Wiżajny
| Wiżajny | |
|---|---|
| Village | |
  Wiżajny | |
| Coordinates: 54°23′23″N 22°51′54″E / 54.38972°N 22.86500°E | |
| Country |
 Poland |
| Voivodeship | Podlaskie |
| County | Suwałki County |
| Gmina | Wiżajny |
| Population | 1,000 |
Wiżajny (Lithuanian: Vižainis) [viˈʐai̯nɨ] is a village in Suwałki County, Podlaskie Voivodeship, in north-eastern Poland, close to the border with Lithuania.[1] It is the seat of the gmina (administrative district) called Gmina Wiżajny. It lies approximately 35 kilometres (22 mi) north of Suwałki and 143 km (89 mi) north of the regional capital Białystok.
The village has a population of 1,000.
History
In the 6th-9th centuries this area has been inhabited by the Baltic tribe of Yotvingians. The first mention of the settlement comes from 1253 when it was recorded as "Weyze", which was most likely taken from the name of a nearby lake, which in turn was derived from the Lithuanian word vėžės, or crawfish. In the 14th century there was an inn next to the road from Wyłkowyszki to Sejny. According to legend, in 1409 Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland Władysław Jagiełło hunted aurochs here and hence called the place Stumbrinė.[2][3]
In 1570 the place was granted town status, in 1606 it had 4 streets: Stara, Wierzbołowska, Siemiańska i Sejweńsk. Around 1800 the town was granted the coat of arms and right to build the town hall.[4]
References
- ↑ "Central Statistical Office (GUS) - TERYT (National Register of Territorial Land Apportionment Journal)" (in Polish). 2008-06-01.
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Coordinates: 54°23′23″N 22°51′54″E / 54.38972°N 22.86500°E