Księżpol

Księżpol, formerly known as Kniaźpol, is a rural municipality in the Lublin Voivodeship, within Biłgoraj County, with its administrative seat located in the village of Księżpol. For many years, until the administrative reform of 1975, the municipality belonged to the Zamość Voivodeship. The history of the municipality dates back to the tsarist administrative reform between 1864 and 1866, when it was established as one of the 14 municipalities of Biłgoraj County in the Lublin Governorate. It underwent administrative changes in 1912 when it was incorporated into the Chełm Governorate, and in 1919 it was again included in the Lublin Voivodeship. During the interwar period, the municipality of Księżpol included numerous localities, such as Księżpol, Bukowiec, and Płusy, and as of September 30, 1921, it had a population of 5,138. As a result of the administrative reform in 1954, the municipality was dissolved and its area was transformed into smaller administrative units known as gromadas. However, in 1973, the municipality was reestablished with minor border adjustments. The municipality of Księżpol covers an area of 142.36 km², where agricultural land predominates, accounting for 71% of the area, and forest land constitutes 23%, making it one of the smaller municipalities in Biłgoraj County. In 2006, the municipality was home to 6,784 people. The area includes numerous village administrative units (sołectwa), such as Korchów, Markowicze, and Zanie, as well as localities without such status. The municipality borders the municipalities of Aleksandrów, Biłgoraj, Biszcza, Łukowa, and Tarnogród. An interesting event in the history of Księżpol was the secession attempt in 2011, when residents submitted an application to establish a new municipality called Majdan Stary. This led to a local referendum in 2013, which was ultimately invalid due to low voter turnout. With its rich historical and architectural heritage, the municipality of Księżpol showcases both regional traditions and the contemporary aspirations of the local community.