Tanulmányok Budapest Múltjából 28. (1999) – Urbanizáció a dualizmus korában: konferencia Budapest egyesítésének 125. évfordulója tiszteletére a Budapesti Történeti Múzeumban

A VÁROSI ÁTALAKULÁS KÉRDÉSEI ÉS SZÍNTEREI - Fleisz János: Nagyvárad urbanizációjának jellegzetességei a századelőn (1900-1914) 115-129

JÁNOS FLEISZ CHARACTERISTICS OF THE URBANIZATION OF NAGYVÁRAD AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CENTURY (1900-1914) SUMMARY The forming of the dual state government had a significant influence on the possibilities and dynamics of the development of Hungarian towns. For Nagyvárad in particular, this period created advantageous circumstances. The town took an active part in assisting the region in catching up with the rest of the country. At the beginning of the century, the town saw a period of prosperity and dynamic growth, which made it possible for the town planners and developers to fully assert themselves. Nagyvárad had a distinct place in the town development of the late dualistic period of Hungary. This distinction was clearly seen in the economic, social and cultural life, and it featured more differences and similarities, in comparison with the general trends of development in other bigger cities. In the process of the urbanization of Nagyvárad, we present the shaping of historic factors, such as demographic growth, economic situation, social structure, and the results of municipal management. The process of the establishment of modern infrastructure will also be dealt with, including road construction, water management, water supply, sewage systems, public hygiene, and street lighting, as well as the introduction of innovations in urbanization. The expansion of municipal functions will also be outlined, together with their characteristics. Through the overview of the degree of urbanization, and central role of the town, the place of Nagyvárad clearly emerges in the municipal network of the country at the time, and also in the general ranking of the cities. We briefly touch on the active role "town spirit" can play in the city's development. When examining the period directly before WW I, we find that the city on the Körös River had an expanded influence on the surrounding settlements, its central functions were developed, and its social-economic conditions, along with its cultural relations, were stable. In our generalizations we applied the methods of comparative town-history recording. Nagyvárad was the seventh largest town in the country from the aspect of the population. But comparing its developmental rates, we can conclude that the town, as a partial regional center, was among the first five most advanced towns of the country at the time. The town accelerated its progress at the beginning of the century. But after the war, its development came to a halt, and it was forced to take a new path. Leonardo Benevolo said that "the history of towns is made up of countless specific cases, and these need to be primarily examined separately". The same approach has led us to reevaluate the municipal development of Nagyvárad-a city rich in specific and general features within this field. 129