GORZW WIELKOPOLSKI

German Landsberg An Der Warthe, city, capital of Gorzw wojewdztwo (province), northwestern Poland, on the Warta River. Gorzw Wielkopolski began as a castle in the Wielkopolska, or Great Poland, region that was overcome by the margraves of Brandenburg in 1257. The town developed as a commercial centre during the 14th and 15th centuries because of trade with Poland (mainly grain) and the operation of a regular fair. Destroyed during the Thirty Years' War (1618-48), the town was rebuilt and grew during the 18th century because of its textile industries and, during the 19th century, with the building of rail lines. Synthetic textile products, lumber milling, and food processing are economically important. Pop. (1982 est.) 109,000.