# Wołów

> city of Poland

**Wikidata**: [Q983726](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q983726)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wołów)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/woow

## Summary

Wołów is a city in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, southwestern Poland, serving as the capital of both Wołów County and Gmina Wołów. With a population of 12,275 residents as of the 2021 Polish census, the city covers an area of 18.54 square kilometres at an elevation of 108 metres above sea level. The city's name derives from the Polish word for oxen, reflecting its historical agricultural significance, and it maintains twin town relations with Buchholz in der Nordheide, Germany.

## Key Facts

- **Location:** Coordinates 51.33638889°N, 16.64416667°E; situated in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, southwestern Poland
- **Administrative status:** Capital of Wołów County and Gmina Wołów
- **Area:** 18.54 square kilometres
- **Elevation:** 108 metres above sea level
- **Population:** 12,275 residents (2021 Polish census, most recent preferred value); 12,298 (2020 estimation)
- **Population breakdown:** 5,913 male residents; 6,362 female residents (2021 census)
- **Timezone:** UTC+01:00 (standard time/Central European Time); UTC+02:00 (daylight saving/Central European Summer Time)
- **Postal code:** 56-100
- **Official website:** wolow.pl
- **Classification:** City (instance_of); named after oxen
- **Continent:** Europe
- **Country history:** Part of Duchy of Oleśnica (1312–1471); then Q876499 (1471–1504); current Poland
- **Twin town:** Buchholz in der Nordheide, Germany

## FAQs

**What is the population of Wołów?**

According to the Polish census of 2021, Wołów has a population of 12,275 residents as of March 31, 2021, making it a mid-sized city in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. The previous estimation from December 31, 2020, recorded 12,298 residents.

**What administrative roles does Wołów serve?**

Wołów serves as the capital of both Wołów County (a administrative unit) and Gmina Wołów (the administrative district/municipality), making it a regional administrative centre in southwestern Poland.

**What is the etymology of Wołów's name?**

The city is named after "woły" (oxen), reflecting the area's historical association with cattle husbandry and agricultural significance.

**What is the geographical location of Wołów?**

Wołów is located at coordinates 51.33638889°N latitude and 16.64416667°E longitude in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship of southwestern Poland, at an elevation of 108 metres above sea level.

**What are the timezone and postal code for Wołów?**

Wołów follows Central European Time (UTC+01:00) during standard time and Central European Summer Time (UTC+02:00) during daylight saving time. The postal code is 56-100.

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

Wołów has Wikipedia articles in 28 languages including Belarusian, Bulgarian, Cebuano, Czech, Danish, German, English, Esperanto, Estonian, French, Indonesian, Italian, Javanese, Latvian, Malay, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Swedish, Silesian, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, Waray, and Chinese.

## Why It Matters

Wołów serves as an important regional centre in Lower Silesia, functioning as the administrative hub for both the county and municipality that bear its name. The city's historical significance spans several centuries, having been part of various political entities including the Duchy of Oleśnica from 1312 to 1471, and subsequently another entity until 1504 before becoming part of Poland. Its name derived from oxen reflects the agricultural heritage that shaped the region's identity. Today, Wołów's role as a county seat makes it a focal point for local governance, commerce, and services for surrounding communities. The city's twin town relationship with Buchholz in der Nordheide demonstrates its engagement in European municipal cooperation and cultural exchange. With a stable population of approximately 12,000-13,000 residents, Wołów represents a functioning mid-sized Polish city that balances its historical legacy with contemporary administrative and social functions.

## Notable For

- Administrative centre of Wołów County and Gmina Wołów
- Named after "woły" (oxen), reflecting agricultural heritage
- Located in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, a historically significant region of Poland
- Twin town relationship with Buchholz in der Nordheide, Germany
- Coverage in 28 different language versions of Wikipedia
- Historical significance as part of the Duchy of Oleśnica (1312–1471)
- Documented in historical reference works including Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (4th edition, 1885–1890) and Topographia Bohemiae, Moraviae et Silesiae

## Body

### Geography and Location

Wołów is situated in southwestern Poland within the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, positioned at coordinates 51.33638889°N latitude and 16.64416667°E longitude. The city covers an area of 18.54 square kilometres and sits at an elevation of 108 metres above sea level. The municipality is located within the administrative unit of Gmina Wołów, while the city itself serves as the capital of Wołów County. The geographical positioning places Wołów within the broader context of Lower Silesia, a region with a complex history and rich cultural heritage.

