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{{other places|Chełmek}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Chełmek
| image_shield = POL Chełmek COA.svg
| image_skyline = Chełmek Urząd Miejski 21.JPG
| image_caption = Krakowska Street in Chełmek
| pushpin_map = Poland
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{POL}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Voivodeships of Poland|Voivodeship]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Lesser Poland Voivodeship|Lesser Poland]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Powiat|County]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Oświęcim County|Oświęcim]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Gmina]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Gmina Chełmek|Chełmek]]
| established_title = City rights
| established_date = 1969
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Andrzej Saternus
| area_total_km2 = 8.31
| population_as_of = 31 December 2021<ref name="population">{{cite web|url=https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/BDL/dane/teryt/jednostka|title=Local Data Bank|access-date=2 June 2022|publisher=Statistics Poland}} Data for territorial unit 1213034.</ref>
| population_total = 8810
| population_density_km2 = auto
| timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| coordinates = {{coord|50|7|N|19|15|E|region:PL|display=title,inline}}
| postal_code_type = Postal code
| postal_code = 32–660
| blank_name = [[Polish car number plates|Car plates]]
| blank_info = KOS
| website = {{URL|chelmek.pl}}
}}
'''Chełmek''' {{IPAc-pl|'|h|e|U|m|e|k}} is a town in [[Lesser Poland Voivodeship]] in southern [[Poland]].{{TERYT}} In 1975–1998 it belonged to [[Bielsko-Biała Voivodeship]]. As of December 2021, it has 8,810 inhabitants.<ref name = population /> Previously known for the ''Chełmek Shoe Factory'', which until 1947 was part of [[Bata Shoes]].

Chełmek lies in the wetland area along the [[Przemsza]] river, at the foot of the Skała hill (293 meters above sea level). The town is surrounded by forests.

==History==
{{More citations needed|section|date=August 2023}}

Chełmek was first mentioned in 1414. In 1490, it belonged to a parish from [[Jaworzno]], and until the [[First Partition of Poland]] in 1772, it was a small village, which was administratively located in the [[Kraków Voivodeship (14th century – 1795)|Kraków Voivodeship]] in the [[Lesser Poland Province of the Polish Crown]].

In 1772 Chełmek was annexed by the [[Habsburg monarchy|Habsburg Empire]], and made part of [[Galicia (Eastern Europe)|Galicia]]. The village was located right on the border between Prussian [[Silesia]], and Austrian Galicia. It was regained by Poles as a result of the [[Austro-Polish War]] in 1809 and became part of the short-lived Polish [[Duchy of Warsaw]], and after its dissolution in 1815, it became part of [[Chrzanów]] District of the [[Free City of Kraków]]. In November 1846, the Free City was annexed by [[Austrian Empire|Austria]], and in 1856, rail line from Kraków to [[Vienna]], via Chełmek was constructed. In the late 19th century, it had a population of 1,094.<ref>{{cite book|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i innych krajów słowiańskich, Tom I|year=1880|language=pl|location=Warszawa|page=560}}</ref> After [[World War I]], in 1918, Poland regained independence, and in the [[Second Polish Republic]], Chełmek belonged to the [[Kraków Voivodeship (1919–1939)|Kraków Voivodeship]], and due to proximity of the Silesian border, its residents helped Polish insurgents in Silesia (see [[Silesian Uprisings]]).

[[File:Chełmek Bata.jpg|thumb|left|Bata Shoes factory in Chełmek in the 1930s]]

Until 1931, Chełmek remained a poor village, whose inhabitants would emigrate from it, seeking for work at local coal mines. In 1931, however, legendary Czech businessman [[Tomas Bata]] decided to acquire land in Chełmek, to build a shoe factory here, together with a settlement for workers. In five years, the population of the village doubled, a new church, kindergarten, schools and culture house were built.

Following the joint German-Soviet [[invasion of Poland]], which started [[World War II]] in 1939, Chełmek was invaded and then [[Occupation of Poland (1939–1945)|occupied by Germany]] until 1945. In 1942, the Germans established and operated a [[List of subcamps of Auschwitz|subcamp]] of the [[Auschwitz concentration camp]] in the settlement.<ref name=aus>{{cite web|url=http://auschwitz.org/en/history/auschwitz-sub-camps/chelmek/|title=Chelmek|website=Memorial and Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau|accessdate=31 March 2021}}</ref> About 150 prisoners, mostly [[Jews]] deported from [[France]], [[Belgium]], and the [[Netherlands]], were subjected to [[Forced labour under German rule during World War II|slave labour]] in the subcamp.<ref name=aus/> 47 prisoners died in the subcamp.<ref name=aus/> The Germans left the village on 25 January 1945, and soon after the war, the school and the 1920s iron bridge over the Przemsza were rebuilt.

In 1947, the Bata Shoe Factory was nationalized, and in 1969 Chełmek received town charter.

==Demographics==
===Number of inhabitants by year===
{| class=wikitable
!Year
!Population
!Source
|-
|1995
|9307 {{increase}}
|rowspan="7"|<ref name = population />
|-
|2000
|9215 {{decrease}}
|-
|2005
|9091 {{decrease}}
|-
|2010
|9246 {{increase}}
|-
|2015
|9170 {{decrease}}
|-
|2020
|8912 {{decrease}}
|-
|2021
|8810 {{decrease}}
|}

==Sports==
The local [[Association football|football]] club is {{ill|KS Chełmek|pl}}. It competes in the lower leagues.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{official website|chelmek.pl}}
* [http://www.sztetl.org.pl/en/city/chelmek/ Jewish community in Chełmek] on Virtual Shtetl

{{Gmina Chełmek}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in Lesser Poland Voivodeship]]
[[Category:Oświęcim County]]
[[Category:Holocaust locations in Poland]]