Bukowno
Bukowno is a town in Olkusz County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 10,564 inhabitants. Until 1975 it belonged to the Kraków Voivodeship and in 1975 - 1998 to the Katowice Voivodeship. Bukowno is located in western part of Lesser Poland Voivodeship, between Katowice and Kraków about away from both towns. On December 31, 2008 the town had 10 574 inhabitants.
Bukowno is situated on the Sztoła River, and belongs to the Jaworzno - Chrzanów Industrial District, which is part of historic Lesser Poland, and is located in the Lesser Polish Upland, amidst deciduous and coniferous forests. Bukowno is a major center of industry, with zinc and lead plants. As a village, it was first mentioned in the 15th century, but did not receive its town charter until 1962. The town has the area of 63 km2., of which 73% is forested. Bukowno is a rail hub, with rail connections to Olkusz, Kielce, Jaworzno and Katowice. It also is located along the Broad Gauge Metallurgy Line. Five kilometers north of town goes National Road Nr. 94.
In the Middle Ages Bukowno belonged to the Bishops of Kraków, and since its foundation until 1790 was part of the so-called Sławków Estate. In 1795 it was annexed by the Austrian Empire, and in 1815, for the first time in history, it was administratively separated from Kraków, as together with Olkusz, it became part of Russian-controlled Congress Poland, while the city of Kraków remained in Austrian Galicia. In 1918 - 1939 it belonged to Second Polish Republic’s Kielce Voivodeship, and after the war the town was transferred to Kraków Voivodeship.
