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Karviná ( ; Polish: , ) is a city in Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic

, on the Olza River

. It is administrative center of Karviná District

. Karviná lies in the historical region of Cieszyn Silesia and is one of the most important coal mining centers in the Czech Republic. Together with neighboring towns it forms industrial Ostrava-Karviná Coal Basin.

It has 65,141 inhabitants (2001 census). 8.5% of the population are Slovaks and 8% of the population are Poles. Polish population is historically declining. There is also a growing Roma community.

History

Till 19th century it was a low importance village of Cieszyn Silesia, lying near the important town of Fryštát

. Discovery of coal led to rapid development of Karviná and surrounding villages, railroad tracks were soon built. After the split of Cieszyn Silesia in 1920 it became a part of Czechoslovakia

as a main mining center of the country. In 1923 it gained city rights. In October 1938 was annexed by Poland

, together with whole region known as Zaolzie and during World War II was a part of Nazi Germany. After the war it again became a part of Czechoslovakia. In 1948 Karviná, Fryštát and the surrounding villages of Darkov

, Ráj

and Staré Město were merged into one city named Karviná. The coat of arms of Fryštát was chosen as the coat of arms of Karviná and Fryštát became the historical center of this industrial city.

The period after WWII is characterized by economic orientation on heavy industry. Currently the town ranks among the ones with the dense heavy industry but slow restructuralization of heavy industry influence and the development of othee spheres of economic acitivites. At the same time Karviná is the center of education in this region with its wide range of specialized secondary schools and, especially, the Faculty of Commerce and Business of Silesian University. Since 1995 Karviná became the member of the national network of statutary towns in the Czech Republic.

Karviná is also an important cultural and educational center of the Polish minority in the Czech Republic.