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Administrative division

Opole Voivodeship is divided into 12 counties (powiat

Powiat

A powiat is the second-level unit of local government and administration in Poland, equivalent to a county, district or prefecture in other countries. The term powiat is most often translated into English as "county", although other terms are also sometimes used...

s): 1 city county and 11 land counties. These are further divided into 71 gmina

Gmina

The gmina is the principal unit of administrative division of Poland at its lowest uniform level. It is often translated as "commune" or "municipality." As of 2010 there were 2,479 gminas throughout the country...

s.

The counties are listed in the following table (ordering is by decreasing population).

English and Polish names	Area (km²)	Population (2006)	Seat	Other towns	Total gmina Gmina The gmina is the principal unit of administrative division of Poland at its lowest uniform level. It is often translated as "commune" or "municipality." As of 2010 there were 2,479 gminas throughout the country... s
City counties
Opole Opole Opole is a city in southern Poland on the Oder River . It has a population of 125,992 and is the capital of the Upper Silesia, Opole Voivodeship and, also the seat of Opole County...	96	128,034			1
Land counties
Nysa County Nysa County Nysa County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Opole Voivodeship, south-western Poland, on the Czech border. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is Nysa,... powiat nyski	1,224	145,640	Nysa Nysa, Poland Nysa is a town in southwestern Poland on the Nysa Kłodzka river with 47,545 inhabitants , situated in the Opole Voivodeship. It is the capital of Nysa County. It comprises the urban portion of the surrounding Gmina Nysa, a mixed urban-rural commune with a total population of 60,123 inhabitants...	Głuchołazy, Paczków Paczków Paczków is a town in Nysa County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, with 8,226 inhabitants . It is one of the few towns in Europe in which medieval fortifications have been almost completely preserved... , Otmuchów Otmuchów Otmuchów is a town in Nysa County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, with 5,317 inhabitants .... , Korfantów Korfantów Korfantów is a town in the Opole Voivodeship of Poland. It has a population of approximately 1,860 inhabitants. It is named after Wojciech Korfanty....	9
Opole County Opole County Opole County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Opole Voivodeship, south-western Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat is the city of Opole, although the city is not... powiat opolski	1,587	134,874	Opole Opole Opole is a city in southern Poland on the Oder River . It has a population of 125,992 and is the capital of the Upper Silesia, Opole Voivodeship and, also the seat of Opole County... *	Ozimek Ozimek Ozimek is a town in Opole County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, with 10,040 inhabitants .History of the town starts in 1753, when Malapanew steelworks was opened, the first one in Silesia. In mid-19th century, Ozimek was located on the major rail route Lubliniec - Opole and the town quickly... , Niemodlin Niemodlin Niemodlin is a town in Opole County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, with 6,911 inhabitants .It was first mentioned as Nemodlin in a 1224 deed and received town privileges in 1283. Originally a part of the Duchy of Opole, after the death of Duke Bolko I Niemodlin became the capital of a duchy in his... , Prószków Prószków Prószków / is a town in Opole County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, with 2,660 inhabitants .Prószków/Proskau has been bilingual in Polish and German since 2006.-Twin towns — Sister cities:Prószków is twinned with:* Pruszków, * Hünfeld,...	13
Kędzierzyn-Koźle County Kedzierzyn-Kozle County Kędzierzyn-Koźle County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Opole Voivodeship, south-western Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and only town is Kędzierzyn-Koźle,... powiat kędzierzyńsko-kozielski	625	102,118	Kędzierzyn-Koźle Kedzierzyn-Kozle Kędzierzyn-Koźle is the capital city of Kędzierzyn-Koźle County, Silesia, Poland. Kędzierzyn-Koźle is a place of a major river port, has rail connections with all major cities of Poland and serves western outskirts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union....		6
Brzeg County Brzeg County Brzeg County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Opole Voivodeship, south-western Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is Brzeg, which lies north-west... powiat brzeski	877	92,361	Brzeg Brzeg Brzeg is a town in southwestern Poland with 38,496 inhabitants , situated in Silesia in the Opole Voivodeship on the left bank of the Oder...	Grodków Grodków Grodków is a town in Opole Voivodeship in Poland. It has 8,709 inhabitants and lies 20 km south of Brzeg.Grodków was granted city rights in 1268 by Duke Henryk IV Probus. The medieval city plan was characterized by a rectangular marketplace and four streets leading to the towers of the city... , Lewin Brzeski Lewin Brzeski Lewin Brzeski is a town in Brzeg County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, with 5,843 inhabitants .-External links:*...	6
