Kępice

Kępice, known until 1946 as Hammermühle (Businko), is a town in the Pomeranian Voivodeship, within Słupsk County, with a rich history dating back to medieval times. Located in the valley of the Wieprza River and surrounded by the forests of the Słupsk Wilderness, it serves as the administrative seat of the urban-rural gmina of Kępice. Historically, the town is connected to Western Pomerania and was once an industrial center. In the 19th century, under the rule of Prussian Prime Minister Otto von Bismarck, the construction of the "Papierfabrik Hammermühle" paper mill began, which contributed to rapid settlement development and population growth, reaching 2,169 inhabitants by 1939. During World War II, factories in Kępice used forced laborers, including Poles, to produce counterfeit currency and aircraft equipment. After the war, the town came under Polish administration, and the process of expelling the German population and settling Poles from the eastern borderlands led to a demographic shift. In 1959, Kępice gained the status of a workers' settlement, and in 1967, it was granted town rights. Transportation in Kępice is served by Voivodeship Road 208 and a railway line, providing convenient connections to nearby towns. Religious communities in Kępice include a Roman Catholic parish and a Jehovah's Witnesses congregation. The town also has international partnerships, including with Bomlitz and Bystra-Sidzina. Thanks to its industrial heritage and picturesque location, Kępice is an interesting place for both residents and tourists.