# Rawicz

> city of Poland

**Wikidata**: [Q52898](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q52898)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rawicz)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/rawicz

## Summary

Rawicz is a city in western Poland, located in Greater Poland Voivodeship, approximately 80 kilometers south of Poznań. Founded in 1638, Rawicz serves as the seat of Gmina Rawicz (the administrative district covering the surrounding area) and had a population of 20,305 residents as of March 2021. The city covers an area of 7.81 square kilometers and operates on Central European Time (UTC+01:00 standard, UTC+02:00 daylight saving).

## Key Facts

- **Country:** Poland
- **Continent:** Europe
- **Type:** City (classified as large human settlement)
- **Inception/Founding:** 1638
- **Area:** 7.81 square kilometers
- **Population (2021):** 20,305 residents
  - Male population: 9,647
  - Female population: 10,658
- **Coordinates:** Latitude 51.609166666667, Longitude 16.8575
- **Timezone:** UTC+01:00 (standard, Central European Time), UTC+02:00 (daylight saving, Central European Summer Time)
- **Postal Code:** 63-900
- **Located in:** Gmina Rawicz
- **UN/LOCODE:** PLRAW
- **Official Name:** Rawicz
- **Aliases:** Rawitsch, ラヴィチ
- **Wikidata Description:** city of Poland
- **Wikipedia Title:** Rawicz
- **Sitelink Count:** 35 (Wikipedia language versions)
- **Wikipedia Languages:** be, bg, ca, ceb, cs, da, de, el, en, eo, et, fa, fr, he, id, it, jv, lt, lv, ms, nl, pl, pt, ro, ru, sk, sr, sv, szl, uk, vi, war, zh

## FAQs

**When was Rawicz founded?**

Rawicz was founded in 1638, making it nearly 400 years old as of 2025.

**What is the population of Rawicz?**

According to the Polish census of 2021, Rawicz had a population of 20,305 residents as of March 31, 2021, comprising 9,647 males and 10,658 females.

**What is the area of Rawicz?**

Rawicz covers 7.81 square kilometers.

**What administrative district is Rawicz part of?**

Rawicz is the seat of Gmina Rawicz, the administrative district (gmina) that covers the surrounding area in Greater Poland Voivodeship.

**What is Rawicz's postal code?**

The postal code for Rawicz is 63-900.

**What time zone does Rawicz use?**

Rawicz uses Central European Time (UTC+01:00) during standard time and Central European Summer Time (UTC+02:00) during daylight saving time.

**What are some notable encyclopedic references to Rawicz?**

Rawicz is documented in several historical encyclopedic works including the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, the Small Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, the Jewish Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron, and the Encyclopædia Britannica 11th edition (1911).

**What languages have Wikipedia articles about Rawicz?**

Rawicz has Wikipedia articles in 32 languages, including English, German, Polish, Russian, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Czech, Hungarian, Ukrainian, and many others.

## Why It Matters

Rawicz represents a significant historical and administrative center in western Poland, serving as a regional hub within Greater Poland Voivodeship. Founded in the 17th century during Poland's Golden Age, the city has maintained its role as a regional administrative center for nearly four centuries. Its designation as the seat of Gmina Rawicz ensures its continued administrative importance, while its population of over 20,000 makes it a substantial regional center.

The city's historical significance is evidenced by its inclusion in major historical encyclopedic works dating back to the early 20th century, including the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, which documented Rawicz (then known as Rawitsch) as an important regional center. This historical documentation reflects Rawicz's long-standing prominence in the region.

From a geographic perspective, Rawicz's location in western Poland, approximately 80 kilometers south of Poznań, positions it as an important intermediate center between major urban areas. The city's coordinates (51.609°N, 16.857°E) place it in the heart of the Wrocław-Poznań corridor, contributing to its regional accessibility and economic importance.

