Bielsko County

Bielsk County, established in 1999 within the Podlaskie Voivodeship, has its seat in the town of Bielsk Podlaski. The area includes the urban municipalities of Bielsk Podlaski and Brańsk, as well as rural communes such as Boćki, Orla, and Rudka, along with numerous smaller localities. In 2019, the county had a population of 54,353, which decreased to 54,058 by the end of June 2020. During the interwar period (Second Polish Republic), the region was ethnically diverse; according to the 1921 census, Poles made up 61.3% of the population, Belarusians 27.8%, and Jews 10.6%. Under the Polish People's Republic, the county underwent significant territorial changes, including the loss of substantial areas to the Soviet Union and the recovery of parts of the former Brześć County. In the 1970s, counties were abolished, but they were reinstated as part of the 1998 administrative reform. The unemployment rate in the county was 4.5% in 2019, with 1,100 registered unemployed. Religiously, the population is predominantly Roman Catholic (around 60%) and Eastern Orthodox (about 40%). Historically, the county's administrators (starosts), such as Józef Sienkowski and Włodzimierz Baranowski, played significant roles. The region exhibits rich cultural influences, blended traditions, and architecture reflecting its ethnic diversity, making Bielsk County a culturally and historically fascinating area.