### Population and Demographics

As of the most recent Polish census conducted on March 31, 2021, Wołów has a population of 12,275 residents, making it a mid-sized city within the region. The population breakdown shows 5,913 male residents and 6,362 female residents, indicating a slight female majority. Previous estimation from December 31, 2020, recorded a population of 12,298, showing relative stability in the city's population figures. The population data was collected through the Polish statistical system and is available through the Local Data Bank (BDL) of Statistics Poland.

### Administrative Structure

Wołów holds dual administrative significance as the capital of both Wołów County (a second-level administrative unit) and Gmina Wołów (the municipality/commune). The city is assigned the TERC municipality code 0222034 and the SIMC place ID 0987466. The postal code for the city is 56-100. In terms of temporal governance, Wołów follows Central European Time (UTC+01:00) as its standard timezone, transitioning to Central European Summer Time (UTC+02:00) during daylight saving periods.

### Historical Context

The city's history is intertwined with the political changes in the region. From 1312 to 1471, Wołów was part of the Duchy of Oleśnica, a historical political entity in the region. Following this period, from 1471 to 1504, the area was under the governance of another political entity (identified as Q876499 in the source material). Subsequently, the territory became part of Poland. The etymology of the city's name derives from the Polish word "woły" (oxen), reflecting the historical importance of cattle husbandry in the area.

### International Connections

Wołów maintains a twin town relationship with Buchholz in der Nordheide, Germany. This partnership represents municipal cooperation between the two cities, likely encompassing cultural, educational, and economic exchanges typical of European town twinning arrangements.

### Digital and Cataloging Presence

The city has extensive representation across various digital platforms and knowledge bases. Wołów appears in 28 language versions of Wikipedia, demonstrating international recognition and interest. The city has been documented in historical reference works including Meyers Konversations-Lexikon (4th edition, 1885–1890) and Topographia Bohemiae, Moraviae et Silesiae. The city has multiple identifier codes across different systems: GeoNames ID 3081430, VIAF ID 130266232, GND ID 5192114-5, Freebase ID /m/03567w, MusicBrainz area ID 1305a014-5808-472c-9f4f-af76bca18e25, Library of Congress authority ID n86028791, and National Library of Israel J9U ID 987007557718605171. The OpenWeatherMap city ID is 3081430, and the Numista ruling authority ID is 6207.

### Cultural and Media Resources

Wołów has dedicated media resources including a Commons category and Commons gallery on Wikimedia Commons, providing visual documentation of the city. The city has a presence in various archival and cultural databases, with the factgrid_item_id referencing Archduchess Maria Maddalena of Austria, suggesting some historical connection to the Habsburg dynasty. The city is also listed in museum_digital_place_id 13016 and has an archinform_location_id 45631.

### Official Communication

The official website of Wołów is accessible at wolow.pl, providing information about municipal services, local government, and community events. The city maintains an active online presence for official communications and public information dissemination.

## References

1. archINFORM
2. [Source](https://www.worlddata.info/europe/poland/timezones.php)
3. GeoNames
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. Czech National Authority Database
6. MusicBrainz
7. [Source](https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/api/v1/data/localities/by-unit/030210422034-0987466?var-id=1639616&format=jsonapi)
8. [Source](https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/api/v1/data/localities/by-unit/030210422034-0987466?var-id=1639618&format=jsonapi)
9. [Source](https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/api/v1/data/localities/by-unit/030210422034-0987466?var-id=1639617&format=jsonapi)
10. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
11. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
12. museum-digital