Title: City Zhydachiv Status: The city of regional significance in the Lviv region, the administrative center of Zhydachiv area. Location: The city is located on the border of Podol hills and flat Carpathian Basin, up to 3 km from the confluence of the largest tributary - the river Stryi with the Dniester. Area: 13 sq. km Population: 11,700 inhabitants. Rivers: the Dniester, Stryi. The first mention in historical documents: 1164, city status was obtained in 1393. Historical note: One of the oldest cities in Carpathians. It was first mentioned as Udech (or Zudechev). Later in the documents about 25 names of the city were registered. In 1393 the city received Magdeburg rights, which helped its economic development. It became one of the major cities of Galicia, center of salt selling. In addition, residents engaged in farming and crafts. These classes are displayed on the emblem of the city in 1653 - a white salt head, blade of the plow, heart-shaped shield. In 1676 the Polish king Jan Sobieski, who prepared to war with the Turkish troops of Ibrahim Shaitan, was encamped near Zhydachiv. The fighting lasted for nearly a month. The decisive battle was on October 17, 1676. King signed a peace agreement by the Turks, took away 12,000 captives, and served in the church of Zhydachiv solemn prayer service in honor of the victory. Before World War II the town had about 4200 inhabitants - about 2,000 Ukrainians, 1,290 Poles, 950 Jews. During the Great Patriotic War in Zhydachiv the entire Jewish population was destroyed, and in the late 1940's all the Poles have left the city. In the postwar years, the city's development has been associated with the construction and activity of pulp and paper mill, which was launched into operation in 1951. After independence, plant and other enterprises of Zhydachiv sharply reduced production levels, and unemployment in Zhydachiv became one of the highest in the Lviv region. The main attraction: the Uspens'kyi Roman Catholic Church. Source of information: http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Жидачов