Żabno facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Żabno
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Town Hall in Żabno
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 Żabno
Location in Poland
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| Country |  Poland |
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| Voivodeship | Lesser Poland | ||
| County | Tarnów | ||
| Gmina | Żabno | ||
| Established | 12th century | ||
| Town rights | 1385-1905, 1934 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 11.12 km2 (4.29 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 183 m (600 ft) | ||
| Population
(2006)
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| • Total | 4,271 | ||
| • Density | 384.08/km2 (994.8/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||
| Postal code |
33-240
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| Area code(s) | +48 14 | ||
| Car plates | KTA | ||
| Website | http://www.zabno.pl | ||
Żabno (pronounced like zhahb-noh) is a small town in southern Poland. It sits right by the Dunajec River, about 15 kilometers (9 miles) north of Tarnów. Since 1999, Żabno has been part of the Tarnów County, which is in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship. Before that, it was part of the Tarnów Voivodeship.
Contents
Żabno's Early History
The first time Żabno was mentioned in history books was in the 12th century. Back then, a prince named Bolesław V the Chaste gave this area to a knight called Świętosław. Żabno became an important place for travel and trade. This was because it was located on a busy merchant route. This route connected towns like Wojnicz and Pilzno with Opatowiec and Nowy Korczyn.
We don't know exactly when Żabno officially became a town. But we do know it was before 1385. On January 26, 1385, Queen Jadwiga of Poland confirmed Żabno's Magdeburg rights. These rights were special rules that gave towns more freedom to govern themselves. Not many old documents about Żabno have survived. But we do know that in 1394, King Władysław Jagiełło visited the town with his royal court. He was on his way to Nowy Korczyn.
In the old days, during the Kingdom of Poland and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Żabno was part of the Sandomierz Voivodeship. It was also part of the Wiślica County.
Life in the 15th Century
By the 15th century, Żabno had two churches: the 'Church of the Holy Spirit' and the 'Church of the Holy Cross'. At this time, the first craftspeople started their workshops in the town. Markets were held every week in Żabno. The first market was organized in 1487, after the town received a special permission from the king. These markets are still a tradition in Żabno today!
Żabno faced many challenges and was destroyed several times. In 1501, the town was burned by the Tatars. Later, in 1656, it was completely destroyed during the Swedish invasion of Poland. An army from Transylvania and Cossacks, who were helping the Swedish Empire, burned Żabno to the ground.
Austrian Rule and a Big Fire
In 1772, after the first partition of Poland, Żabno became part of the Austrian Empire. It was part of a region called Galicia and Lodomeria. Żabno remained under Austrian rule until late 1918. In 1799, a huge fire swept through the town, burning almost everything.
Żabno in the 19th and 20th Centuries
During the 19th century, Żabno stayed a small town. In 1906, it finally got a train connection to Tarnów. This was thanks to a smaller railway line that ran from Tarnów to Szczucin. The first local factory, a brick-making factory, opened in 1905. In the early 20th century, the town slowly started to grow.
However, this growth was stopped by World War I. The battle lines stayed along the Dunajec river for several months, causing a lot of damage to Żabno. In the Second Polish Republic, Żabno was part of the Kraków Voivodeship.
The town suffered greatly during the 1934 flood in Poland. During World War II, about 2,000 people from Żabno were sent to work in labor camps in Germany. Sadly, only 4 out of 30 people sent to concentration camps during the war returned. Żabno's Jewish community, who had lived there for a long time, was tragically lost during the Holocaust.
Żabno Today
According to the Census from December 31, 2006, Żabno had 4,262 people living there. Today, Żabno is a town with some small factories. The main industries are metalworks and making windows. The train line from Tarnów to Szczucin still runs through the town. There is also a main road, Provincial Road 973, that connects Żabno to Tarnów. Żabno is also home to a sports club called Polan.
International Connections
Żabno has a special connection with another town in Germany. These connections are called twin towns or sister cities. They help towns from different countries become friends and learn from each other.
Twin Towns
Żabno is twinned with:
