# Mirsk

Mirsk is a town in Lwówek Śląski County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district (gmina) called Gmina Mirsk, close to the Czech border. It is situated on the upper Kwisa river north of the Jizera Mountains, approximately 22 km (14 mi) south-west of Lwówek Śląski, and 118 km (73 mi) west of the regional capital Wrocław, within the historic region of Lower Silesia. As of 2019, the town has a population of 3,886.

## History

The settlement arose in the 13th century where the medieval trade route from Jelenia Góra to Zittau crossed the border with Upper Lusatia. As a result of the fragmentation of Poland, in 1319 it became part the small Piast-ruled Duchy of Jawor. It was granted town privileges modelled after nearby Lwówek Śląski by the Duke Henry I of Jawor in 1337 (according to other sources in 1329). Upon the death of his successor Duke Bolko II the Small in 1368, it passed to the Bohemian Crown and was enfeoffed to the noble House of Schaffgotsch in 1425. In 1431 it was successfully defended against the Hussites. An annual fair took place in the town from 1521. The town was one of the largest centers of linen cloth production in Silesia, as of the late 16th century. During the Thirty Years' War, troops from various countries plundered the town as many as 31 times.
With most of Silesia, it was annexed as Friedeberg by Prussia in 1742 and incorporated into the Silesia Province. Barracks for French troops were built near the town during the Napoleonic Wars. Four annual fairs were held in the town in the late 19th century. The town received railroad connections with Gryfów in 1884, Jindřichovice pod Smrkem in 1904 and Świeradów in 1909.
In 1938, part of the village of Skarbków was merged with the town. During World War II, the Germans created a forced labour camp for Jewish women at a linen spinning mill in Skarbków, which in 1944 became a subcamp of the Gross-Rosen concentration camp. In January 1945, the camp was dissolved and the prisoners were moved to a subcamp of Gross-Rosen in Chrastava in German-occupied Czechoslovakia.
After surrender of Nazi Germany, the border changes demanded by the Soviet Union at the Potsdam Conference placed the town in Poland. On June 24, 1945, Polish troops forced deportation of many townspeople, who had to march for two days by Mroczkowice, Wolimierz and finally to Radomierzyce. However, most returned to their homes, and suffered oppression and plundering by Polish militia. Eventually, all population had to leave their home on July 11, 1945. Polish settlers arrived to settle the town.
In 1961 the entire village of Skarbków was included within the town limits.

### Former names

German names, 1201–1945: Eulendorf, Fridberg, Friedeberg; Friedeberg am Queis to distinguish it from Brandenburgian Friedeberg (Strzelce Krajeńskie), Friedeberg/Isergebirge from 1934; for a short period after World War II literally translated as Polish: Spokojna Góra meaning "peaceful mountain". The present name, adopted in 1947, is derived from the Russian word "mir", translated as "peace", however, this word does not exist in the Polish language. It is possible that the post-war Polish authorities in Mirsk were forced to show gratitude to the Soviet Red Army for supposed liberation from the Nazis and for granting Poland the Recovered Territories.

## Demographics

| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1880 | 2,722 | — |
| 1890 | 2,670 | −1.9% |
| 1900 | 2,631 | −1.5% |
| 1910 | 2,553 | −3.0% |
| 1925 | 2,523 | −1.2% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1939 | 2,883 | +14.3% |
| 1950 | 2,388 | −17.2% |
| 1960 | 3,962 | +65.9% |
| 2010 | 4,111 | +3.8% |
Source: :

## Sports

The local football club is Włókniarz Mirsk. It competes in the lower divisions.

## Twin towns – sister cities

See twin towns of Gmina Mirsk.