Funkcje obszarów wiejskich województwa śląskiego

This article presents some aspects of multi‑functionaldevelopment of rural areas in the SilesiaProvince, which is the largest job market in Poland. A big part of working village inhabitants commuteto work in towns. The living function developed in 96 among 118 examined rural communes(fig. 1).Rural areas show considerable functional differentiation. In scientific research the 9 functionaltypes of rural communes were identified and were connected in 4 groups (fig. 2). The most numerousgroup comprise 50 administrational units about mixed functions. It confirms about differentionalstructure of rural areas in Silesian region and gives the premises to their proper further development.The agricultural activity was reduced on the great part of the area. Although industrial functionrepresents the main factor of rural area activation, it shows a high degree of spatial concentration.An advanced urbanization concerns the communes with dominant or superior service function. Generallythe 75 rural communes show developed services about local importance, rarely of regionalimportance.An essential element which stimulates transformation processes in population job structurewhat then influences multi‑functionaldevelopment of villages is a stock of technical and social infrastructure.The council authorities influence for social‑economical development and their encouragefor individual business is significantly visible in these local systems