Uście Gorlickie

Uście Gorlickie Commune, located in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Gorlice County, is an area with a rich religious, ecological, and demographic structure. The commune comprises several parishes, including three Roman Catholic parishes and three Greek Catholic parishes, as well as six parishes of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church. The commune is also home to congregations of the Christian Pentecostal Community and Jehovah's Witnesses, as well as representatives of the Buddhist Diamond Way Association of the Karma Kagyu Lineage. The commune covers an area of 287.41 km², of which 34% is agricultural land and 62% is forested, making it a region abundant in greenery. Uście Gorlickie Commune constitutes 29.71% of the area of Gorlice County. According to demographic data, as of June 30, 2004, the commune had 6,241 inhabitants, with 11.63% being of Lemko nationality, highlighting the cultural significance of the region. Historically, Uście Gorlickie Commune operated under various names and was administratively part of the Nowy Sącz Voivodeship from 1975 to 1998. The localities within the commune include Blechnarka, Brunary, Huta Wysowska, Leszczyny, and Uście Gorlickie, which serves as the commune's seat. The commune borders towns such as Gorlice, Grybów, Krynica-Zdrój, Ropa, and Sękowa, as well as Slovakia, offering rich access to diverse natural and cultural attractions. In 2014, studies were conducted on the age structure of the inhabitants, indicating dynamic demographic changes. Uście Gorlickie combines the history and traditions of various cultures and faiths, making it a place of unique heritage and social complexity.