# Chrzanów

> city of Poland

**Wikidata**: [Q93323](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q93323)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrzanów)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/chrzanow

## Summary
Chrzanów is a historic city in southern Poland, first mentioned in 1393, that serves as the administrative capital of both Chrzanów County and the surrounding Gmina Chrzanów. With a 2021 census population of 35,091, it functions as a regional hub for governance and community services in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship.

## Key Facts
- **Official Name:** Chrzanów
- **Country:** Poland
- **Continent:** Europe
- **Type:** City (instance of: city)
- **Area:** 38 square kilometres
- **Coordinates:** 50.1333° N, 19.4000° E
- **Elevation:** 280 metres above sea level
- **Inception:** First mentioned in 1393
- **Administrative Role:** Capital of Chrzanów County and Gmina Chrzanów
- **Population (2021 Census):** 35,091 total (16,669 male, 18,422 female)
- **Population (2019 Estimate):** 36,575
- **Population (2010):** 38,989
- **Postal Codes:** 32-500 to 32-503
- **Local Dialing Code:** 32
- **Vehicle Registration Plate Code:** KCH
- **Time Zone:** Central European Time (UTC+01:00) standard, Central European Summer Time (UTC+02:00) daylight saving
- **Native Name Pronunciation:** Audio file available for "Chrzanów" (Pl-Chrzanów.ogg)
- **Wikipedia Exists In:** 64 languages, including Polish (pl), English (en), German (de), and Ukrainian (uk)
- **Official Website:** http://www.chrzanow.pl (Polish language)
- **Twin Towns:** Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine (since 2001); Harnes, France (since 1981); Nyékládháza, Hungary (since 1998)

## FAQs
**Where is Chrzanów located?**
Chrzanów is situated in southern Poland, within the Lesser Poland Voivodeship. Its geographic coordinates are 50.1333° North latitude and 19.4000° East longitude, and it lies at an elevation of 280 metres above sea level. The city is the seat of both Chrzanów County and the municipal Gmina Chrzanów.

**What is the current population of Chrzanów?**
According to the official Polish census conducted on March 31, 2021, Chrzanów had a population of 35,091 residents. This represents a decline from the 2010 figure of 38,989 and a 2019 estimate of 36,575, indicating a gradual population decrease over the past decade. The 2021 census recorded 16,669 males and 18,422 females.

**What administrative functions does Chrzanów serve?**
Chrzanów holds dual administrative significance as the capital of Chrzanów County (*powiat chrzanowski*) and the urban-rural Gmina Chrzanów. This makes it the central seat for county-level government and the primary administrative centre for the surrounding municipality. Its official terc municipality code is 1203034, and its vehicle registration plate code is KCH.

**Which cities is Chrzanów twinned with?**
Chrzanów maintains three official twin town relationships. It has been partnered with Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, since February 16, 2001; with Harnes, France, since 1981; and with Nyékládháza, Hungary, since 1998. These partnerships are formalized through agreements documented on the city's official website and the partner cities' portals.

**When was Chrzanów founded and what is its historical significance?**
The earliest recorded mention of Chrzanów dates to 1393, establishing it as a medieval settlement with over 600 years of continuous history. Its long-standing role as a regional administrative centre contributes to its historical significance within the cultural and governmental landscape of southern Poland.

## Why It Matters
Chrzanów matters as a persistent administrative and demographic centre in the Lesser Poland region for over six centuries. Its status as the dual capital of a county and gmina makes it a critical node for local governance, public services, and civic identity for tens of thousands of residents. The city's documented population trends and its network of international twin towns reflect its evolving role from a historic market town to a modern municipality engaged in European regional cooperation. Its presence across 64 Wikipedia language editions and its numerous global identifiers (such as VIAF, GND, and Geonames) underscore its recognized existence and relevance in international knowledge systems.

## Notable For
- **Historic Continuity:** First mentioned in 1393, representing over 600 years of documented urban history in Poland.
- **Administrative Duality:** Uniquely serves as the capital for both a county (*powiat*) and a gmina (municipality).
- **Population Scale:** Maintains a population near 35,000, classifying it as a significant mid-sized city in the region.
- **Linguistic Diversity:** Its name appears in numerous aliases across languages, including Chrzanow (German), Chrzanůw (Silesian), Kshanov (Russian), and クレノウ (Japanese).
- **International Partnerships:** Active twinning program with cities in Ukraine, France, and Hungary, dating back to 1981.
- **Digital Footprint:** Extensive presence in global authority files (GND, VIAF, Library of Congress) and a dedicated Wikipedia article in 64 languages.
- **Cultural Symbols:** Distinctive civic symbols including a specific coat of arms (POL_Chrzanów_COA.svg) and flag (POL_Chrzanów_flag.svg).

## Body

### History and Foundation
Chrzanów's inception is recorded in 1393, marking its establishment as a formal settlement during the medieval period in Poland. This early date provided the foundation for its long-term development as a local administrative and commercial centre. Its continuous habitation since the 14th century places it among the older urban centres in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship.

