Stochov (Czech pronunciation: [ˈstoxof]; German: Stochau) is a town in Kladno District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 5,400 inhabitants.

Stochov
Town hall
Town hall
Flag of Stochov
Coat of arms of Stochov
Stochov is located in Czech Republic
Stochov
Stochov
Location in the Czech Republic
Coordinates: 50°8′47″N 13°57′49″E / 50.14639°N 13.96361°E / 50.14639; 13.96361
Country Czech Republic
RegionCentral Bohemian
DistrictKladno
First mentioned1316
Government
 • MayorRoman Foršt
Area
 • Total
9.54 km2 (3.68 sq mi)
Elevation
448 m (1,470 ft)
Population
 (2024-01-01)[1]
 • Total
5,354
 • Density560/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
273 03
Websitewww.stochov.cz

Administrative parts

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The villages of Čelechovice and Honice are administrative parts of Stochov.

Etymology

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According to legend, the name is derived from sto chův (i.e. "hundred nannies") and refers to nannies, who take care here of young Saint Wenceslaus.[2] In fact, the name is derived from the personal name Stoch, meaning "Stoch's (court)".[3]

Geography

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Stochov is located about 9 kilometres (6 mi) west of Kladno and 29 km (18 mi) west of Prague. It lies in the Džbán range. The Loděnice River flows along the northern municipal border.

History

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The first written mention of Stochov is from 1316. It used to be a small village until the second half of 20th century, when a large housing estate was built west of Stochov to accommodate the increasing number of people working in coal mines in the Kladno area in the 1950s and 1960s. Subsequently, Stochov gained town status in 1967.[4]

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±%
1869909—    
1880880−3.2%
1890880+0.0%
1900985+11.9%
19101,119+13.6%
YearPop.±%
19211,096−2.1%
19301,263+15.2%
19501,102−12.7%
19614,333+293.2%
19706,561+51.4%
YearPop.±%
19806,131−6.6%
19915,425−11.5%
20015,397−0.5%
20115,398+0.0%
20215,279−2.2%
Source: Censuses[5][6]

Transport

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Saint Wenceslaus' Oak

The D6 motorway from Prague to Karlovy Vary runs through the municipal territory.

Stochov is located on the railway line Prague–Rakovník via Kladno.[7]

Sights

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According to legend, Saint Wenceslaus was born in Stochov and his grandmother Saint Ludmila then planted an oak tree to commemorate this event. The aged and half withered oak tree, estimated to be about 700–1,000 years old and called Saint Wenceslaus' Oak (Svatováclavský dub), is the main sight of the town, and is considered to be one of the oldest and most significant trees in the Czech Republic.[8][9]

A sandstone statue of St. Wenceslaus from 1887 stands in front of the oak tree.[9]

Twin towns – sister cities

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Stochov is twinned with:[10]

References

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  1. ^ "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2024". Czech Statistical Office. 2024-05-17.
  2. ^ "Svatý Václav se narodil u nás, tvrdí obyvatelé Stochova na Kladensku" (in Czech). iDNES.cz. 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2022-05-11.
  3. ^ Profous, Antonín (1957). Místní jména v Čechách IV: S–Ž (in Czech). p. 173.
  4. ^ "Historie" (in Czech). Město Stochov. Retrieved 2021-06-24.
  5. ^ "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011" (in Czech). Czech Statistical Office. 2015-12-21.
  6. ^ "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". Public Database. Czech Statistical Office. 2021-03-27.
  7. ^ "Detail stanice Stochov" (in Czech). České dráhy. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  8. ^ "Svatováclavský dub ve Stochově" (in Czech). BOTANY.cz. Retrieved 2022-05-11.
  9. ^ a b "Dub svatého Václava ve Stochově" (in Czech). CzechTourism. Retrieved 2022-05-11.
  10. ^ "Partnerství" (in Czech). Město Stochov. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
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