# Łobez

> city of Poland

**Wikidata**: [Q196163](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q196163)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Łobez)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/obez

## Summary
Łobez is a city located in Poland, situated within the Gmina Łobez administrative division in the European continent. It serves as a significant human settlement with a recorded population of 9,792 as of the 2021 census and covers an area of 12.84 square kilometers. The city operates under the Central European Time zone and is identified internationally by various codes including the GND ID 4322842-2 and the GeoNames ID 3093158.

## Key Facts
*   **Classification**: City (large human settlement) located in Poland, Europe.
*   **Official Name**: Łobez (historically known as Labes).
*   **Geographic Coordinates**: Latitude 53.639166666667, Longitude 15.621388888889.
*   **Area**: 12.84 square kilometers.
*   **Elevation**: 94 meters above sea level.
*   **Population**: 9,792 total (as of March 31, 2021), comprising 4,699 males and 5,093 females.
*   **Time Zones**: UTC+01:00 (Standard Time/Central European Time) and UTC+02:00 (Daylight Saving Time/Central European Summer Time).
*   **Postal Codes**: 73-150 and 73-153.
*   **License Plate Code**: ZLO.
*   **Administrative Location**: Located in Gmina Łobez.
*   **Identifiers**:
    *   GND ID: 4322842-2 (current), 16164668-2 (historical, pre-1945), 16330902-4 (preferred, post-1945).
    *   VIAF ID: 198700648.
    *   GeoNames ID: 3093158.
    *   Freebase ID: /m/0bzgcl.
    *   MusicBrainz Area ID: 6447fb89-4843-432f-a53b-cb60b24c42f2.
    *   FactGrid Item ID: Q610472.
    *   Who's on First ID: 101819265.
    *   Archinform Location ID: 49272.
    *   SIMC Place ID: 0979136.
    *   TERC Municipality Code: 3218024.
    *   Museum Digital Place ID: 9513.
    *   NL CR Aut ID: ge945056.
    *   SNARC ID: June 19.
    *   Facebook Location ID: 109126452454072.
*   **Aliases**: Labes, Lobez, ラーベス (Japanese), Лабес (Russian).
*   **Website**: http://www.lobez.pl/.
*   **Wikipedia Presence**: Available in 100+ languages including English, Polish, German, Russian, Japanese, and Chinese.
*   **Commons Category**: Łobez.
*   **Sitelink Count**: 190.
*   **Twinning Partners**: Affing, Svalöv Municipality, Kėdainiai, Paikuse Rural Municipality, Wiek, Guča, and Berezhany (since March 2, 2022).
*   **Visual Assets**:
    *   Flag: POL_Łobez_flag.svg.
    *   Coat of Arms: POL_Łobez_COA.svg.
    *   Main Image: SM_Łobez_Kościół_Najświętszego_Serca_Pana_Jezusa_2020_(1).jpg.

## FAQs
**What is the historical name of Łobez and when did it change?**
The city was historically known as "Labes" prior to 1945, a name reflected in older GND entries and historical records. Following 1945, the official name became "Łobez," which is the preferred designation used in current databases and qualifiers.

**How is the population of Łobez distributed by gender?**
According to the Polish census of 2021, the city had a total population of 9,792 residents. This demographic breakdown includes 4,699 males and 5,093 females as of March 31, 2021.

**Which international cities are twinned with Łobez?**
Łobez maintains sister city relationships with several municipalities across Europe, including Affing and Wiek in Germany, Svalöv in Sweden, Kėdainiai in Lithuania, Paikuse in Estonia, and Guča in Serbia. Additionally, it established a partnership with Berezhany in Ukraine on March 2, 2022.

**What are the geographic and administrative specifications of the city?**
The city covers an area of 12.84 square kilometers and sits at an elevation of 94 meters above sea level. It is administratively part of Gmina Łobez and utilizes the license plate code ZLO for vehicle registration.

**How can one identify Łobez in digital databases and archives?**
The city is indexed under multiple unique identifiers, including the GND ID 4322842-2, VIAF ID 198700648, and GeoNames ID 3093158. It is also cataloged in the Archinform database under location ID 49272 and the Museum Digital platform under place ID 9513.

## Why It Matters
Łobez serves as a critical administrative and cultural node within the Polish landscape, functioning as a defined urban center with specific demographic and geographic data points essential for regional planning and statistical analysis. Its extensive digital footprint, evidenced by over 190 language sitelinks and numerous unique identifiers across global databases (GND, VIAF, GeoNames, MusicBrainz), ensures its visibility and accurate representation in international knowledge graphs. The city's active international engagement, demonstrated by its twinning agreements with municipalities in seven different countries, highlights its role in fostering cross-border cultural and administrative cooperation. Furthermore, the preservation of its historical identity through aliases like "Labes" and the maintenance of specific historical qualifiers in authoritative records underscores its significance in understanding the shifting geopolitical landscape of Central Europe post-1945.

## Notable For
*   **Historical Name Transition**: Distinctly recorded with a clear temporal split between the pre-1945 name "Labes" and the post-1945 name "Łobez" in authoritative GND records.
*   **High Digital Connectivity**: Maintains a presence in over 100 Wikipedia language editions, indicating broad international interest and documentation.
*   **Diverse International Partnerships**: Uniquely twinned with a wide range of municipalities including those in Ukraine (Berezhany), Estonia (Paikuse), and Lithuania (Kėdainiai), reflecting a broad diplomatic reach.
*   **Precise Demographic Data**: Features highly specific population breakdowns by gender and date (March 31, 2021) sourced directly from the Polish census.
*   **Comprehensive Archival Presence**: Holds dedicated entries in specialized archives such as Archinform (ID 49272) and the Herder Institute image archive, distinguishing it from less documented settlements.

