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 The
development of the Katowice village began with the Berlin railway building (1846) which led to
Myslowice. Very important incident was taking over land estates by the Winckler family. To the settlements situated on both sides of the Rawa
River people started to arrive in business. Pitman and mining entrepreneur Franz Winkler converted surrounding villages into industrial city.
The executor of this idea was another pitman of Tarnowskie Gory mine - Friedrich Wilhelm Grundmann to whom the management of the Katowice
estates was entrusted in 1839.
The city was developing according to the project of Nottenbohn builder. Plan of spatial building was determined by the old track from Myslowice
to Szopienice, and further to Bogicice-Zawodzie, and then alongside Rawa River. By the east-west, two squares were built which exist up till
now: Market Square and Wolnosci Square. The former was cut with the north-south road which led from Mikolow to Krolewska Huta (Royal Steelworks)
- nowadays Chorzow - and Bytom.
 In
1865 Katowice village received municipal rights. Shortly Katowice were promoted to the district. In the times of the Grundmann's regime, the
first monumental structure was built - evangelical church on Warszawska St. (1856-1858), then there were also build neo-gothic church on
Mariacka St. (1870), monastery and Bonifrant Fathers' hospital, convent and orphanage of Jadwiga Sisters and Saint Szczepan church in Bogicice.
In
1889 resilient industrial concern 'Kattowitzer Aktien-Gesellschaft' situated in Katowice and then five well-known banks. In Katowice
industry was developing rapidly - mainly mines and steelworks - during Prussian Reign (since 1742), especially in XIXth century. At the end of
this century originated a few important for the economic city development institutions: Upper Silesian Carbon Convention, Union of Mining and
Metallurgical Industrialists, Post State Management, Management of Prussian and Royal Public Railway. Simultaneously to the city development,
polish revolt against germanising actions arose.
In
the beginning of the XXth. century by the Market Square, a Municipal Theatre was built (1906-1907) according to the German (from Kolonia)
architect - Karol Moritz project. Unfortunately, during the renovation of the building in the 70's, sculptural decoration of the facade was
partly destroyed. In 1906 extension of railway station was finished which nowadays is not used in his previous cap acity.
The beginning of the First World War did not cause any destruction and losses in Katowice. In contrary, it stimulated industry development and
good economic conditions especially for the steelworks. Warfare did not afflict contemporary population and their numerous taking part in three
Silesian Uprisings (1919-1921) referendum caused attachment of Katowice to the reborn Polish State (20th. June 1922). Soon the city
became the capital of autonomous Silesian Province, base of Silesian Parliament and Upper Silesian Mixed Committee.
In Katowice the times between wars was a period of intensive development. It was not Prussian industry centre, but the biggest economic centre
in Poland, capital of the richest region.
In
1924, Katowice was the base of: 53 banks, 8 foreign diplomatic subsidiaries and few international concerns. Increase of the capital caused
increase of investments in municipal infrastructure. Mainly south part of the city was extended - from railways to Brynow, Muchowiec. As for
contemporary times, very luxurious housing estates and monumental sacral buildings were being built. Finished in 1927 airport guaranteed contact
with Warsaw. Representative building of Silesian Parliament and Provincial Government were being built during 1926-1929. In the neighbourhood
were built: building of Not-joined Governments (nowadays building of the Silesian University) and Silesian Museum (pulled down by nazists).
Symbol
of dramatic defence of the city against German army in 1939 became the Parachuting Tower in Tadeusz Kosciuszko Park and House
of the Rebel by the Matejko Street. On  8th.September
1939 whole Upper Silesia was incorporated into 3rd. Reich. Occupants made out of Katowice a base of the province. Warfare did not
cause major destruction in municipal buildings apart from: barbarian burning synagogue by the Mickiewicz Street and pulling down the building of
Silesian Museum (until now is not rebuilt).
After liberation in 1945, the city regained former status of industrial and administrative centre. Unpleasant, lasting for three years
episode was change of the name of Katowice into Stalinogrod in 1953.
Importance of the city as a scientific and cultural centre was increasing constantly; Katowice became inter alia university city. In the times
of Popular Poland many new housing estates were built, inter alia, Koszutka, Tysiaclecie, Paderewski, Ochojec, Ligota, Zaleska Halda. Provincial
Park of the Culture and Recreation originated. The Silesian University, which was the only in the region, was opened. Spectacular and sport hall
called 'Spodek' (spaceship) was built and it became a symbol of Katowice.
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