The Urbanization in Poland in the Years 1870–1970

Abstract

This article explores the evolution of urbanization in Poland from 1870 to 1970, a century marked by dramatic political, economic, and social transformations. The background of the study highlights the delayed onset of capitalist urbanization in Polish territories, constrained by partitioning powers and disrupted statehood. The author addresses urbanization as both a demographic and structural phenomenon, shaped by industrial revolutions, wars, and postwar socialist planning.
The primary aim of the study is to trace the phases and dynamics of urban growth in Poland across three distinct periods: under the partitions, during the Second Republic, and in People’s Poland. The article also seeks to analyze the socio-professional and ethnic composition of urban populations and evaluate the effects of industrialization, state policy, and migration on city development.
Drawing on a wide range of historical sources, including census data, government reports, statistical yearbooks, and contemporary urban studies, Drozdowski provides a detailed periodization of urban development. He identifies four major stages: early capitalist urbanization (up to 1914), stagnation during the World Wars, postwar socialist urbanization (1945–1970), and the initial effects of modernization policies of the early 1970s.
Key findings include the uneven pace of urbanization across regions, the impact of foreign rule on city infrastructure, the demographic consequences of war and migration, and the postwar shift toward state-directed urban growth. The study also reveals changes in the class and national composition of cities, notably the decline of the Jewish population due to the Holocaust and emigration, and the dominance of industrial workers and state employees by the 1960s. The article concludes that despite significant progress, Polish urbanization remained incomplete and regionally unbalanced, demanding further integrative historical research.