Teschen District

Teschen District was a political district in Austrian Silesia of the Austrian Empire existing between 1850–1855 and 1868–1920. Its administrative center was the city of Teschen.

History

Revolutions of 1848 in the Austrian Empire led to various social, legal and also administrative reforms. In late December 1849, Austrian Silesia was re-established and was initially subdivided into seven political districts, including one with the seat in Teschen. Political districts were additionally divided into legal districts. Teschen political district consisted at the beginning of three legal districts: Teschen, Freistadt and Jablunkau. In the era of Bach's neo-absolutism political districts were abolished and replaced by district offices encompassing territories of the abolished legal districts. Political districts were re-established in 1868. Teschen political district was reshaped to include legal district of Friedek whereas Freistadt legal district was excluded to form the new Freistadt political district.
In 1880 Teschen political district was administratively divided into 101 municipalities. Until 1890 this number grew to 102 and on 1 January 1890 to 103. On 1 October 1901 Friedek legal district was excluded to form the re-established Friedek political district. After this Teschen political district had an area of 730 km², 70 municipalities.
According to the censuses conducted in 1880, 1890, 1900 and 1910 the population Teschen and Jablunkov legal districts were as follows:

	1880	1890	1900	1910
Teschen legal district	51,099	54,663	62,044	71,809
Polish-speaking	34,551	39,258	42,380	47,982
Czech-speaking	7,536	4,912	5,320	6,033
German-speaking	7,869	9,150	12,583	16,133
Jablunkau legal district	24,413	26,738	28,987	30,743
Polish-speaking	24,371	25,607	27,614	26,165
Czech-speaking	93	63	86	171
German-speaking	538	622	773	912

Traditionally the territory of those two legal districts was inhabited by Cieszyn Vlachs in the north and Silesian Gorals in the south, speaking Cieszyn Silesian and Jablunkov dialects. The results of those censuses and factors shaping national identity of the local population became a perennial subject of the political squabbles in the region. Additionally in terms of religion in 1910 the population with permanent residence consisted of Roman Catholics, Protestants, Jews and 201 others.
After World War I and fall of Austria-Hungary the region of Cieszyn Silesia including the territory of Teschen political district became disputed land between Czechoslovakia and Poland. This led to Polish–Czechoslovak War and the division of the region and district on 28 July 1920, by a decision of the Spa Conference. The part of Teschen district that was found within Czechoslovakia was superseded by Český Těšín District whereas the other part found in Poland was replaced by Cieszyn County, that was enlarged by municipalities of Freistadt and Bielitz districts.

Municipal division

As of 1910:
;Jablunkau legal district

;Teschen legal district