Prešov
Prešov (German: Preschau / Eperies, Hungarian: Eperjes) is a town in eastern Slovakia. It is a seat of the Presov region (Prešovský kraj) (see Regions of Slovakia). With a population of 93,000, it is the third largest town in the country.
Prešov is located at 49°0'0" North, 21°15'0" East 5 at an altitude of 255 meters. It is situated at the Torysa river, 38 kilometers north from Košice.
As of 2001, 93.7% of inhabitans are Slovaks; significant minorities include Roma, Rusyns, Ukrainians, and Czechs. The average wage and the employment rate in Presov are below the national average. Significant industries in the town include mechanical and electrical engineering companies and clothing industry. Solivary, the only salt mining and processing company in Slovakia, also operates in the town.
More than thousand students are enroled at the two instutions of post-secondary education in the town, the University of Prešov and the Faculty of Manufacturing Technologies of the Technical University of Kosice. Prešov is also seat of a Greek Catholic bishopric.
History
First inhabitants settled in this area in Paleolithic. Oldest discovered tools and mammoth bones are 28,000 years old. Slavic people live in the area of the town since the 8th century AD.
By the end of the 11th century the town becomes part of the Kingdom of Hungary, and Hungarian soldiers settle in the town. In the 13th century many German settlers move to Prešov from Spiš region.
The first written record of Prešov dates back to 1247. In 1299 Prešov received municipal privileges, and in 1374 it was declared a free royal town. This led to development of crafts and trade (especially export of wine from Tisza region to Poland). In the 15th century Prešov joins Pentapolitana, an alliance of five towns (Bardejov, Levoča, Košice, Prešov, and Sabinov). The first record of a school dates to 1429. In 1572, salt mining starts in Solivar (at that time a nearby town, now part of Prešov). Prešov's increased importance meant that in 1647 it became the seat of the Šariš county.
In 1667 Evangelical College was established by Protestants in the town. In 1687, 24 prominent citizens and noblemen were executed for supporting uprising of Imre Thököly.
At the beginning of the 18th century, the population was decimated by plague and fires to mere 2,000 inhabitants. By the half of the 18th century the town recovers, crafts and trade increase again, and new manufactures are built. In 1752 the salt mine in Solivar was flooded. Ever since then salt has been produced from salt brine by boiling.
In 1873 first railway was built through the town. At the end of the 19th century, town introduces electricity, telephone, telegraph, and sewage system. In 1887 fire destroyed big part of the town. In 1918 Prešov becomes part of Czechoslovakia. During World War II, nearby Košice became again part of Hungary by First Vienna Arbitration. As a result, many institutions move from Košice to Prešov, increasing its importance. In 1944, professional Slovak Theatre was established in the town. During the communist regime after 1948 the town becomes an industrial center. The population increases rapidly from 28,000 in 1950 to 52,000 in 1970 and 91,000 in 1990.
Twin towns
Presov is twinned with:
References
- Official History of Prešov
- Presov town hall (July 2002), Presov - city profile. Retrieved in June 2004 from http://www.pis.sk/jpis/obsah/html/presov_profile.htm.