Rybnik [ˈrɨbɲik] is a city in southern Poland, in the Silesian Voivodeship. The city developed as a fishing centre (the word rybnik means fishpond in several Slavic languages, including Czech and Silesian) in medieval ages, then was a capital of so-called Rybnik State. Rybnik grew as an important centre of coal mining and the seat of Rybnik county since 19th century. During People's Republic of Poland the city was projected to grow as a main mining centre of southern Poland.