Sopot
This page is about the city Sopot in Poland. For other cities with the same name see Sopot (disambiguation)
Sopot (Kashubian: Sopòt; German: Zoppot) is a town on the South coast of the Baltic Sea in a metropolitan agglomeration called the Tricity (Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot) with some 50,000 inhabitants (2001). Sopot is located in Eastern Pomerania region, north-western Poland and is also a county-status city in Pomeranian Voivodship since 1999, previously a town in Gdansk Voivodship (1975-1998).
Sopot is quite a big health and tourism resort, well known for the longest wooden pier in Europe (called Molo, total length 515.5 m), from where there is a view on the Gulf of Gdansk. Sopot belonged to the Hanseatic city of Danzig from 1283 to 1807. Then it passed to the Kingdom of Prussia in 1814. From 1920 to 1939 it was part of the Free City of Danzig. September 2 1939 annexed by Germany, March 23 1945 captured by Red Army. Align with decisions of Potsdam Conference Sopot became part of Poland. The authorities of Gdansk Voivodship were located in Sopot untill the end of 1946.
Economy
Major corporations
Sports
There are many popular professional sports team in Sopot and Tricity area. The most popular sport in Sopot today is probably basketball thanks to the award winning Prokom Trefl Sopot, Polish Champion in men basketball in 2004. Amateur sports are played by thousands of Sopot citizens and also in schools of all levels (elementary, secondary, university).
Sports in Gdansk
- Prokom Trefl Sopot - men basketball team (Polish Champion 2004)
Sports in Tricity
- Arka Gdynia - football team (2nd league 2003/2004, Polish Champion 1979)
- Lotos VBW Clima Gdynia - women basketball team (Polish Champion 2004)
- KS Laczpol Gdynia - women handball team (1st league in season 2003/2004)
- Arka Gdynia - rugby team (1st league in season 2003/2004)
- Lotos Gdansk - cinder-track racing team (Polish Champion 2004)
- Energa Gedania Gdansk - women voleyball team (Seria A in season 2003/2004)
- Nata AZS AWFiS Gdansk - women handball team (Premier league in season 2003/2004)
- DGT AZS AWFiS Gdansk - men handball team (Premier league in season 2003/2004)
- SMS Gdansk - men handball team (1st league in season 2003/2004)
- Stoczniowiec Gdansk - men ice hockey team (Premier league in season 2003/2004)
- Lechia Gdansk - men football team
- AZS AWFiS Gdansk - rugby team (1st league in season 2003/2004)
Spa
The city of Sopot was found as spa by the doctor of court of Napoleon at the beginning of XIX century. At the beginning of XX century it was the favourite spa of Kaiser Wilhelm. In 20-ties, in the Grand Hotel was found a casino, as the primary source of money for the treasure of the free city.
City name
Sopot's name is the old Slavic word which means "spring" (source).
Population
1900: 11.800 inhabitants
1919: 18.400 inhabitants
1933: 30.800 inhabitants
1947: 26.900 inhabitants
1950: ? inhabitants
1960: 44.000 inhabitants
1970: 47.700 inhabitants
1975: 51.700 inhabitants
1980: 51.300 inhabitants
1990: 46,700 inhabitants
1995: 43,700 inhabitants
? 43,000 inhabitants (1998). ?
2000: ? inhabitants