Strzelce County Strzelce County Strzelce County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Opole Voivodeship, south-western Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is Strzelce Opolskie, which... powiat strzelecki	744	80,828	Strzelce Opolskie Strzelce Opolskie Strzelce Opolskie is a town in south-western Poland with 19,628 inhabitants , situated in the Opole Voivodeship. It is the capital of Strzelce County. Strzelce Opolskie is one of the biggest centers of German minority in Poland....	Zawadzkie Zawadzkie Zawadzkie is a town in Strzelce County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, with 8,469 inhabitants . In this area are located two villages: Kielcza, Żędowice.-See also:... , Kolonowskie Kolonowskie Kolonowskie / , is a town in Strzelce County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, with 3,433 inhabitants .... , Leśnica Lesnica Lesnica may refer to the following places:Lesnica, Stará Ľubovňa, SlovakiaLešnica, SerbiaLeśnica, a town in Opole Voivodeship Leśnica, a district of Wrocław, Poland*Leśnica, Greater Poland Voivodeship... , Ujazd Ujazd Ujazd is a town in Strzelce County in Opole Voivodeship of Poland. Population 1,647.70% of the town infrastructure was destroyed in the Second World War....	7
Kluczbork County Kluczbork County Kluczbork County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Opole Voivodeship, south-western Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is Kluczbork, which lies ... powiat kluczborski	852	70,082	Kluczbork Kluczbork Kluczbork is a town in southwestern Poland with 26,670 inhabitants , situated in the Opole Voivodeship. It is the capital of Kluczbork County and an important railroad junction. In Kluczbork the major rail line from Katowice splits into two directions - westwards to Wroclaw and northwards to Poznań...	Wołczyn, Byczyna Byczyna Byczyna is a town in Kluczbork County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, with 3,708 inhabitants .The town of Byczyna was first mention in 1054 when it temporarily served as the capital of the Bishopric of Wrocław...	4
Olesno County Olesno County Olesno County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Opole Voivodeship, south-western Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is Olesno, which lies ... powiat oleski	974	68,269	Olesno Olesno Olesno is a town in Opole Voivodship, Poland about north-east of the city of Opole. It is the capital of Olesno County and seat of the Gmina Olesno.-History:The area near the ancient Amber Road had been settled since the Neolithic era...	Praszka Praszka Praszka is a town in Olesno County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, with 8,230 inhabitants .-References:... , Dobrodzień Dobrodzien Dobrodzień is a town in Olesno County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, with 4,168 inhabitants .Both names in Polish and German mean "Good day". The name Guttentag is an archaic variant of standard German Guten Tag... , Gorzów Śląski Gorzów Slaski Gorzów Śląski is a town in Olesno County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, with 2,606 inhabitants .- Famous people :* Nathanael Pringsheim , Jewish German botanist...	7
Krapkowice County Krapkowice County Krapkowice County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Opole Voivodeship, south-western Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is Krapkowice, which lies ... powiat krapkowicki	442	67,926	Krapkowice Krapkowice Krapkowice is a town in south-western Poland with 17,840 inhabitants , situated in the Opole Voivodeship, straddling both banks of the Oder River at the point where it joins with the Osobłoga. It is the regional capital of Krapkowice County....	Zdzieszowice Zdzieszowice Zdzieszowice is a town in Krapkowice County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, with 13,127 inhabitants . The synthetic oil plant at "Schaffgotsch Benzin GmbH in Deschowitz-Beuthen, Odertal " began production in 1939 and was a target of the Oil Campaign of World War II.... , Gogolin Gogolin Gogolin is a town in Poland, in Opole Voivodeship, in Krapkowice County. It has 6,116 inhabitants .-External links:*...	5
Prudnik County Prudnik County Prudnik County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Opole Voivodeship, south-western Poland, on the Czech border. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is... powiat prudnicki	571	59,931	Prudnik Prudnik Prudnik is a town in Poland, located in the southern part of Opole Voivodeship. Its population numbers 26,400 inhabitants . It is the capital of Prudnik County.- Education :* * * II Liceum Ogólnokształcące w Prudniku...	Głogówek, Biała Prudnicka	4
Głubczyce County powiat głubczycki	673	50,326	Głubczyce	Kietrz Kietrz Kietrz is a town in Głubczyce County, Opole Voivodeship, Poland, near the border with the Czech Republic. As of 2007, it has a population of 6,366.-Notable residents:*Alfons Luczny , Luftwaffe general... , Baborów Baborów Baborów is a small town in Poland near Głubczyce, Opole Voivodeship.The first mention of the town comes from 1296 in which a wójt Jarosław is mentioned. The town was most likely founded by a Bohemian magnate, Bavor . Later it was part of an independent principality, the Austro Hungarian Empire,...	4
Namysłów County powiat namysłowski	748	43,957	Namysłów		5
* seat not part of the county

Economy

The Opole voivodeship is an industrial as well as an agricultural region. With respect to mineral

Mineral

A mineral is a naturally occurring solid chemical substance formed through biogeochemical processes, having characteristic chemical composition, highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties. By comparison, a rock is an aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids and does not...

resources, of major importance are deposits of raw materials for building: limestone

Limestone

Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....

(Strzelce Opolskie

Strzelce Opolskie

Strzelce Opolskie is a town in south-western Poland with 19,628 inhabitants , situated in the Opole Voivodeship. It is the capital of Strzelce County. Strzelce Opolskie is one of the biggest centers of German minority in Poland....

