Suwałki Governorate

Suwałki Governorate (Russian: Сувалкская губерния, Polish: gubernia suwalska, Lithuanian: Suvalkų gubernija) was a governorate (administrative area) of Congress Poland ("Russian Poland") which had its seat in the city of Suwałki. It covered a territory of about 12,300 km².

Suwałki Governorate
Governorate of Russian Empire
1867–1914
Coat of arms of Suwałki
Coat of arms

Location within the Russian Empire
CapitalSuwałki
Area
 • Coordinates54°5′N 22°56′E
History
History 
• Established
1867
• Disestablished
1914
Preceded by		Succeeded by
Augustów Governorate
Bialystok-Grodno District
Lithuania District
Today part ofPoland
Lithuania
Belarus

History
Suwałki Governorate (in light blue)

In 1867, the territories of the Augustów Governorate and the Płock Governorates were re-organised to form the Płock Governorate, the Suwałki Governorate (consisting mostly of the Augustów Governorate territories) and a recreated Łomża Governorate.

After World War I, the governorate was split between the Second Polish Republic and Lithuania, mostly along ethnic lines (with an exception of the area in the proximity of Puńsk and north of Sejny).[1] The Polish part, known as Suwałki Region, was incorporated into the Białystok Voivodeship. The Lithuanian region of Suvalkija was named after the governorate.

Demographics and economy

According to contemporary Russian Empire statistics, from 1889 the Suwałki Governorate was predominantly Lithuanian since they comprised 57.8% of the population.[2] Lithuanians formed a majority only in the northern part of the governorate in the counties of Kalvarija, Marijampolė, Naujamiestis, Vilkaviškis as well as the eastern part of the Sejny county. Poles were in a majority in the southern part of the governorate in the counties of Suwałki, Augustów and in the western part of the Sejny county.[3][4]

Before World War I, the Suwałki Governorate was economically the least developed area of Congress Poland. It was characterised by the lowest agricultural productivity and profitability. In 1912, the governorate had a population density of just 45 persons per km2, compared to Congress' average of 103 persons per km2.[5]

Population in 1897[6]
NationalityPeoplePercent
Lithuanians304,50052%
Poles134,00023%
Jews59,10010%
Germans30,5005%
Belarusians26,6005%
Russians24,5004%
Others3,700.7%
Total582,900100%

Administrative divisions

It was divided into seven counties:[7]

County County Seat Major Towns
Augustów County Augustów Lipsk • Raczki • Sopoćkinie
Kalvarija County Kalvarija Liudvinavas • Alytus • Simnas
Marijampolė County Marijampolė Balbieriškis • Pilviškės • Panemunė • Prienai • Zapyškis
Sejny County Sejny Kapčiamiestis • Lazdijai • Seirijai
Suwałki County Suwałki Bakałarzewo • Filipów • Przerośl • Wiżajny
Naujamiestis County Naujamiestis Sudargas • Šakiai
Vilkaviškis County Vilkaviškis Virbalis • Vištytis

References
  1. Łossowski 1996, p. 51.
  2. Šenavičienė, Ieva (1999). "Tautos budimas ir blaivybės sąjūdis" (PDF). Istorija. 40: 3. ISSN 1392-0456. Retrieved 2007-12-07.
  3. Łossowski, Piotr (1996). Konflikt polsko-litewski 1918-1920 (in Polish). Książka i Wiedza. pp. 10, 15. ISBN 978-8305127691.
  4. Borzęcki, Jerzy (2008). The Soviet-Polish Peace of 1921 and the Creation of Interwar Europe. Yale University Press. p. 4. ISBN 978-0300121216.
  5. Czerep, Stanisław (2007–2008). "Charakterystyka obszaru Mazur i północnego Podlasia, objętych operacją mazursko-augustowską w lutym 1915 roku" (PDF). Studia Podlaskie (in Polish). University of Białystok. 17: 89. ISSN 0867-1370.
  6. Nikolajew, Christina Juditha (2005). Zum Zusammenhang zwischen nationaler Identitätsbildung und Katholischer Kirche in Litauen (PDF) (in German). Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen. p. 16.
  7. Jonas Zinkus; et al., eds. (1988). "Suvalkų gubernija". Tarybų Lietuvos enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Vol. IV. Vilnius, Lithuania: Vyriausioji enciklopedijų redakcija. pp. 136–137.
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