Michalowo

Michałowo is an urban-rural commune in the Podlaskie Voivodeship, within Białystok County. Its administrative seat is the town of Michałowo. The commune has undergone significant administrative changes – from 1975 to 1998 it belonged to the Białystok Voivodeship, and until 2008 it was a rural commune. According to demographic data, in 2012 the commune had 7,142 inhabitants, and by the end of 2019 this number had decreased to 6,565. The commune's area, covering 409.19 km², is diverse in terms of land use structure – 48% is agricultural land, and 37% is forests. The commune includes areas that before the war belonged to several local communes, including Michałowo, Zabłudów, and Hołynka. The history of the commune, dating back to the interwar period, is rich – in 1921, 3,645 people lived here, diverse in terms of religion and national identity. Michałowo is known for its sacral architecture, including historic Orthodox churches such as the St. Nicholas Church in Michałowo and Catholic churches, including the Church of Divine Providence in Michałowo. The region is also associated with the Podlasie Stork Trail, and the Narew River flows through the southern part of the commune. The commune borders Belarus and neighboring communes – Gródek, Narew, Narewka, and Zabłudów. An interesting fact is the ethnic diversity of its inhabitants, which in the 20th century included Poles, Belarusians, Jews, and others. Michałowo is a place with rich culture, history, and diverse traditions.