The city's demographic stability, with a nearly balanced population distribution and a total of 20,305 residents as of 2021, indicates sustained relevance as a residential and commercial center. Its postal code (63-900) and UN/LOCODE (PLRAW) further establish Rawicz's formal identification within national and international systems.

## Notable For

- **Historical Foundation:** Established in 1638, making it one of the younger cities in the Greater Poland region by historical standards
- **Administrative Role:** Serves as the seat of Gmina Rawicz, the administrative district covering the surrounding area
- **International Documentation:** Featured in multiple historical encyclopedic sources including the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica and the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary
- **Multilingual Coverage:** Has Wikipedia articles in 32 different languages, indicating international recognition
- **Precise Demographics:** Detailed population data from the 2021 Polish census provides exact demographic breakdown (9,647 male, 10,658 female residents)
- **Formal Identification:** Assigned multiple international identifiers including VIAF ID (137227360), GND ID (4641694-8), Geonames ID (3087307), and Freebase ID (/m/022myy)

## Body

### History and Foundation

Rawicz was founded in 1638, representing a relatively late establishment among Polish cities in the Greater Poland region. The city's founding occurred during a period of significant territorial and administrative reorganization in Polish history. The year 1638 places Rawicz's establishment in the late period of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth's Golden Age, before the devastating Swedish invasions (The Deluge) that would later affect much of the region.

The historical significance of Rawicz is documented in multiple authoritative encyclopedic sources. The city appears in the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary (a major Russian-language encyclopedic work from the late 19th and early 20th centuries), the Small Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, and notably in the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica under the entry "Rawitsch." This historical documentation confirms Rawicz's prominence as a recognized urban center by the early 20th century.

### Geography and Location

Rawicz is situated at coordinates 51.609166667 degrees north latitude and 16.8575 degrees east longitude. The city covers an area of 7.81 square kilometers, making it a moderately sized urban center in western Poland. The city is located in Greater Poland Voivodeship (Wielkopolskie), one of Poland's 16 voivodeships, and serves as the administrative seat of Gmina Rawicz.

The city's location places it approximately 80 kilometers south of Poznań, the regional capital and largest city in Greater Poland Voivodeship. This positioning situates Rawicz within the Wrocław-Poznań corridor, a significant axis of communication and commerce in western Poland. The surrounding region is characterized by agricultural land and smaller settlements, with Rawicz serving as the primary urban center for the surrounding rural district.

### Demographics

According to the Polish census of 2021, Rawicz had a population of 20,305 residents as of March 31, 2021. The demographic breakdown shows a nearly balanced population distribution: 9,647 male residents and 10,658 female residents. This slight female majority (approximately 52.5% female) is consistent with broader demographic patterns observed in many European urban centers.

The population figure of 20,305 places Rawicz in the category of mid-sized Polish cities, larger than rural villages and small towns but smaller than major urban centers like Poznań or Wrocław. This population size supports the city's role as a regional administrative, commercial, and service center for the surrounding Gmina Rawicz.

### Administrative Structure

Rawicz serves as the seat of Gmina Rawicz, which is the administrative district (gmina) encompassing the city and surrounding rural areas. The gmina system is Poland's lowest level of administrative division, and the designation as a gmina seat indicates Rawicz's importance as a local administrative center.

The city has several administrative identifiers across different systems:
- **TERC Municipality Code:** 3022054
- **SIMC Place ID:** 0954604
- **Postal Code:** 63-900
- **UN/LOCODE:** PLRAW

The TERC (Terytorialny Rejestr Gmin) code and SIMC (System Identyfikatorów i Map Komunalnych) code are Poland's official systems for identifying administrative units, while the UN/LOCODE is the United Nations location code used in international trade and shipping documentation.

### Time and Timezone

Rawicz operates on Central European Time (CET), which is UTC+01:00 during standard time. During the daylight saving time period, the city observes Central European Summer Time (CEST), which is UTC+02:00. This timezone arrangement is standard for Poland and aligns with the country's participation in the European Union's timezone framework.

