City-Forming Processes and Transformations

The Katowice conurbation is one of the most interesting settlement systems on the map of Poland. It is distinguished by its close proximity to as many as 54 municipalities (including 17 cities and towns), an area of 3,329 km2 (1285 square miles), and a number of approx. 2 million people (data from 2019). Its origins date back to the 19th century, and its rapid development took place after World War II. Although individual towns and cities developed independently, they were linked by the same city-forming factor – hard coal mining and, in part, also other branches of traditional industry. This, in turn, has had significant consequences for the economic, economic, political, social, and spatial dimension of the conurbation.