Okresów

Okresów is the genitive plural form of the Polish word okres, which denotes an administrative district in several Central‑European countries, most notably the Czech Republic, Slovakia and, historically, Poland. In contemporary usage the term primarily refers to the second‑level territorial units of the Czech Republic (okresy) and Slovakia (okresy), where they function below the region (kraj) and above municipalities (obce). As of 2023 the Czech Republic is divided into 76 okresy, while Slovakia comprises 79, each administered by a district office responsible for state authority tasks such as civil registration, social security, and certain judicial matters.

In the Polish context, okresy existed between 1919 and 1950 as an intermediate level between voivodeships and gminas. They were introduced after Poland regained independence to streamline governance, borrowing the term from the Austro‑Hungarian administration. The 1950 reform replaced them with powiaty, and the term fell out of official use, persisting mainly in historical and statistical references.

The role of an okres varies by country. In the Czech Republic, district offices have been gradually transferred to the newly created self‑government units (obecní úřady), reducing the functional significance of okresy, though they remain important for statistical reporting and certain state services. In Slovakia, districts retain more administrative responsibilities, including policing, health‑care coordination, and education oversight.

Historically, the concept of the okres reflects the influence of Austro‑Hungarian administrative structures in the region. Its legacy endures in legal documents, demographic studies, and geographic descriptions, where the term serves as a useful reference to sub‑regional divisions across Central Europe.