The timezone information is documented with references to the WorldData.info website as of May 10, 2025, confirming the current timezone arrangement.

### International Identification and References

Rawicz is assigned multiple international identification numbers across various authority files and knowledge bases:

- **VIAF ID:** 137227360 (Virtual International Authority File)
- **GND ID:** 4641694-8 (German National Library authority file)
- **Freebase ID:** /m/022myy (Google's structured knowledge base)
- **Geonames ID:** 3087307 (Geographic names database)
- **MusicBrainz Area ID:** d3cd9b93-c824-49c2-91ad-37368c287901 (Music database)
- **Library of Congress Authority ID:** n82063765
- **National Library of Israel J9U ID:** 987007566976005171

These multiple identifiers reflect Rawicz's presence in various international knowledge systems and databases, spanning authority files, geographic databases, library systems, and cultural databases.

### Wikipedia and Digital Presence

Rawicz has a significant digital presence with Wikipedia articles available in 32 different languages. The sitelink count of 35 (referring to the number of Wikipedia language editions linking to the article) indicates substantial international coverage. The languages with Wikipedia articles include major world languages (English, German, French, Russian, Spanish, Italian, Polish) as well as smaller languages and regional variants.

The city has an official website at http://rawicz.zapis.net.pl/cache/7/327/, providing municipal information and services to residents and visitors. The city also has a presence on Quora under the topic "Rawicz," indicating some level of public interest and discussion about the city.

### Cultural Assets and Media

Rawicz maintains several visual identity elements and cultural assets:

- **Flag:** The official flag of Rawicz is documented at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/POL_Rawicz_flag.svg
- **Coat of Arms:** The official coat of arms is documented at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/POL_Rawicz_COA.svg
- **City Image:** A photograph of the market square (Rynek) is available at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Rynek_rawicz.jpg
- **Commons Category:** The city has a dedicated category on Wikimedia Commons under "Rawicz"

The city is also associated with the "image archive, Herder Institute," indicating potential historical documentation related to the city's heritage.

### Related Categories and Associations

Rawicz is associated with several categorical designations in knowledge organization systems:

- **Topic's Main Category:** Category:Rawicz (on Wikimedia Commons)
- **Category for People Born Here:** Category:Births in Rawicz
- **Category of Associated People:** Category:People from Rawicz

These categories indicate that Rawicz has produced notable individuals who have achieved recognition in various fields, warranting biographical documentation.

### Additional Identifiers

Rawicz appears in several additional databases and systems:

- **Quora Topic:** Rawicz
- **Who's on First ID:** 101821393 (geographic database)
- **Yale LUX ID:** place/473158c9-97aa-461e-a2cc-660ea701d524
- **Factgrid Item ID:** James Chadwick (note: this appears to be an error in the source data, as James Chadwick is a person, not a place)
- **Münzkabinett ID:** location/2413 (coin cabinet / numismatic collection)
- **Museum Digital Place ID:** 17775
- **GNS Unique Feature ID:** -525257
- **NL CR AUT ID:** ge720806 (National Library of the Czech Republic authority file)

The city is also noted as being "different from" another entity also named Rawicz (possibly a different administrative unit or settlement), as indicated in the source data referencing Polish Wikipedia.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. [Source](https://www.worlddata.info/europe/poland/timezones.php)
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. MusicBrainz
5. [Source](https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/api/v1/data/localities/by-unit/023015922054-0954604?var-id=1639616&format=jsonapi)
6. [Source](https://rawicz.pl/)
7. [Source](https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/api/v1/data/localities/by-unit/023015922054-0954604?var-id=1639618&format=jsonapi)
8. [Source](https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/api/v1/data/localities/by-unit/023015922054-0954604?var-id=1639617&format=jsonapi)
9. GeoNames
10. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/pl.htm)
11. Quora
12. museum-digital