Success of the Biała Podlaska poviat in the interwar years – selected aspects of the demographic analysis

Abstract

The Biała Podlaska poviat was almost at the geographical centre of the interwarperiod Second Polish Republic (1918–1939). However, its peripheral position in relation to other Districts of central voivodships resulted in a number of events and processes that were taking place at that time having a slightly different outmode in its territory. The article attempts to present selected aspects of the demographic structure to confront the extent to which the field of interest diverges from the neighbouring areas. Besides a determination of the population of the district, its structure was analysed in terms of age, gender, level of urbanization and structure of employment. Particularly valuable information was obtained through confrontation of data from the 1921 and 1931 censuses in terms of changes taking place among employment in fundamental branches of the economy. The period was also important for the urban population, which is one of the determinants of the level of modernity of society. Presentation of population growth the county and its characteristics in terms of age and gender provided information on the demographic potential of the analysed area. The analysis provided a number of interesting data sets, somewhat corroborating the varied character of the Biała Podlaska district. The information can be used for further research on the history of the district.