Jasienica

Jasienica is a rural municipality located in the Silesian Voivodeship, within Bielsko County, with its administrative seat in the village of Jasienica. It was established in 1991 when two separate local government units were carved out from a single municipality: Jasienica and Jaworze. Belonging to the Cieszyn Silesia Euroregion, the municipality covers an area of 91.714 km², predominantly agricultural land (60.41%). In 2021, it was home to 24,352 people, accounting for 14.63% of the population of Bielsko County. Historically, in 1910, the area of the present-day municipality comprised 13 smaller villages with a total population of 11,392. Demographically, the municipality has seen population growth despite a recent decline in the number of children and adolescents; in 2021, there were more deaths (293) than births (248). Catholicism is the dominant religion in Jasienica, with parishes belonging to the Diocese of Bielsko-Żywiec and several Evangelical congregations. The municipality has a diverse religious structure, including minorities such as Jehovah's Witnesses and Seventh-day Adventists. It consists of 14 village administrative units (sołectwa), whose residents vary in population and area. Jasienica borders Bielsko-Biała and several other municipalities, highlighting its close proximity to the Bielsko urban agglomeration. An interesting feature is the variety of architectural forms, including Catholic and Evangelical churches, which serve as important cultural and social landmarks, enriching the local heritage and history.