Page "Białystok" Paragraph 1

The city charter dates back to 1692, but settlement activity in the area dates back to the 14th century.

Białystok has traditionally been one of the leading centers of academic, cultural, and artistic life in Podlaskie and the most important economic center in northeastern Poland.

In the nineteenth century Białystok was an important center for light industry which was the reason for the substantial growth of the city's population.

However, after the fall of communism in 1989 many of these factories faced severe problems and subsequently closed down.

Through the infusion of EU investment funds, the city continues to work to reshape itself into a modern metropolis.

Białystok in 2010, was on the short-list, but ultimately lost the competition to become a finalist for European Capital of Culture in 2016.

Over the centuries Białystok has produced a number of people who have provided unique contributions to the fields of science, language, politics, religion, sports, visual arts and performing arts.

This environment was created in the mid-eighteenth century by the patronage of Jan Klemens Branicki for the arts and sciences.

These include Ryszard Kaczorowski, the last émigré President of the Republic of Poland ; L. L. Zamenhof, the creator of Esperanto ; and Albert Sabin, the co-developer of the polio vaccine.