Jelonki, Warsaw

Jelonki, prior to 1951 known as Jelonek, is a residential neighbourhood in the city of Warsaw, Poland, located within the district of Bemowo. The City Information System divides the neighbourhood into two areas, Jelonki Północne (North Jelonki) and Jelonki Południowe (South Jelonki).

History
The folwark-type settlement had been established in the area, in the 19th century, next to the village of Odolany (both now part of city of Warsaw, Poland), around the Poznań Road (now Połczyńska Street). The village was bought by Bogumił Schneider (birthname: Gotlieb Schneider), a businessman, who moved, together with his family, to the area from Westphalia. He built there a brick house, where he lived with his family. The building survives to the present day. After he bought it, the village began being known as Jelonek, which in Polish translates to cervus, a genus of deer that was present in the area.

In 1846, Schneider opened the Zakłady Cegielniane i Fabryka Dachówek "Bogumił Schneider" ("Bogumił Schneider" Brickworks and Roof Tiles Factory), which produced bricks, roof tiles, and ceramics. The factory had a good reputation, being locally known for the good quality of its products. Many houses and tenements in Warsaw were built from the bricks from the factory. Its bricks were also commissioned by the Imperial Russian Army, and used in the construction of Fort II, Fort III, and Fort IV of the Warsaw Fortress, built between 1883 and 1890. The bricks made in the factory were branded with name "Jelonek". In 1902, the Schneider family built their second residence in Jelonek, a summer house made out of larch wood. By 1904, 729 people lived in Jelonek, and in the village were located 19 houses, and a school.

In 1927, inspired by the garden city movement, the Schneiders family divided and sold portion of their land, promoting construction of villas and gardens in Jelonek. They had also founded a garden and a fruit tree orchard, located around their summer residence. They had also drawn plans of wide town streets, including Schneiderów Avenue (currently Powstańców Śląskich Street), Kościelna Street, Parkowa Street, Poniatowskiego Street (currently Sternicza Street), and Żeromskiego Street (currently Człuchowska Street). In 1932, the settlement had been renamed to Miasto-Ogród Jelonek (Garden Town of Jelonek) as part of the development of the area in accordance to the garden city movement.

In September 1939, during the Invasion of Poland, in the Second World War, Miasto Ogród Jelonek was captured by the invading forces of Nazi Germany. It was recaptured on 18 September 1939, in the offensive by the group of Polish Armed Forces under the command of Leopold Okulicki. The village remained under Polish control until the capitulation of Warsaw, on 28 September 1939.

The Schneider's factory functioned until 1940, when while under occupation of Poland by the Nazi Germany, the occupying forces ordered it to be closed down. The remainders after factory are Schneider's and Jelonek Clay Pits, three small man-made ponds, formed in the clay pits made during the extraction of clay, that was used in the factories. In 1943, the village was inhabited by 3826 people. After the end of the Second World War, in Miasto Ogród Jelonek functioned the ceramics production school.

In 1943, the Schneiders family had donated 28 hectares of their lands (0.28 km² or 0.1 square miles) to the gmina (municipality) of Blizne, of which Miasto-Ogród Jelonek was part of, for development of streets, churches, schools, preschools, town hall, and other objects. The land was donated for the symbolic price of 1 złoty.

In 1947, Miasto-Ogród Jelonek was connected to Warsaw, via "W" bus route, between Wola tram depot and Kasztelański Square (then known as John III Sobieski Square).

Bogumił Schneider died in 1948. The history of Schneider family after 1951 remains unknown.

Miasto Ogród Jelonek belonged to the gmina of Blizne. Following the end of the Second World War, by 1948, Miasto Ogród Jelonek was the seat of the municipal government.

The Miasto-Ogród Jelonek was incorporated as a neighbourhood into the city of Warsaw on 14 May 1951, as part of the district of Wola. Its name was changed to Jelonki, which prior to that, used to be colloquial name for the village. Despite that, it kept the character closer to a suburban village.

In the 1970s, and the 1980s, in Jelonki, housing estates of multifamily residential buildings began to be developed, including the neighbourhoods of Jelonki, Lazurowa, and Górczewska.

Until 1990, Jelonki were part of the district of Wola. In 1990, the district was replaced by the gmina (municipality) of Warsaw-Wola, and in 1994, Jelonki were incorporated into then-established gmina of Warsaw-Bemowo. In 2002, gmina of Warsaw-Bemowo was disestabolished, and replaced by the district of Bemowo.

Location and administrative boundaries
Jelonki, is located within the south-eastern portion of the district of Bemowo, in the city of Warsaw, Poland. It is divided into two areas of the City Information System, Jelonki Północne (North Jelonki) and Jelonki Południowe (South Jelonki).

The boundaries of Jelonki Północne are determent by Górczewska Street to the north, the railway line no. 509 to the east, Człuchowska Street to the south, and Lazurowa Street to the west. Jelonki Północne borders Górce to the north, Koło and Ulrychów to the east, Jelonki Południowe to the south, and Chrzanów to the west.

The boundaries of Jelonki Południowe are determent by Człuchowska Street to the north, and the railway line no. 509, and Dźwigowa Street to the east. Its southern boundary is located to the south of the railway tracks of the Warszawa Główna Towarowa railway station. Its western boundary is determined by Lazurowa Street, Szeligowska Street, and a straight line going to the south from the crossing between Szeligowska Street and Połczyńska Street. Jelonki Południowe borders Jelonki Północne to the north, Ulrychów to the east, Odolany, and Nowe Włochy to the south, and Chrzanów to the west.