The Area Neighbouring Pardubice
Authors: Vrána Otakar 
Published: February 2024

A continuous and intense increase of industrial production at Pardubice - especially of the chemical industry - has greatly influenced the whole environment of the city. In socialist states, the planned economy is concerned not merely with the development of the industrial plants themselves, but also controls the construction and development of their entire environment. There are two primary and three secondary criteria that influence more or less the situation in the Pardubice area. The primary criteria have been the continuous increase of population for the 80 years, and the everyday transport of a large number of working people to and from their work in Pardubice. The secondary criteria were the increase of population between 1930-1947, the housing-geographical aspect and the bus service. The delimitation of the area according to the migration of inhabitants has taken a considerable time to be accomplished. On the other hand, the everyday transport of workers to and from Pardubice is of a recent character. The 80 years long period of increase number of population has been divided into 4 periods by 20-21 years: 1869-1890, 1890-1910, 1910-1930, 1930-1950. Each of the villages lying in close proximity of Pardubice has been considered separately according to how many times the number of its inhabitants increased or decreased during the above four periods. In all four periods, villages situated in close neighbourhood of Pardubice recorded an increase of population. In another six villages farther to the North-West, population increased in number in three periods. Other villages in the Pardubice district multiplied the number of their inhabitants approximately twice, those near the boundary of the district merely once or even recorded a slight decrease. As an exception may be regarded the northern part of the district where a considerable influence of Hradec Králové has made itself felt. When analysing the journeying of workers to and from their work, we must consider it from two different viewpoints: in the first case, the final destination is the very town of Pardubice. In the second, also the neighbouring industrial chemical plants are implied. If we consider the town of Pardubice as the place of destination, we discover that the influence exercised upon its environs approaches that of other Czechoslovak town of approximately the same size. It depends upon the distance from the town's centre. The area in question measures 78 km2 with Pardubice lying in its centre. If the term "destination" is to involve also the adjoining chemical plants, the range of influence will automatically extend farther northwest. The area measures 80 km2 and has 16164 inhabitants (1950), meanwhile the remaining part of the district has 180 km2 with 13678 inhabitants. Together with the area covered by the town, it will enlarge to 107 km2 with 56044 inhabitants (1950). This area corresponds roughly to the territory whose boundaries were marked out by the migration of population between 1869-1950. As secondary criteria may be considered changes in number of inhabitants performed between 1930 and 1947, caused on the hand by the evacuation of Germans from our country, on the other, by the consequent planting of new population in the evacuated areas. Any increase in number of inhabitants in villages in 1947 - compared with 1930 - may be regarded as an exception and consequently as a concrete proof of an enormous economic boom. In the Pardubice district only those villages under direct influence of the town recorded an increase in population between 1930 and 1947. The public bus service is no doubt the most essential means in the mass-transport of workers to their work. Consequently, it has been subjected to a detailed analysis all over the Pardubice area. The "collecting" area was determined by stating extreme points in villages from which the bus arrives at the town of Pardubice before 8 a.m. In the majority of cases they are identical with the terminal stations. The points were determined according to the amount of traffic going on a normal working day. The prime importance of the bus service is best evidenced by the fact that out of the total number of people coming to work in Pardubice, 60 % go by bus, 31 % by train, 1 % by motorcycle and 8 % by bicycle. An analysis of the bus service will help to complete the general idea of the extent of the bus traffic and the transport of workers. It cannot, of course, be used in the determination of the area surrounding the town. It may, however, be helpful in the determination of areas lying farther off the town. The network of the bus lines is thickest in the closest neighbourhood of Pardubice. It is due to the concentration of a whole number of lines. Villages, under direct influence of Pardubice, have changed completely, meanwhile those farther-off have only slightly altered. The results achieved in the above-mentioned analyses permit us to determine the area most influenced by Pardubice. It stretches in the form of a zone from northwest to southeast (see map) and includes 11 villages. The town of Pardubice is situated more to the South-East. The area - not including the town - covers 61 km2, i. e. 23 % of the territory of the whole district. In 1950 it had 11899 inhabitants (39 %). If we include the town, the area measures 85,5 km2 with 52635 inhabitants, i. e. 30 % of the total area of the district and 75 % of the population. The density of inhabitants is 172 people on a square kilometer compared with 93 people in the remaining parts of the district. The approximate number of people living at one house is 6 in the area closest to the town, 4 in other parts of the district and 9 in the town. The majority of inhabitants work in industry (1956 - 74,2 %). 20,2 % are employed in agriculture and only 5,5 % take up some other profession. Judging by the number of workers, nearly 90 % of all industry in the Pardubice district is concentrated in the town of Pardubice and its closest environs. Compared with 1869, the number of inhabitants has increased by 118 %, in the town by 350 % and in the remaining parts of the district by 10 % (see graph). There are certain irregularities in the agricultural production. Meanwhile there are 62 head of cattle and 102 head of swine on 100 ha arable land in the close environs of Pardubice, there are 75 head of cattle and 136 head of swine on 100 ha in the remaining parts of the district, which naturally would be expected to be the other way about. The area adjoining the town displays already all the characteristic qualities of a future suburb. However, as far as the agricultural production typical of suburban areas is concerned, the Pardubice area supplies with vegetables and fruits - especially early and perfectly working toes - not only the near-by foot-hill area but - thanks to a swift and perfectly working railway communication with Prague - also the capital. No marked increase in special agricultural production in the suburban area is necessary since the wide environment counterbalances with its supplies any possible shortage that may temporarily arise. The main task remains to see to it that all the planned construction in this area is carried out and converted into fact as soon as possible.