![[Mrągowo city flag]](../images/p/pl-wm-mg.gif)
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image by Chrystian Kretowicz, 14 Nov 2008
The Teutonic Knights constructed a wooden fortress named Sensburg near
present-day Mrągowo in 1348. The settlement that began to develop near
the castle in 1397 probably received town rights between 1404 and 1407,
although it is verified that Grand Master Konrad von Erlichshausen affirmed
town rights in 1444.
Sensburg became part of the Duchy of Prussia in 1525. In the 15th and
16th centuries, the town suffered through fires and plagues. Part of the
Kingdom of Prussia since 1701, Sensburg was heavily damaged during the
Napoleonic Wars.
The town itself mostly remained a small hamlet in the mostly rural area
around it. Agriculture, fishing and the richness of the surrounding forests
provided the sources of income for the local population.
In 1871 Sensburg became part of the German Empire during the Prussian-led
unification of Germany.
In 1897 the town became connected to the railway system, which went
from Bischofsburg (Biskupiec) to Rastenburg (Kętrzyn).
As a result of the treaty of Versailles on 11 July 1920 the East Prussian
plebiscite was organized under the control of the League of Nations, which
resulted in 99,93 % of votes to remain in Germany (33.334 total) and 0,07
% for Poland (25 total).
At the end of World War II the town was heavily damaged and lost almost
20% of its buildings. The German population was largely expelled after
the war and replaced with Poles. From 1945 to 1947 the city was known by
the Polonized name Żądzbork. The city's name was, like other Prussian cities,
changed to the
current Mrągowo in 1947, in honor of Pastor Christoph Mrongovius (1764-1855),
known in Polish as Krzysztof Celestyn Mrongowiusz.
After the war Mrągowo remained a rural town with approximately 10,000 inhabitants; this number stayed almost constant until the late 1980s. In the following decade, mostly due to economic and political changes, the town gained some influence in the region and grew quickly into a regional center for economic business and tourism. Recently Mrągowo has tried to regain some of its former beauty and to represent the region. Piknik Country is an annual country music festival held in the town. (wiki)
Arms adopted in 1998
Flag adopted on June 29, 2000 (resolution # XXVI/3/2000).
Both confirmed on March 20, 2003 (resolution # V/9/2003),
"Arms: on the silver shield black bear's paw with golden nails.
The town's Coat of Arms derives from a local legend of the 15th century. It
claims that when a group of local farmers was being threatened by predators,
the townspeople tracked down a fearsome bear. They were only able to shoot
it in its paw, and it managed to flee to Rastenburg. Only upon its arrival
there did the bear succumb to its injuries. The bear's paw was brought
back to Sensburg and is honored in the coat of arms.
Flag: rectangular piece of cloth of the white color with two narrow
blue bands on both sides of it.
The Arms are placed in the middle of the white field.
Side bands are 1/5 of the total length of the flag each.
Ratio is 5:8."
Chrystian Kretowicz, 14 Nov 2008
![[Mrągowo city Coat of Arms]](../images/p/pl-wm)mg.gif)
image by Chrystian Kretowicz, 14 Nov 2008
