Subdivisions of Congress Poland

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Administrative division of Congress Poland in 1830. This map represents the period 1816-1837 and is mostly valid for the period of up to 1844. Administrative divisions of Congress Poland in 1830 ENG.png
Administrative division of Congress Poland in 1830. This map represents the period 1816-1837 and is mostly valid for the period of up to 1844.
Administrative division of Congress Poland, 1907. This map represents the period 1893-1912, and is mostly valid for the most part for 1867-1914. Polska 1907 adm.png
Administrative division of Congress Poland, 1907. This map represents the period 1893-1912, and is mostly valid for the most part for 1867-1914.
Historical map showing the administrative division of Congress Poland, 1831. Congress Poland 1831.jpg
Historical map showing the administrative division of Congress Poland, 1831.
Historical map showing the Western governorates of the Russian Empire, 1902 (including those of Congress Poland). Gubernie zachodnie krolestwo polskie 1902.jpg
Historical map showing the Western governorates of the Russian Empire, 1902 (including those of Congress Poland).

Congress Poland was subdivided several times from its creation in 1815 until its dissolution in 1918. Congress Poland ("Russian Poland") was divided into departments, a relic from the times of the French-dominated Duchy of Warsaw. In 1816 the administrative divisions were changed to forms that were more traditionally Polish: voivodeships, obwóds and powiats. Following the November Uprising, the subdivisions were again changed in 1837 to bring the subdivisions closer to the structure of the Russian Empire when guberniyas (governorates) were introduced. In this way, Congress Poland was gradually transformed into the "Vistulan Country". Over the next several decades, various smaller reforms were carried out, either changing the smaller administrative units or merging/splitting various guberniyas.

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Subdivisions in modern Lithuania

Congress Poland in 1914 CongressPoland1914Map.png
Congress Poland in 1914

Today, almost all of the subdivisions of Congress Poland may be found, in similar territorial areas, in modern Poland. A few, roughly in the northern panhandle of Congress Poland, are to be found in modern Lithuania. They are:

Changes in subdivisions by period

From 1816 to 1837

On January 16, 1816, the areas of administrative jurisdiction were reformed from the departments of the Duchy of Warsaw into the more traditionally Polish voivodeships, obwóds and powiats. Eight voivodeships were created:

From 1837 to 1842

On 7 March 1837 the voivodeships were reorganised as eight guberniyas (governorates):

From 1842 to 1844

In 1842 the Polish powiats were renamed to okręgs and the Polish obwóds were renamed powiats.

From 1844 to 1867

In 1844 several governorates were merged with others, and some others renamed. Five governorates remained:

GovernorateName in RussianName in PolishSeat
Warsaw Governorate Варшавская губернияGubernia warszawska Warsaw
Augustów Governorate Августовская губернияGubernia augustowska Suwałki
Lublin Governorate Люблинская губернияGubernia lubelska Lublin
Płock Governorate Плоцкая губернияGubernia płocka Płock
Radom Governorate Радомская губернияGubernia radomska Radom

From 1867 to 1893

The 1867 reform, initiated after the failure of the January Uprising, was designed to tie Congress Poland (now de facto the Vistulan Country) more tightly to the administration structure of the Russian Empire. It divided larger governorates into smaller ones. A new lower level entity, gmina, was introduced. This time ten governorates were formed:

GovernorateName in RussianName in PolishSeat
Warsaw Governorate Варшавская губернияGubernia warszawska Warsaw
Kalisz Governorate Калишская губернияGubernia kaliska Kalisz
Kielce Governorate Келецкая губернияGubernia kielecka Kielce
Łomża Governorate Ломжинская губернияGubernia łomżyńska Łomża
Lublin Governorate Люблинская губернияGubernia lubelska Lublin
Piotrków Governorate Петроковская губернияGubernia piotrkowska Piotrków
Płock Governorate Плоцкая губернияGubernia płocka Płock
Radom Governorate Радомская губернияGubernia radomska Radom
Siedlce Governorate Седлецкая губернияGubernia siedlecka Siedlce
Suwalki Governorate Сувалкская губернияGubernia suwalska Suwałki

From 1893 to 1912

A minor reform of 1893 transferred some territory from the Plotsk and Lomzha Governorates to the Warsaw Governorate.

GovernorateName in RussianName in PolishSeatArea,
in thousands of km2		Population,
in thousands,(1905)
Warsaw Governorate Варшавская губернияGubernia warszawska Warsaw 17,62233
Kalisz Governorate Калишская губернияGubernia kaliska Kalisz 11,3964
Kielce Governorate Келецкая губернияGubernia kielecka Kielce 10,2899
Łomża Governorate Ломжинская губернияGubernia łomżyńska Łomża 10,6645
Lublin Governorate Люблинская губернияGubernia lubelska Lublin 16,91341
Piotrków Governorate Петроковская губернияGubernia piotrkowska Piotrków 12,21640
Płock Governorate Плоцкая губернияGubernia płocka Płock 9,4613
Radom Governorate Радомская губернияGubernia radomska Radom 12,4917
Siedlce Governorate Седлецкая губернияGubernia siedlecka Siedlce 14,3894
Suwalki Governorate Сувалкская губернияGubernia suwalska Suwałki 12,4629

From 1912 to 1919

The 1912 reform created a new governorate – Kholm Governorate – from parts of the Sedlets and Lublin Governorates. However this was split off from the Vistulan Country and made part of the Southwestern Krai of the Russian Empire.

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