Pawłów

Pawłów, which has been a district of Zabrze since 1951, boasts a rich history dating back to 1774, when Mathias von Wilczek established the first colony, named after his son Paweł. Over the years, two settlements emerged: Lower Pawłów and Upper Pawłów, which merged into a single municipality in 1830. The first known depiction of Pawłów's coat of arms was the Blessed Virgin Mary, and later, Saint Paul was also featured. From the second half of the 19th century, Pawłów began to develop due to coal mining, leading to an influx of people—by 1870, it had 935 inhabitants, and by the end of the century, this number had grown to 3,000. In the 1920s, after being incorporated into Poland, Pawłów experienced intensive growth, reaching a population of 6,057 by 1924 and developing infrastructure: a municipal office, a police station, schools, and a cinema. The interwar period was a time of vibrant cultural life, with numerous organizations bringing residents together. Unfortunately, after World War II, the population declined significantly due to mining activities and emigration. Pawłów became a "bedroom community" of Zabrze, and today it has around 2,000 inhabitants. In terms of education, the beginnings of schooling in Pawłów date back to the 19th century, with a local school opening in 1875. In the following years, new institutions were established, but World War II halted further development. After the war, following administrative reorganization, two schools operated in Pawłów, which were eventually merged. Today, Primary School No. 34 in Zabrze and Kindergarten No. 30 form a school-kindergarten complex. Pawłów, with its architecture reflecting its historical development and rich social life, remains an important part of the regional history of Silesia.