Kladno


Kladno is a city in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It is located northwest of the capital city Prague. Kladno is the largest city in the region and has a population together with its adjacent suburban areas of more than 110,000. The city is part of the Prague metropolitan area, which has a population over 2,600,000.

History

The first written evidence of Kladno dates back to the 14th century. In 1561 the city rights were secured.
Until 1918, the town was part of the Austrian monarchy, head of the Kladno district, one of the 94 Bezirkshauptmannschaften in Bohemia.

Economy

Kladno was the historical birthplace of heavy industry in Bohemia. For years, the town was home to the Poldi steel factory, the region's largest employer. The factory still stands but has been divided into smaller entities after privatisation and changes in ownership. The mining industry began here in 1842. A post-office was opened in 1863. The proximity to Prague helped to keep the local economy stable in spite of the heavy industrial decline after the collapse of the communist regime.
A series of Western European companies has established production in Kladno, including LEGO, Dr. Oetker, NKT Cables and Quickstep Laminate Floors.

Notable natives

Kladno is twinned with: