Freistadt District (Austrian Silesia)


Freistadt District was a political district in Austrian Silesia, Austria-Hungary existing between 1868 and 1920. Its administrative center was the town of Freistadt.

History

led to various social, legal and also administrative reforms. In the late December 1849 Austrian Silesia was re-established and was initially subdivided into seven political districts, additionally divided into legal districts. Freistadt became a seat of legal district in Teschen political district. In the era of Bach's neo-absolutism political districts were abolished and replaced by district offices encompassing territories of the abolished legal districts. Political districts were re-established in 1868. Freistadt became then the seat of the newly established Freistadt political district. It consisted of two legal districts: Freistadt and Oderberg.
In 1880 Freistadt political district was administratively divided into 40 municipalities. Before 1890 Muglinau was separated from Herzmanitz and Dittmannsdorf was moved from Oderberg legal district to Freistadt legal district. On 1 January 1904 7 municipalities were excluded from Oderberg legal district to form a new Polnish Ostrau legal district in Friedek political district. Before 1910 also Wirbitz was separated from Pudlau, which was then merged with Oderberg. After this changes Freistadt political district consisted of 34 municipalities.
According to the censuses conducted in 1880, 1890, 1900 and 1910 this 34 municipalities had a combined population of:
1880189019001910
Freistadt legal district
24 municipalities, as of 1910)		35,78243,31362,41280,498
Polish-speaking24,885 33,221 52,545 57,344
Czech-speaking8,650 7,747 6,372 17,748
German-speaking2,219 2,313 3,336 5.351
Oderberg legal district
13,46916,47427,55838,300
Polish-speaking10,487 13,457 19,182 18,118
Czech-speaking1,516 1,382 3,342 10,355
German-speaking1,463 1,635 4,943 9,808

Such a large growth in population was owing to an industrial development within the district luring a large influx of migrant workers, mostly from western Galicia. Traditionally the area in most parts was inhabited by Silesian Lachs speaking Cieszyn Silesian dialect. After World War I and fall of Austria-Hungary the region of Cieszyn Silesia including the territory of Freistadt political district became disputed land between Czechoslovakia and Poland. This led to Polish–Czechoslovak War and the division of the region and district on 28 July 1920, by a decision of the Spa Conference. Majority of the municipalities became a part of Czechoslovakia and only the easternmost municipalities became a part of Poland, and were then transferred to Cieszyn County.

Municipal division

As of 1910:
;Freistadt legal district
  1. Albersdorf
  2. Altstadt
  3. Darkau
  4. Dittmannsdorf
  5. Dombrau
  6. Freistadt
  7. Karwin
  8. Katschitz
  9. Gross Kuntschitz
  10. Klein Kuntschitz
  11. Lazy
  12. Lonkau
  13. Marklowitz
  14. Orlau
  15. Petrowitz
  16. Piersna
  17. Poremba
  18. Roj
  19. Seibersdorf
  20. Steinau
  21. Mittel Suchau
  22. Nieder Suchau
  23. Ober Suchau
  24. Zawada
;Oderberg legal district
  1. Deutschleuten
  2. Oderberg
  3. Peterswald
  4. Polnischleuten
  5. Reichwaldau
  6. Schönichel
  7. Skrzeczon
  8. Wilmersdorf
  9. Wirbitz
  10. Zablacz