Lower Tarkowo

Tarkowo Dolne is a village in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, within the Bydgoszcz County, in the administrative district of Nowa Wieś Wielka. Between 1975 and 1998, it belonged to the former Bydgoszcz Voivodeship. The village is situated south of Nowa Wieś Wielka, in a valley drained by the Noteć and Zielona Struga rivers. The national road No. 25 and the railway line No. 131 run through the area. Tarkowo Dolne is a sołectwo (administrative village district), with its buildings stretching along the eastern side of the road. The area of the sołectwo includes lowland terrain, used mainly as meadows and pastures, as well as the site of a disused Evangelical cemetery. Historically, Tarkowo was a noble village, first mentioned in 1489. In the 16th century, it belonged to the Roman Catholic parish in Pęchowo. During the 18th century, as part of the Dutch colonization (Olęder settlement), the village of Tarkowskie Olędry was established, divided into a noble part and a lower part inhabited by the Olęder settlers. In the 19th century, Tarkowo Olędry had a significant Evangelical community and was part of the Evangelical parish in Łabiszyn. After World War I, in 1920, Tarkowo Dolne became part of reborn Poland. Between 1945 and 1954, the village was a gromada (basic unit of administration) within the gmina (municipality) of Złotniki Kujawskie. The history of Tarkowo is marked by numerous administrative changes. Education in the village evolved from an initial educational unit to a later elementary school with German as the language of instruction. After the war, the school was closed down, and children were directed to the school district in Nowa Wieś Wielka. In 1964, the village gained bus transportation, followed in subsequent years by electrification, a water supply system, and cultural facilities. In 2002, Tarkowo Dolne had 328 inhabitants, and by 2011 the population had grown to 374. In recent years, 34 business entities have been registered, mostly small and micro-enterprises, alongside a rise in individual housing construction. With its rich history and flourishing architecture, Tarkowo Dolne is an interesting point on the map of Kuyavia.