HIGHLANDERS
Sixteen separate and identifiable highlands groups were present in the Austrian Crownland of Galicia in the 19th Century. These groups can be lumped into three major categories with the Western and Central Highlanders residing in areas that are, for the most part, in contemporary Poland and with the Eastern Highlanders residing in areas that are today in western Ukraine. Population figures are from 1851. The highlander groups from west to east:

Western Highlanders:

  • Jablonkowianie or Silesian highlanders: about 22,000
  • Zywczakie: 72,912
  • Babiogorcy: 51,335
  • Rabczanie or Zagorzanie: 36,935
  • Kliszczakie or Letwonia highlanders: 17,309
  • Podhalanie: 22,302
  • Nowotarzanie or Nowy Targ highlanders: 29,115
  • Pieniny: 18,809
  • Sandeczanie or Sacz highlanders: 46,924

    Subtotals: 8 towns, 403 villages, 317,641 residents (Roman Catholic)

    Central Highlanders:

  • Spizacy or Gardloki: 20,530
  • Czuhoncy or Rusnacy: 109,899
  • Kurtacy or Cossak
  • Wallachians

    Subtotals: 6 towns, 304 villages, 130,429 residents (Greek Catholic)

    Eastern Highlanders:

  • Wierzchowincy or Bojkos: 57,553
  • Tucholcy: 15,413
  • Hutsuls: 73,676

    Subtotals: 6 towns, 188 villages, 146,642 residents (Greek Catholic)

    Highlanders' totals:

    20 towns, 895 villages, 594,712 residents

    Galicia totals:

    11,373 settlements including 230 towns, 6,134 villages, 5,418,016 residents.

    • For the classic highlanders' song, click: Goralu, Czy Ci Nie Zal


    Bronislaw Gustawicz, Slownik Geograficzny Krolestwa Polskiego, Warsaw 1889, Vol.2, pp. 693-697
    Photos by Wilhelm Nolting, Polen, Berlin 1936
    Goral Polka sequenced by Stan Konefal
    Dennis Benarz, Chicagoland USA 2008