Revolutions of 1848 in the Austrian Empire led to various social, legal and also administrative reforms. In the late December 1849 Austrian Silesia was re-established and was initially subdivided into seven political districts, additionally divided into
legal districts (German: Gerichtsbezirk). Freistadt became a seat of legal district in
Teschen political district. In the era of
Bach's neo-absolutism political districts were abolished and replaced by district offices (German: Bezirksamt) encompassing territories of the abolished legal districts. Political districts were re-established in 1868. According to the censuses conducted in 1880, 1890, 1900 and 1910 this 34 municipalities (317 km²) had a combined population of: Such a large growth in population was owing to an industrial development within the district luring a large influx of migrant workers, mostly from western
Galicia. Traditionally the area in most parts was inhabited by
Silesian Lachs speaking
Cieszyn Silesian dialect. After
World War I and fall of
Austria-Hungary the region of
Cieszyn Silesia including the territory of Freistadt political district became disputed land between
Czechoslovakia and
Poland. This led to
Polish–Czechoslovak War and the division of the region and district on 28 July 1920, by a decision of the
Spa Conference. Majority of the municipalities became a part of Czechoslovakia (with the district being afterwards known as
Okres Fryštát) and only the easternmost municipalities became a part of Poland, and were then transferred to
Cieszyn County. == Municipal division ==