Staňkov (Domažlice District) Explained

Staňkov
Settlement Type:Town
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Plzeň
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Domažlice
Pushpin Map:Czech Republic
Pushpin Relief:1
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates:49.5539°N 13.0708°W
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Alexandr Horák
Established Title:First mentioned
Established Date:1233
Area Total Km2:20.50
Elevation M:387
Population As Of:2024-01-01
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Total:3392
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone1:CET
Utc Offset1:+1
Timezone1 Dst:CEST
Utc Offset1 Dst:+2
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:345 61

Staňkov (in Czech pronounced as /ˈstaɲkof/; German: Stankau) is a town in Domažlice District in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 3,400 inhabitants.

Administrative parts

Staňkov is made up of the town parts of Staňkov I and Staňkov II, and the villages of Krchleby, Ohučov and Vránov.

Etymology

The name is derived from the personal name Staněk.[2]

Geography

Staňkov is located about 16km (10miles) northeast of Domažlice and 28km (17miles) southwest of Plzeň. It lies in the Plasy Uplands. The highest point is the hill Holubí hlava at 475m (1,558feet) above sea level. The Radbuza River flows through the town.

History

The first written mention of the village of Staňkov is from 1233. The market town of Staňkov was a separate settlement first mentioned in 1367. In 1271 the village was sold to Chotěšov Abbey and both the village and the market town were its property until 1425.[3]

Staňkov village and Staňkov market town existed separately until 1938, when they were merged into one municipality. In 1960, Staňkov became a town.[3]

During World War II, the metalworks in Staňkov were accidentally bombed by the RAF on 28 October 1940 when they were mistaken for the nearby Škoda Works.[4]

Transport

The I/26 road from Plzeň to the Czech-German border in Česká Kubice runs through Staňkov.

Staňkov is located on the railway line Plzeň–Domažlice and is the starting point of a local line to Poběžovice.[5]

Sights

The main landmark of Staňkov is the Church of Saint James the Great. It is originally a Gothic church from the 14th century. The tower was raised in 1673. Baroque modifications were made in 1738.[6]

The town hall is a late Baroque building from the end of the 18th century, after the old town hall from 1620 was destroyed by a fire in 1794. In the 19th and first half of the 20th century, the building was modified to its present appearance.[7]

Notable people

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2024. Czech Statistical Office. 2024-05-17.
  2. Book: Profous, Antonín. Místní jména v Čechách IV: S–Ž. 159–160. 1957. cs.
  3. Web site: Historie. Město Staňkov. cs. 2021-06-13.
  4. National Archives: FO 370/24292/10821
  5. Web site: Detail stanice Staňkov. České dráhy. cs. 2024-07-15.
  6. Web site: Kostel sv. Jakuba Většího. National Heritage Institute. cs. 2024-07-15.
  7. Web site: Radnice. National Heritage Institute. cs. 2024-07-15.