Lutowiska

Lutowiska, formerly known as the Szewczenko Commune, is a rural municipality located in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship, in the Bieszczady County. It is the southernmost municipality in Poland and one of the largest in terms of area, ranking 7th in the country, while also having the lowest population density. Historically, the municipality was demographically diverse; in 1931, it was home to 18,491 people, but by 2004, this number had dropped to 2,221. These lands inspired Maria Kownacka, a children's book author, in her novel "Na tropach węża Eskulapa" ("On the Trail of the Aesculapian Snake"). The history of the municipality dates back to 1934, when the collective commune of Lutowiska was formed from several individual rural municipalities. After World War II, the municipality became part of the administrative structures of the USSR, and its name was changed to Szewczenko. The Lutowiska Commune was reinstated in 1973. As part of the administrative reform, the municipality was abolished in 1954 and replaced by gromadas (smaller administrative units). In 2017, the municipality covered an area of 475.6 km², of which 82% was forest land and 11% agricultural land. Lutowiska borders the municipalities of Cisna and Czarna, as well as Ukraine and Slovakia. Among the interesting facts, it is worth noting that the eastern part of Bandrów Narodowy, which was not incorporated into Poland, is located within the municipality, along with several isolated houses administratively belonging to Boberka. The municipality also has honorary citizens, and its community is characterized by a strong connection to local heritage and nature.