Powiat Łowicki

History of Łowicz district as a political and administrative unit goes back to the first half of the 19th century. Till Poland's partitions the majority of its territories were situated in Masovia. They belonged to Rawa, Gąbin, Sochaczew districts. Only one tiny part belonged to Orłów in Łęczyca area. The present day Łowicz district territory was incorporated into Warsaw department. It was divided into three districts: Orłów, Sochaczew and Gostynin.

During the times of Polish Kingdom Łowicz was a calpital of Sochaczew district (till 1845). The whole area of Łowicz district was made a part of Masovian voivodeship. The head of the district began to work here in April 1847. It is believed that it was the first step towards territorial changes. They eventually took place in 1849 when the borders of our present-day district were marked out. The year 1849 is considered a date when Łowicz district was established.

From 1867 it included nine communes: Bielawy, Bąków, Bolimów, Dąbkowice, Jeziorko, Kompina, Lubianków (with a seat in Antoniew), Łyszkowice and Nieborów. Kiernozia was attached to Gostynin district and Iłów to Sochaczew district. The division did not change until World War I. The total area of Łowicz district was 360 000 ha and the population was 112 628 (1908). The governor of Warsaw appointed the head of the district.

The outbreak of World War I put an end to the Russian administration. In 1915 Łowicz became a seat of the regional administration and in 1916 a German governor (kreischef) was appointed to supervise Łowicz and Sochaczew districts. The area of Łowicz district did not change since 1922 until World War II. In 1933 Domaniewice commune was established. Łowicz district became a part of Łódź voivodeship on April 1st 1939. During World War II it was included in the General Governorship in Warsaw district. Polish conspiration structures and the underground army operated here successfully. The first National District Council originated in Łowicz in 1944. In spring 1945 this Council began its work in the free town.

After the war the Polish administration based on the pre-war models. A new act in March 20th 1950 initiated a new system of administration. 49 national councils were established in Łowicz district. Only twenty four of them survived till the next administrative reform in 1973. In December 9th 1972 National Voivodeship Council in Łódź established new communes. There appeared eleven within Łowicz district. In 1975 all of them were incorporated into Skierniewice voivodeship. After Skierniewice voivodeship had been liquidated the communes became a part of Łowicz district, Łódź voivodeship.

text: Marek Wojtylak
fot. Wiesław Uczciwek - CKTiPZŁ