K. Peak Ildikó et al.: Salgótarjánról diákoknak (Salgótarján, 2014)
Egy formálódó várostól a kulturális központig
Abstract Salgótarján owes its importance to coal mining. The place was named after the Hungarian conquering tribe named Tarján and the Turk word Salgó („bright"). In the early Middle Ages the lords of the area were the Kacsics family. During the Ottoman occupation of Hungary the area was located near the border of the territories occupied by the latter. The brown coal deposits were discovered during the middle of the 18th century. During this time the Jankovich family controlled this area. The mining for industrial purposes started in this area int he 1840s. The Pest - Salgótarján railway, built between 1863 and 1867 was crucial in the development of the village. The mining was directed by the Salgótarjáni Kőszénbánya Rt („the „Mine"). The other factory, which directed the life of the village was the Rimamurányi- Salgótarjáni Vasmű Rt. This ironworks had a particularly great influence on the infrastructural and cultural development of the village. The glass factory started to work in 1893 and the iron-foundry and engine factory had functioned since 1894. The industrial developments involved the rapid growth of the number of the population. The trade and the service industry grew. There were more and more district offices, which moved in the village, which was the scene of armed clashes in the May of 1919. Salgótarján became a town in 1922, its first mayor was Kálmán Förster. Salgótarján was a real workers' town, the major part of the population worked in mining and industry. The overall view of the town was characterized by housing shortage and chaos. The first measures of Kálmán Förster were aimed put an end to these. At this time the Cultural Clubs were used for the education of the population. The Balassi Bálint Asztaltársaság was established as a club of the writers, artists and musicians of the town. The first public works were created and famous artists were working at this time like József Bátki, Károly Bóna Kovács and Frigyes Fayl.The tourism and the sporting life became active and the industry continued to develop further. During the World War II there were no fights in the town and the townscape was not touched by the ravages of the war. Salgótarján became a county town in 1950. The working class was still the largest social group. They were the heroes of the 1956 uprising and the most of the victims of the volley on 8th December. After the first half of the 1960s the development of a modern city was started along the changes in the city's economical structure. In addition to the reconstruction of industrial plants and establishment of new ones new housing estates were set up. It was necessary to increase the number of the intellectuals. The reconstruction of the factories and the beginning of the city-planning required new specialists. The newest industrialization around 1970 formed the unique industrial face of 50 I SALGÓTARJÁNRÓL DIÁKOKNAK
