Pence, in 1329 Racibórz had 2,348 inhabitants, and by 1337, this number had risen to 2,882, making it one of the most populous cities in Upper Silesia at the time. In the mid-14th century, it is estimated that Racibórz, including its suburbs, had about 3,100 residents. At that time, it was confined to the city walls, although from 1307 it included a small settlement, New Town (Rybaki), which grew near the Oder Gate. Information from the 16th century indicates an economic decline, leading to a reduction in population. In 1532, Racibórz had 288 houses, 229 of which belonged to citizens, 12 to the nobility, 10 to the clergy, and 37 were vacant. The city's growth was also hindered by fires that plagued Racibórz between 1546 and 1574. At the beginning of the 17th century, the population numbered around 3,300, but by the end of the first half of the 18th century, it had fallen to around 2,700. By the end of the 18th century, Racibórz had 259 bourgeois houses.
In 1749, the city had a population of 1,577 inhabitants. By 1772, the population grew to 2,530 people. The earliest official data from 1787 reports 3,272 residents, including 3,255 Christians and 17 Jews. Among the Christians, there were 30 members of the nobility, 12 of whom were men. Of the Christian population, 7 were exempt from military service due to their short stature (below 5 feet, or approximately 157 cm), 107 were foreigners, 43 were unfit for service, 65 were exempted by privilege, and 1,824 were women. By 1790, the population reached 3,596. Other data from the late 18th century indicates that in 1791, the city had 3,511 residents, and by 1793, the population grew to 3,629. In 1795, the population decreased to 3,081.
… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.
