Mirošov (Rokycany District)

Mirošov
Town
120px Flag 90px Coat of arms
Country	Czech Republic
Region	Plzeň
District	Rokycany
Commune	Rokycany
Elevation	457 m (1,499 ft)
Coordinates
Area	11.53 km2 (4.45 sq mi)
Population	2,227 (2006-08-28)
Density	193 / km2 (500 / sq mi)
First mentioned	1366
Mayor	Sýkora Vlastimil
Timezone	CET (UTC+1)
- summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	338 43
Location in the Czech Republic
Location in Rokycany District Location in Rokycany District
Wikimedia Commons: Mirošov
Statistics: statnisprava.cz
Website: www.mirosov.cz

Mirošov (German: Miröschau) is a town in Western Bohemia, the Czech Republic (Plzeň Region, Rokycany District), 7 km southeast of Rokycany, 457 m. above sea level. Mirošov is located on the Skořický potok Stream that is joined by Příkosický potok Stream in the town's territory. In the east large forested complex of Brdy hills begins, its highest elevations being Tok (864 m. above sea-level) and Praha (862 m. above sea-level). Brdy hills reach to the proximity of Mirošov with elevation of Záborčí (569 m. above sea-level). 2 km southeast from Mirošov lies a settlement of Myť. This small village is under administration of Mirošov.

History

Mirošov was mentioned in 1366, when Dobrohost z Ronšperka donated his estates in Mirošov to the Dominican Order Monastery in Plzeň. Village was for centuries dominated by various feudal families. In 19th century however the face of Mirošov and its environs profoundly changed with discovery of rich coal deposits. In 1833 mining started in modest dimensions but the real impetus to industrial coal mining was given by 1857 when two individuals found mighty coal bed. Rapid development of coal mining industry followed. Several coal pits sprang up in and around Mirošov making this region one of the foremost coal producing localities in Bohemia. In 1871 growing Mirošov was proclaimed a small town ("městýs"). As early as 1869 Mirošov had railway link to Rokycany which gave local coal access to markets in Central Europe. The railway served for cargo transport only creating an intricate network of sidings into local coal pits. Since 1879 public transport started on the Mirošov-Rokycany railway too. In 1882 another stretch of this railway opened, connecting Mirošov with Nezvěstice on the main Plzeň-České Budějovice railway artery. At the height of industrial prosperity Mirošov hosted 1,600 miners however with increased exploitation coal reserves were relatively soon depleted and by 1904 mining stopped in Mirošov. Town's population dropped and local economy reverted to its semi-rural shape. Some small-scale mining continued until 1947.

Internment Camp

Main article: Expulsion of Germans from Czechoslovakia

After World War II Mirošov was the site of an internment camp for ethnic Germans. The (now deceased) commander of the camp, Frantisek Foukal, has been accused of killing 220 of the inmates through maltreatment and direct killings, of which there is photographic evidence for the latter.

Demography

As to ethnicity, Mirošov, has traditionally been a Czech settlement. After cessation of coal mining at the end of 19th century the population dropped and has stagnated thereafter.

Historical population
Year Pop. ±% 1890 2,322 —     1961 1,875 −19.3% 1970 2,186 +16.6% 1980 2,218 +1.5%	Year Pop. ±% 1991 2,045 −7.8% 2003 2,231 +9.1% 2007 2,194 −1.7%
Source:

Famous People from Mirošov

• Ladislav Feierabend (b. June 14 1891 in Kostelec nad Orlicí, d. Aug.15 1969 in Austria), Czech agrarian politician, owned chateau of Mirošov in 1939-48 and lived here for some time
• Karel Kašpar, (b. May 16 1870 in Mirošov, d. Apr.21 1941 in Prague), catholic Archbishop of Prague

External links

• Municipal website