Administrative and Territorial changes of the Łódź voivodeship in 1919–2002

Abstract

The article analyzes the administrative and territorial structure of the Lodz Voivodship over almost a hundred years of its existence in various political configurations. In the interwar period, after the creation of the voivodship, numerous changes were made in its territorial structure. Unfortunately, the Nazi occupation disintegrated all those administrative efforts. After regaining independence, the previous solutions were returned, and then numerous reforms were carried out, creating new poviats and replacing the communes with small clusters. Later, the communal structure was returned, however, poviats were liquidated by establishing a two-level administrative division. Its consequence was the division of the Lodz voivodship between several other ones, while in the center there was created a small voivodship with the capital in Lodz. As a result of political changes in the late 1990s, the three-level administrative division was reactivated. A large Lodz voivodship was created again, divided into poviats and communes. Its administrative and territorial structure, as well as external borders largely resemble previous solutions. Despite the administrative reforms carried out in various political and systematic configurations, it was possible to maintain the territorial cohesion of the area in question.