Tatabánya

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Tatabánya

Country:	Hungary
Counties of Hungary>County:	Komárom-Esztergom
Area:	91.45 km²
Population (2005): - Population density>Density:	71,154 778.06/km²
Postal code:	2800
Telephone numbering plan>Area code:	34
Geographic coordinate system>Coordinates:

Tatabánya is a city with county rights in Hungary in the Northern Transdanubian region. It is the capital of the county Komárom-Esztergom.

Location

The city is located in the valley between the Gerecse and Vértes Mountains, some 55 km from the capital. By virtue of its location, the city is a railway and road junction. The M1 (E60, E75) motorway from Vienna to Budapest passes through the outer city limits, and the Vienna-Budapest railway line also passes through the city.

History

Archaeological findings prove that humans have been living here since the Stone Age. The three historic predecessor settlements of Tatabánya are Alsógalla, Felsőgalla and Bánhida. Bánhida is the earliest settlement, it was first mentioned in 1288.

In the 16th century the Ottomans occupied the area. Around this time the inhabitants became Protestants. Later its feudal lords, the Esterházys populated the area with Roman Catholic German and Slovak settlers.

According to the 1787 census Alsógalla had 580, Felsőgalla had 842 inhabitants. The coal resources of the area were discovered around this time. Population began to grow, and a new mining colony was formed, later developing into the village of Tatabánya.

During the industrialization wave which took over the country after World War II several Hungarian towns were developed into large industrial cities. The four villages were united on October 1, 1947 under the name Tatabánya and it was elevated to town status. In 1950 it became the county capital of Komárom-Esztergom county (then called Komárom county.) In the 1980s it already had more than 80.000 inhabitants.

The industrial character of the city was significant until the fall of the Socialist government and the following political changes of 1989. After that the importance of heavy industry and mining decreased and the economic structure of the city has changed remarkably.

Infrastructure

According to the 2001 census Tatabánya has more than 30.000 households. 60% of them have central heating and telephone. Almost all households have access to the cable TV network. 98% of the city roads are paved, mass transport is well organized. Vértes Volán provides local and nearby coach services (http://www.vertesvolan.hu/).

Education

Until the mid-20th century, educational standards in the city were average, but in the second half of the century they deteriorated to below average, mostly because the local mines did not require their employees to have a high level of education. By the end of the 20th century though, this trend had reversed again. The city currently has two colleges, ten secondary schools, 16 primary schools, 18 kindergartens and 5 créches.

Culture and sports

The most important cultural institution is the Mari Jászai Theatre. The city has several other institutions (museums, libraries.)

Tatabánya has a football team called TBSC, founded in 1910. The town also has a successful handball team, Tatabánya Carbonex KC.

Tourist sights

• The Turul monument, above the city on the top of Gerecse Mountain, is the largest bird statue in Central Europe.

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