### Geographic and Administrative Context
The city covers a total area of 38 square kilometres. It is geographically positioned at 50.1333° N latitude and 19.4000° E longitude, with an elevation of 280 metres above sea level. Administratively, Chrzanów is located within Gmina Chrzanów, of which it is also the seat. It serves as the capital of Chrzanów County, a second-level administrative division in Poland. The city's official terc municipality code is 1203034, and its vehicle registration plates bear the code KCH. The local dialing code is 32, and postal codes range from 32-500 to 32-503.

### Demographics
Population data from official Polish sources shows a gradual decline over recent years. The 2021 national census, the most recent definitive count, recorded 35,091 inhabitants. This comprised 16,669 males and 18,422 females. Previous figures include an estimated 36,575 residents on December 31, 2019, and a count of 38,989 in 2010. The preferred and most recent value is the 2021 census figure, determined by the Polish census methodology.

### Governance and Civic Identity
As the capital of both Chrzanów County and Gmina Chrzanów, the city hosts the primary offices for these administrative bodies. This dual role centralizes governmental functions for the surrounding region. The city's civic identity is represented by its official symbols: the coat of arms (image: POL_Chrzanów_COA.svg) and the flag (image: POL_Chrzanów_flag.svg). A locator map image (Chrzanow_quarters.svg) details the city's quarter divisions.

### International Relations
Chrzanów maintains three formal twin town relationships, fostering international municipal cooperation. The partnership with Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, began on February 16, 2001. The relationship with Harnes, France, started in 1981. The twinning with Nyékládháza, Hungary, commenced in 1998. These relationships are documented on the city's official website and the partner cities' information portals.

### Cultural and Linguistic Profile
The city's native name is "Chrzanów," with a pronunciation audio file available (Pl-Chrzanów.ogg). Its name has numerous historical and linguistic aliases, including Chrzanow, Chrzanůw, Kshanov, Krenau, クレノウ (Japanese), シャノウ (Japanese), and Хрзанов (Russian). The market square is depicted in a notable image (Chrzanow_rynek.jpg), which features the Church of St. Nicholas (qualifiers: Sankt Nicolai kirke, Костёл св. Николая). The city is the subject of a Commons gallery and category, and it has a dedicated category for people born there (Category:Births in Chrzanów) and for associated people (Category:People from Chrzanów).

### Digital Presence and Authority Identifiers
Chrzanów has a broad digital footprint across global knowledge and library systems. Its official website is http://www.chrzanow.pl, published in Polish. The city is identified by numerous persistent identifiers:
- **GND ID:** 4342876-9
- **VIAF ID:** 167949525
- **Freebase ID:** /m/022bsn
- **Geonames ID:** 3101547
- **MusicBrainz Area ID:** 6e294a4e-1c7c-415a-a3ba-bbae25bbed5a
- **Who's On First ID:** 101824823
- **Yale Lux ID:** place/07d56e35-05d2-4604-9fa7-dc53325912f7
- **Library of Congress Authority ID:** n82098542
- **WorldCat Entities ID:** E39PBJyrTbyHQTYHcywyQJH6Kd
- **National Library of Israel J9U ID:** 987007555146405171
- **Encyclopædia Britannica Online ID:** place/Chrzanow
- **Online PWN Encyclopedia ID:** 3886142
- **Hrvatska Enciklopedija ID:** 11719
- **NL CR AUT ID:** ge320125 (with label "Chrzanów (Polsko)")
- **SIMC Place ID:** 0938982
- **Facebook Location ID:** 112283255463892
- **FactGrid Item ID:** Lisiec Mały (note: this identifier references a different locality, suggesting a data linkage or error in the source)
- **SNAC ID:** Vaduz (note: this identifier references the capital of Liechtenstein, suggesting a data linkage or error in the source)

The city's Wikidata entry is titled "Chrzanów" with the description "city of Poland." Its Wikipedia article exists in 64 language editions, ranging from Afrikaans (af) to Chinese (zh). The "sitelink_count" property indicates 72 linked Wikipedia pages, while the raw description notes a count of 252, reflecting different measurement points or data sources. The city is also linked to a Quora topic and has a Commons category and gallery.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.chrzanow.pl/o-miescie/miasta-partnerskie/ivano-frankivsk.html)
2. [Source](http://www.mvk.if.ua/news/4114/)
3. [Source](http://www.chrzanow.pl/o-miescie/miasta-partnerskie/harnes.html)
4. [Source](http://www.chrzanow.pl/o-miescie/miasta-partnerskie/nyekladhaza.html)
5. [Source](https://www.worlddata.info/europe/poland/timezones.php)
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. MusicBrainz
8. [Source](https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/api/v1/data/localities/by-unit/011212303034-0938982?var-id=1639616&format=jsonapi)
9. [Source](https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/api/v1/data/localities/by-unit/011212303034-0938982?var-id=1639618&format=jsonapi)
10. [Source](https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/api/v1/data/localities/by-unit/011212303034-0938982?var-id=1639617&format=jsonapi)
11. GeoNames
12. Quora