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Radzilow History and Population Statistics

History
Chapter on Radzilow
From: Pinkas Hakehilot: Poland - Vol. IV,
Warszawa and its Region; Yad Vashem
History of Radzilow
From: Slownik Geograficzny
History of Radzilow
From: Starozytna Polska
History of Radzilow
By: Radzilow Primary School
Historical Account of Radzilow Up Until the Early 1900's
By: John Radzilowski
Coat of Arms

Radzilow Population Statistics (Compilation of Data From Many Sources):
Assuming the general population grew steadily from 1857 to 1921, and taking into account that Jews started to emigrate in much larger numbers during the early 1900's (there was a huge drop in their percentage of the population after WWI, from 55% to 34%, and therefore, they accounted for a large drop in the overall population as well), one can extrapolate that, at its high point, from 1905-1914, there were over 2,000 persons living in Radzilow, with Jews making up over 1,000 of those. Take note that these figures do not include surrounding farms and villages right outside of the town itself (see note for 1885).
Additional notes:
Invading Swedish armies sacked the town in the 1650's. In 1708 Poland became the scene of a war between Russia and Sweden. Swedish armies, commanded by King Charles XII, occupied the Radzilow area and built a fort to command the Biebrza crossings, about 15 km. upstream from Radzilow.
In 1885, the parish of Radzilow, belonging to the dekanate [deanery of the Catholic Church] of Szczuczyn, numbered 2,435 "souls" [believers]. The community of Radzilow, including the town and nearby villages, numbered 4,497 inhabitants.
Radzilow Population Statistics (Compilation)
Year 1564 After Swedish Invasion 1779 1808 1827 1857 1858 1880 1890 1893 1905 1906 1908 1914 1921
Houses 309 40 85 --- 101 --- 124 163 --- --- --- --- --- --- 259
Total Population 1,827 100 435 532 780 1,495 1,539 1,859 --- --- --- --- --- --- 1,983
Number of Jews --- --- --- 51 225 639 658 --- --- --- over 1,000 over 1,000 over 1,000 over 1,000 671
Percent Jews --- --- --- 10% 29% 43% 43% --- 38% 41% 51% 54% 51% 55% 34%
Radzilow Population Statistics (Breakdown of Data):
Percentage of Jews:
From: Elzbieta Kaczynska. "Powiat Szczuczynski (1866-1914) - Zcie Gospodarcze i Spoleczne" - [The District of Szczuczyn (1866-1914) - Its Socio-Economic Life]. Studia i Materialy do Dziejow Powiatu Grajewskiego. Warsaw, 1975; p. 42.
Percentage of Jews
1890 1893 1905 1906 1908 1914
Radzilow 38% 41% 51% 54% 51% 55%
Percentage of Jews:
From: Pinkas Hakehilot: Poland - Vol. IV, Warszawa and its Region; Yad Vashem
Year Total Population Number of Jews %
1808 532 51 10%
1827 780 225 29%
1857 1,495 639 43%
1921 1,983 671 34%
Various Population Statistics:
From: Slownik Geograficzny and the Radzilow Primary School
Year Houses Total Population Number of Jews %
1564 309 1,827 ----- -----
After Swedish Invasion 40 100 ----- -----
1779 85 435 ----- -----
1827 101 784 ----- -----
1858 124 1,539 658 43%
1880 163 1,859 ----- -----
1921 259 1,983 ----- -----