Send Gift Baskets to Nyiregyhaza, Hungary

Historians believe that Nyíregyháza first appeared on the map in 1209, but it was then called simply Nyír (‘birch’), after the Nyírség, the greater region in which the city lies. The name of the city came from its location on a riverbank and the fact that it already had a church. By the 15th century, about 400 people were living in this part of Hungary, making it similarly called Egyházalj. In the 16th century, during the Turkish occupation of Hungary, Nyíregyháza became deserted; it was re-settled only in the 1630s-1640s.

Békéscsaba became a major city and a new center of commerce after the War for Independence led by Prince Francis II Rákóczi. Most settlers were Slovakian. This town in Hungary was granted the right to hold four market days a year by 1786. By this time the population had already grown to 7,500. From then on, it was a golden age for Nyíregyháza as it became affluent to free itself from its aristocratic overlord and gain other similar rights. The town has been booming over the past few years and these are some of the most moving years in the town’s history. They have a town hall, a hospital, multiple schools, and a restaurant by nearby Sóstó lake (“Salty Lake”).

The town’s inhabitants and the city’s mayor took an active part in the revolution and war for independence in 1848–49, and after the suppression of the revolution, several were arrested. Among them was Márton Hatzel.

In the early 19th century, Nyíregyháza became more gradually urbanized, growing into a larger city throughout the second half of the 19th century. In 1876, Szabolcs County (now part of an integrated county) was created out of it. In 1858, the first railroad line was established in Nyíregyháza. The city grew quickly afterward, with a flourishing economy and construction of the theaters, main post office & telegraph office. In 1917, a huge fire destroyed much of the city. It was rebuilt during the inter-war period with an emphasis on urban rehabilitation and cultural renewal. During this time, it became part of Romania and suffered occupation at the start of WWII.

In World War II, a large number of Jews were employed as forced laborers by Hungarians. The Jewish community was brutally deported to Auschwitz by the Germans. After the war ended, over 6,000 Jews were sent to Soviet labor camps. Several buildings in Nyíregyháza were destroyed, including an old synagogue that’s now preserved at the Jewish Cemetery.

In 2004, the idea for a monument in memory of Holocaust victims was developed and it was completed in 2013.

Nowadays, Nyíregyháza is one of Hungary’s most prosperous cities and is known for education and tourism. Many streets have a bar in them, making it a perfect destination for tourists looking to experience the local lifestyle.