), marl

Marl

Marl or marlstone is a calcium carbonate or lime-rich mud or mudstone which contains variable amounts of clays and aragonite. Marl was originally an old term loosely applied to a variety of materials, most of which occur as loose, earthy deposits consisting chiefly of an intimate mixture of clay...

(near Opole

Opole

Opole is a city in southern Poland on the Oder River . It has a population of 125,992 and is the capital of the Upper Silesia, Opole Voivodeship and, also the seat of Opole County...

), marble

Marble

Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...

, and basalt

Basalt

Basalt is a common extrusive volcanic rock. It is usually grey to black and fine-grained due to rapid cooling of lava at the surface of a planet. It may be porphyritic containing larger crystals in a fine matrix, or vesicular, or frothy scoria. Unweathered basalt is black or grey...

. The favourable climate

Climate

Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...

, fertile soils, and high farming culture contribute to the development of agriculture

Agriculture

Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...

, which is among the most productive in the country.

A total of nineteen industries are represented in the voivodeship. The most important are cement and lime, furniture, food, car manufacturing, and chemical industries. In 1997, the biggest production growth in the area was in companies producing wood and wood products, electrical equipment, machinery and appliances, as well as cellulose and paper products. In 1997, the top company in the region was Zakłady Azotowe S.A.

Zakłady Azotowe Kędzierzyn

ZAK Spółka Akcyjna is a chemical company in Poland. ZAK produces nitrogen fertilizers , OXO alcohols , and phthalate plasticizers .In 2007, ZAK's consolidated sales revenue amounted to PLN...

in Kędzierzyn-Koźle

Kedzierzyn-Kozle

Kędzierzyn-Koźle is the capital city of Kędzierzyn-Koźle County, Silesia, Poland. Kędzierzyn-Koźle is a place of a major river port, has rail connections with all major cities of Poland and serves western outskirts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union....

, whose income was over PLN 860 million. The voivodship's economy consists of more than 53,000 businesses, mostly small and medium-sized, employing over 332,000 people. Manufacturing companies employ over 89,000 people; 95.7% of all the region's business operate in the private sector.

Universities

There are three state-run universities in the region: the Opole University, the Opole University of Technology

Opole University of Technology

Opole University of Technology is a university located in Opole, Poland....

, and the State Medical College. All of them are based in the voivodeship's capital. Among the region's private schools, the Opole School of Management and Administration has been certified as a degree-granting institution by the Ministry of National Education.

Previous Opole voivodeships

Opole Voivodeship was also a unit of administrative division and local government in Poland between 1975 and 1998.

Major cities and towns (population in 1995):

Opole
Opole
Opole is a city in southern Poland on the Oder River . It has a population of 125,992 and is the capital of the Upper Silesia, Opole Voivodeship and, also the seat of Opole County...

, capital city (130,600)
Kędzierzyn-Koźle
Kedzierzyn-Kozle
Kędzierzyn-Koźle is the capital city of Kędzierzyn-Koźle County, Silesia, Poland. Kędzierzyn-Koźle is a place of a major river port, has rail connections with all major cities of Poland and serves western outskirts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union....

(70,700)
Nysa
Nysa, Poland
Nysa is a town in southwestern Poland on the Nysa Kłodzka river with 47,545 inhabitants , situated in the Opole Voivodeship. It is the capital of Nysa County. It comprises the urban portion of the surrounding Gmina Nysa, a mixed urban-rural commune with a total population of 60,123 inhabitants...

(49,000)
Brzeg
Brzeg
Brzeg is a town in southwestern Poland with 38,496 inhabitants , situated in Silesia in the Opole Voivodeship on the left bank of the Oder...

(39,900)
Kluczbork
Kluczbork
Kluczbork is a town in southwestern Poland with 26,670 inhabitants , situated in the Opole Voivodeship. It is the capital of Kluczbork County and an important railroad junction. In Kluczbork the major rail line from Katowice splits into two directions - westwards to Wroclaw and northwards to Poznań...

(26,900)
Prudnik
Prudnik
Prudnik is a town in Poland, located in the southern part of Opole Voivodeship. Its population numbers 26,400 inhabitants . It is the capital of Prudnik County.- Education :* * * II Liceum Ogólnokształcące w Prudniku...

(24,300)
Strzelce Opolskie
Strzelce Opolskie
Strzelce Opolskie is a town in south-western Poland with 19,628 inhabitants , situated in the Opole Voivodeship. It is the capital of Strzelce County. Strzelce Opolskie is one of the biggest centers of German minority in Poland....

(21,900)
Krapkowice
Krapkowice
Krapkowice is a town in south-western Poland with 17,840 inhabitants , situated in the Opole Voivodeship, straddling both banks of the Oder River at the point where it joins with the Osobłoga. It is the regional capital of Krapkowice County....

(20,100)