Kociewie – Slownik Geograficzny Translations

Hello,

Below is my translation of the Słownik Geograficzny Krolestwa Polskiego entry for the Kociewie. This is an entry about a specific regional area of an ethnic group that resides in the area surrounding Starogard Gdański, near Gdańsk. Any errors in the translations are completely my own.

Kociewie,

A land called Kociewie that is in West Prussia. It occupies more or less the whole district (powiat) of Starogard and part of the neighboring district of Kwidzyn, positioned at the left bank of the Wisła. Its northern border is at Żuława where Powiat Gdańsk begins, its western border is Powiat Kościerzyna where Kaszubia is located, and its southern border is Świecie. From the east, the Wisła River constitutes as its boundary. The length of the land from north to south is 6 mila long and its core width is 4 mila. The name Kowiecie probably comes from the numerous basins (i.e, the swamps and marshes surrounding the mountains), in which the most hilly areas are facing the mountains and surrounded by meadows and lowlands in ice. To this day it is called “Kociełkami”.

Nearly the center by itself, stretches from the west to east band of the Baltic-Ural hills (Uralisch-baltischer Landsrucken). The most prominent river, besides the Wisła, is the Wierzyca, which flows into the Węgiermuca, the Jonek stream, the Milcicha (now the Liszki), and the Bacha. Lakes are also present, like: Lake Czarne near Skórcz, Lake Czarnoleskie, the Great Lakes of Osieckie, Lake Borzechowskie, Lake Sumińskie, Lake Spęgawskie, Lake Pienążkowskie, Lake Płochocińskie, and others. Kociewie has adequate supplies of fuel. Up to now, the beginning portions of the Great Tuchoła Forest belong to Kociewie. Moreover, the lesser forests stretch for a long, narrow, strip near Borkowo, Pelplin, Klonówki, and Spęgawsk. Then more separately by Gniew and Opalenie. Peat bogs are quite numerous here in the meadows and marshes, particularly in Grabowo, Grabwiec, Brzeźno, Smoląg, etc. The soil, for the most part, is fertile, and it yields all sorts of types of grains, such as: wheat, rye, barley, peas, oats, turnips, etc.

There are atleast 3 cities in Kociewie: Nowe, Gniew, and Starogard Gdański; besides those, there are 2 markets: Skórcz and Pelplin (which is also the Bishopric of Chłemno). The population for the most part is Polish, particularly within the villages (see Kociewiacy). Churches that you encounter are relatively numerous and well to do in this area. The following Catholic Parishes, in addition to the cities, belong to Kociewie: Bobow, Dąbrówka, Klonówka, Lubichowo, Barłożno, Skórcz, Kóscielna Jania, Lalkowy, Pieniążkowo, Grabowo, Dzierzążno, Pelplin, Walichnowy, Nowa Cerkiew, Garc, Królów Las, Piaseczno, Opalenie al. Misterwałd, Pączewo, Czarny Las, Tymawa, Subkowy, Lignowy, Rajkowy, Jabłowo, Komorsk, Płochocin, and others. The following Lutheran Parishes, in addition to the cities, belong to Kociewie: Budnie, Skórcz, Borzechowo, and Osie.

Railways in both directions pass through Kociewie: the following stations are from the north-south Tczew-Bydgoszcz railway line: Tczew, Subkowy, Pelplin, Czerwińsk, and Warlubie. The north-west end of the second and new Tczew-Piła railway line, cuts through the following stations: Swarożyn, Starogard Gdański, and Zblewo. Well travelled roads are relatively quite numerous: 1) the Gdańsk-Bydgoszcz Road is near Subkowy, Rudno, Pelplin, Gniew, Nowe, and Warlubie; 2) Kwidzyń-Czerwińsk; 3) Czerwińsk-Skórcz-Starogard Gdański; 4) Jabłowo-Pelplin; 5) Chojnice-Starogard Gdański-Tczew. In addition there is a planned road from Gniew to Morzeszczyna, where there will be a new Tczew-Bydgoszcz railway station continuing sideways to Skórcz. Kś. F.

Słownik Geograficzny Krolestwa Poliskiego – Warsaw [1895, vol. 04, p.230]. Retrieved from http://www.mimuw.edu.pl/polszczyzna/SGKP/SG04.djvu?djvuopts&page=230

Best Regards,
Al