Bytów County (Kashubian: bëtowsczi pòwiat, Polish: powiat bytowski) is a unit of territorial administration and local government (powiat) in Pomeranian Voivodeship, northern Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat and largest town is Bytów, which lies 79 kilometres (49 mi) west of the regional capital Gdańsk. The only other town in the county is Miastko, lying 37 km (23 mi) west of Bytów.

The county covers an area of 2,192.81 square kilometres (846.6 sq mi). As of 2006 its total population is 75,313, out of which the population of Bytów is 16,715, that of Miastko is 10,987, and the rural population is 47,611.

Bytów County on a map of the counties of Pomeranian Voivodeship

Bytów County is bordered by Słupsk County to the north, Lębork County to the north-east, Kartuzy County and Kościerzyna County to the east, Chojnice County and Człuchów County to the south, and Szczecinek County and Koszalin County to the west.

Bytów [ˈbɨtuf] (Kashubian: Bëtowò; German: Bütow ( listen) is a town in the Gdańsk Pomerania region of northern Poland in the Bytów Lakeland with 16,888 inhabitants (2004). Previously in Słupsk Voivodeship (1975–1998), it is the capital of Bytów County in Pomeranian Voivodeship (since 1999).

History

According to the city's official webpage the name Bytów comes from the founder of the settlement named "Byt". An old Pomeranian settlement was first mentioned by Latin name castrum nomine Bitom in 1113 in Gallus Anonymus' Chronicle, as conquered by Polish king Bolesław III Wrymouth.

The Teutonic Knights had started in 1335 with the construction of a rectory. The castle seen today was built by the Knights between 1399 and 1405. It has been the site of an administrator of the State of the Teutonic Knights.

This castle was captured by Poland after the Battle of Tannenberg (1410), and king Jagiello of Poland gave it to Bogislaw VIII, Duke of Pomerania, for all of his lifetime as payment for support obtained from him against the Teutonic Knights. In the Peace of Thorn (1411) Bogislaw had to return the castle to the Knights. The town did not join the Prussian Confederation's revolt against the Teutonic Knights.

Bytów is a PKP railway station in Bytów (Pomeranian Voivodeship), Poland.

Lines crossing the station

References

Coordinates: 54°09′45″N 17°29′10″E / 54.16250°N 17.48611°E / 54.16250; 17.48611