Ełk

Infobox Settlement
name = Ełk

imagesize = 250px
image_caption = Lake view of Ełk
image_shield = Ełk.svg
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position = bottom
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = POL
subdivision_type1 = Voivodeship
subdivision_name1 = Warmian-Masurian
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Ełk County
subdivision_type3 = Gmina
subdivision_name3 = Ełk (urban gmina)
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Tomasz Andrukiewicz
established_title = Established
established_date = 1237
established_title3 = Town rights
established_date3 = 1445
area_total_km2 = 21.07
population_as_of = 2006
population_total = 56156
population_density_km2 = auto
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2
latd = 53 | latm = 49 | lats = 17 | latNS = N | longd = 22 | longm = 21 | longs = 44 | longEW = E
postal_code_type = Postal code
postal_code = 19-300
area_code = +48 087
blank_name = Car plates
blank_info = NEL
website = http://www.elk.pl

The city lies on a shore of Ełckie Lake, which was formed by a glacier. Surrounded by forests, the area is part of the region of Masuria. One of its principal attractions is hunting, which is carried out in extensive forests.

History

By 1283 the last Sudovian leader, Skalmantas, capitulated to the Teutonic Knights in the Lyck area. After 1323, the northern part of the region was administered by the Komturship of Brandenburg, while the larger part with the later town belonged to Komturship Balga. A former Old Prussian settlement, the town was first documented in 1398 around an Ordensburg built by the Teutonic Knights. The town's German name, "Lyck", is derived from its Old Prussian name, "Luks" (from the word for waterlily, "luka"). It received its town rights in 1445.

Before World War I, Lyck had 13,000 inhabitants. Many citizens fled when Imperial Russian troops attacked, but returned after the battles of Tannenberg and at the masurian lakes. English and Italian troops were deployed at the town after the Treaty of Versailles to supervise the [Butler, Rohan, MA., Bury, J.P.T.,MA., & Lambert M.E., MA., editors, Documents on British Foreign Policy 1919-1939, 1st Series, Her Majesty's Stationary Office, London, 1960, vol.x, Chapter VIII, "The Plebiscites in Allenstein and Marienwerder January 21 - September 29, 1920"] East Prussian plebiscite , which resulted 8,339 votes for Germany and 8 for Poland in Lyck. The town was reconstructed after suffering heavy damage from the Russian attack.

Lyck was again heavily destroyed by bombardments in World War II and was captured by the Soviet Union in 1945. The county of Lyck had 53,000 inhabitants when the Soviet Army approached in January 1945; 20% of the populace did not surviveFact|date=February 2007. The town was placed under Polish administration in April 1945, and the town was rebuilt and renamed Ełk (before 1939, Polish names for the town included "Łęg" and "Łęk"). Only a few hundred Germans were able to return and to remain, with Poles making up the majority of the new population.

Notable residents

* Ludwig von Baczko (1756-1821), historian
* Hugo Zwillenberg (1885-1966), businessman
* Kurt Symanzik (1923-1983), physicist
* Siegfried Lenz (born 1926), author
* Leszek Błażyński (1949-1992), boxer
* Roman Czepe (born 1956), politician
* Cezary Zamana (born 1967), cyclist
* Paweł Sobolewski (born 1979), footballer
* Joseph Manczuk (born 1950), footballer

Education

* University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn
* Private Economic Academy
* Nursery School
* Higher Catholic Seminary

High School

* [http://www.ekonomiak.neostrada.pl Zespół Szkół Ekonomicznych]
* [http://www.zsme.elk.edu.pl Zespół Szkół Mechaniczno - Elektrycznych]
* [http://www.zs1.elk.edu.pl Zespół Szkół nr 1]

* Zespół Szkół nr 2 im. K. K. Baczyńskiego ( [http://www.zs2.elk.edu.pl swww] )

* Zespół Szkół nr 3 im. J. H. Małeckich ( [http://www.ze3szk.elk.edu.pl www] )

* I Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. S. Żeromskiego ( [http://www.lo1.elk.edu.pl www] )

* Zespół Szkół Rolniczych im. M. Rataja
* [http://zss.elk.li/news.php Zespół Szkół Samorządowych]
* Zespół Szkół nr.6 im. M. Rataja [http://www.zs6.elk.edu.pl | (www) ]

Religion

The main religion in Ełk is Roman Catholicism, although a number of Protestant churches are also represented and play an important role in the religious life of the population. These include the Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostal (Assemblies of God - "Kościół Zielonoświątkowy"), Charismatic ("Kościół Chrześcijański "Słowo Wiary" or Word of Faith Christian Church, with its Ełk congregation being probably one of the few local churches in Poland pastored by a woman, Ms Teresa Odolecka) and other churches. Before World War II, the city and its surroundings were almost entirely (>95%) Protestant, as they were northern Germans.Fact|date=February 2007 Today, Ełk is the center of the Catholic Diocese of Ełk with its bishop Jerzy Mazur.

Coat of arms

The current coat of arms of Ełk were adopted in 1999, after the town was visited by the pope John Paul II. The colors have been changed (from green to yellow), the deer is different then in the former emblem. Lastly is the addition of the insignia of the Papacy.

Until 1967, a different emblem with the two-faced head of the god Janus was used, but its origin is unknown [http://www.castlesofpoland.com/prusy/elkdzis_po044.htm] .

Twin towns

* Hagen, Germany
* Nettetal, Germany
* Nemenčinė, Lithuania
* Burlington, United States

References

External links

* [http://www.elk.pl/ Municipal website] pl icon
* [http://www.infoserwis.elk.pl/ Ełk information] pl icon
* [http://www.kreis-lyck.de/ Kreisgemeinschaft Lyck e.V.] de icon
* [http://www.castlesofpoland.com/prusy/elk_poczt_tn_en.htm Historical postcards from Lyck (Ełk)]
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=53.8,22.35&spn=0.05,0.05&t=k Google satellite photo]