Tiszaújváros

Tiszaújváros is an industrial town in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county, Northern Hungary, 35 km south-east of Miskolc, near the river Tisza.

Tiszaújváros owes its existence to the industrialization wave that took over the then-socialist Hungary after World War II. The government wanted to speed up industrial development and to create new job opportunities in the north-eastern part of the country. The town is one of the few Hungarian towns that don't have a history dating back to the Middle Ages or even earlier periods, although it was built near to an old village called Tiszaszederkény (which was eventually annexed to the new town) and used the name Tiszaszederkény until 1970.

The construction of the town began on the 9th September 1955; among the first buildings was a thermal power station and some blocks of flats around it. In the next stage of construction the Tiszai Vegyi Kombinát ("Chemical Factory") was built. It is one of the major chemical complexes in Hungary and, according to their website, represents more than 20% of petrochemical capacities in Central Europe. The first production unit, the paint factory started operating in 1961. Newer production units produce chemical fertilizers and polyetilene. An oil refinery was built too.

The factories needed workers, so living quarters were needed in the town. By 1962 several houses were built, shops and restaurants were opened. On 1st June 1961 the council of Tiszaszederkény moved to the new town. The first stage of construction was over. During the second stage (1962–1965) more houses and shops were built. By 1966 there were 1,464 flats for the workers, and on 1st April 1966 the town was officially granted town status. Between 1966 and 1970 – in the 3rd stage of town construction – two primary schools, a secondary school and a community centre were built. The town was now inhabited by 10,000 people.

On 22nd April 1970 – the 100th anniversary of Lenin's birth – the town's name was changed to Leninváros (Lenin Town).

In the 80s the town developed slower, but steadily. In 1989 the socialist regime ended in Hungary, and on 22nd November 1990 the town's name was changed to Tiszaújváros (literally: "new city on the Tisza"; another Hungarian industrial town, Sztálinváros – Stalin Town – similarly changed its name to Dunaújváros, "new city on the Danube"). During the 90s the town developed fast, three churches and several new houses were built.

One of the most popular tourist attractions is a thermal bath and water park with chutes.

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