Smržovka
Town
T. G. Masaryka Square
T. G. Masaryka Square
Coat of arms of Smržovka
Coat of arms
Smržovka is located in Czech Republic
Smržovka
Smržovka
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 50°44′18″N 15°14′47″E / 50.73833°N 15.24639°E / 50.73833; 15.24639
Country Czech Republic
RegionLiberec
DistrictJablonec nad Nisou
First mentioned1568
Government
 • MayorMarek Hotovec
Area
 • Total14.82 km2 (5.72 sq mi)
Elevation
585 m (1,919 ft)
Population
 (2023-01-01)[1]
 • Total3,851
 • Density260/km2 (670/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
468 51
Websitewww.smrzovka.cz

Smržovka (German: Morchenstern) is a town in Jablonec nad Nisou District in the Liberec Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 3,900 inhabitants.

Etymology

View of Smržovka
Church of Saint Michael the Archangel

The name Smržovka was given to town by overgrown mountain forest, where there was a large amount of morels (Czech: smrž, German: Morcheln).[2]

Geography

Smržovka is located about 5 km (3 mi) east of Jablonec nad Nisou. It lies in the Jizera Mountains. The highest point is the mountain Černá studnice at 869 m (2,851 ft) above sea level. The Kamenice River flows along the northeastern municipal border.

History

Smržovka was founded in the first half of the 16th century during the colonization of the Jizera Mountains. The first written mention of the village is from 1568. The most common craft at that time was weaving. The area was part of the Semily estate, owned by the Smiřický family. In 1622, the estate was purchased by Albrecht von Wallenstein. In 1635, the Desfours family acquired Smržovka, which became a separate estate in 1662, and owned it until 1848.[2]

In the 19th century, glassmaking developed in the town, which helped the rapid growth of the town. Unfavorable natural conditions made agriculture difficult and the town focused on industry. Smržovka became a market village in 1849. In 1868, Smržovka was promoted to a market town, and in 1905, it became a town. In the 1920s, Smržovka flourished and there was high employment. The textile and glass industry developed and 90% of the products were exported abroad. About three quarters of the population were ethnic Germans.[2]

From 1938 to 1945, the town was annexed to Nazi Germany and administered as part of Reichsgau Sudetenland. During the German occupation of Czechoslovakia in February and March 1945, the Germans operated a subcamp of the Gross-Rosen concentration camp, whose prisoners were 300 women.[3] After World War II, the German-speaking population was expelled.[2]

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±%
18694,551—    
18804,979+9.4%
18905,919+18.9%
19006,539+10.5%
19107,602+16.3%
YearPop.±%
19216,614−13.0%
19307,296+10.3%
19504,161−43.0%
19614,272+2.7%
19703,747−12.3%
YearPop.±%
19803,526−5.9%
19913,418−3.1%
20013,430+0.4%
20113,541+3.2%
20213,771+6.5%
Source: Censuses[4][5]

Economy

Černá studnice observation tower

In 1991, the Kaipan company, a Czech car manufacturer with a focus on sports roadsters, was founded here.

Transport

Smržovka is located on the railway line from Liberec to Szklarska Poręba.

Sights

The landmark of the town is the Church of Saint Michael the Archangel. It was built in the Baroque style in 1767–1781.[6]

On Černá studnice mountain there is an eponymous observation tower. It is a 26 m (85 ft) high stone tower, built in 1885–1886. It belongs to the highest stone observation towers in the Jizera Mountains.[7]

Twin towns – sister cities

Smržovka is twinned with:[8]

Partner towns

Smržovka also cooperates with:[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2023". Czech Statistical Office. 2023-05-23.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Stručná historie Smržovky" (in Czech). Město Smržovka. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
  3. ↑ "Subcamps of KL Gross- Rosen". Gross-Rosen Museum in Rogoźnica. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  4. ↑ "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011 – Okres Jablonec nad Nisou" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21. pp. 7–8.
  5. ↑ "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
  6. ↑ "Barokní kostel sv. Archanděla Michaela ve Smržovce" (in Czech). CzechTourism. Retrieved 2022-11-06.
  7. ↑ "Rozhledna Černá Studnice" (in Czech). CzechTourism. Retrieved 2022-11-06.
  8. 1 2 "Spolupracujeme - mikroregiony, partnerská města aj" (in Czech). Město Smržovka. Retrieved 2020-08-16.
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