## Body

### Geographic and Administrative Profile
Łobez is a city situated in Poland, specifically located within the Gmina Łobez administrative unit. The settlement occupies a total area of 12.84 square kilometers and is positioned at an elevation of 94 meters above sea level. Its precise geographic coordinates are latitude 53.639166666667 and longitude 15.621388888889. The city operates within the Central European Time zone, observing UTC+01:00 during standard time and UTC+02:00 during daylight saving time (Central European Summer Time). Administratively, it is assigned the TERC municipality code 3218024 and the SIMC place ID 0979136. For vehicle registration, the city uses the license plate code ZLO. Postal services in the area are covered by the codes 73-150 and 73-153.

### Demographics and Population Statistics
Data from the Polish census of 2021 provides a detailed snapshot of the city's population. As of March 31, 2021, the total population was recorded at 9,792 residents. This figure is broken down by gender, with 4,699 males and 5,093 females. These statistics were determined through the official Polish census methodology and are referenced in the national statistical database (BDL). The population data is a key component of the city's identity in demographic databases, distinguishing it from surrounding rural areas.

### Historical Identity and Naming Conventions
The entity is known by several aliases reflecting its complex history, including "Labes," "Lobez," the Japanese "ラーベス," and the Russian "Лабес." Authoritative records, such as the GND, distinguish between historical and current naming conventions. The GND ID 16164668-2 is associated with the name "Labes" and is qualified with an end time of 1945. Conversely, the preferred GND ID 16330902-4 is associated with "Łobez" and is qualified with a start time of 1945. The current primary GND ID 4322842-2 also lists "Labes" as an alternative name but includes qualifiers indicating it is a duplicate entry and links to the current "Łobez" identifier. This distinction is crucial for historical research and data normalization.

### Digital Presence and Identifiers
Łobez is extensively cataloged across global knowledge systems, ensuring its accessibility and verifiability. It holds a VIAF ID of 198700648 and a Freebase ID of /m/0bzgcl. In the GeoNames database, it is identified by the ID 3093158. The city is also indexed in the MusicBrainz area database with the ID 6447fb89-4843-432f-a53b-cb60b24c42f2. Other unique identifiers include the FactGrid item Q610472, the Who's on First ID 101819265, and the Archinform location ID 49272. The city maintains a presence in the Museum Digital platform (ID 9513) and the NL CR Aut database (ID ge945056). Its digital footprint extends to social media, with a Facebook location ID of 109126452454072. The city's official website is http://www.lobez.pl/.

### International Relations and Twinning
The city actively engages in international cooperation through twinning agreements with various administrative bodies. These partnerships include Affing, Svalöv Municipality, Kėdainiai, Paikuse Rural Municipality, Wiek, and Guča. A notable recent development is the partnership with Berezhany, which was established on March 2, 2022. This specific agreement is documented with a reference to a Ukrainian news source detailing the normalization of brotherly relations between the two cities. These relationships highlight Łobez's role in fostering cross-cultural ties across Europe.

### Visual and Media Assets
Visual representations of Łobez are preserved in the Wikimedia Commons repository. The city's flag is available as the file "POL_Łobez_flag.svg," and its coat of arms is depicted in "POL_Łobez_COA.svg." A prominent image of the city features the Church of the Most Sacred Heart of the Lord Jesus (Kościół Najświętszego Serca Pana Jezusa), captured in 2020. The city also has a dedicated gallery on Commons titled "Łobez." Additionally, the city is documented in the image archive of the Herder Institute. The topic's main category on Wikipedia is "Category:Łobez," and the city has a sitelink count of 190, indicating extensive coverage across different language versions of Wikipedia.

### Classification and Source References
The entity is classified as a "city" and a "large human settlement." It is described by the source Q19230677, which is subject to the statement Q113077159. The data regarding the city's area is referenced from Q199913, while the country information (Poland) is referenced from Q265049. The official name and website data are sourced from Q11920. The population data is referenced from the Polish statistical service (P854: https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/...). The timezone information is sourced from worlddata.info. The GND data references include specific publication dates and retrieval dates, such as January 27, 2024, and May 2, 2025, ensuring the currency of the metadata. The city is also listed in the Archinform service with a reference date of August 8, 2023.

## References

1. archINFORM
2. [Source](https://oblast-te.com.ua/berezhany-nalagodyly-pobratymski-stosunky-z-odnym-iz-mist-polshhi/#)
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. [Source](https://www.worlddata.info/europe/poland/timezones.php)
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. Czech National Authority Database
7. MusicBrainz
8. [Source](https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/api/v1/data/localities/by-unit/023216418024-0979136?var-id=1639616&format=jsonapi)
9. [Source](https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/api/v1/data/localities/by-unit/023216418024-0979136?var-id=1639618&format=jsonapi)
10. [Source](https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/api/v1/data/localities/by-unit/023216418024-0979136?var-id=1639617&format=jsonapi)
11. GeoNames
12. System for IDs and names of places
13. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
14. museum-digital