Kladno is a city in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It is located 25 kilometres (16 miles) northwest of the capital city Prague. The city is a part of the Prague metropolitan area.
Economy
Kladno was the historical birthplace of heavy industry in Bohemia. For years, the city was home to the Poldi steel factory, the region’s largest employer. The factory still stands but has been divided into smaller entities after privatisation and changes in ownership. The mining industry began here in 1842. The proximity to Prague helped to keep the local economy stable in spite of the heavy industrial decline after the collapse of the communist regime. A series of Western European companies has established production in Kladno, including Lego, Dr. Oetker, NKT Cables and Quickstep Laminate Floors.
Notable people
- Anton Cermak (1873–1933), mayor of Chicago in 1931–1933
- Antonin Raymond (1888–1976), Czech American architect
- Zdeněk Miler (1921–2011), animator and illustrator
- Petr Pithart (born 1941), politician, former Prime Minister
- Michal Pivoňka (born 1966), ice hockey player
- Jiří Dienstbier Jr. (born 1969), politician
- Jaromír Jágr (born 1972), ice hockey player
- František Kaberle (born 1973), ice hockey player
- Tomáš Plekanec (born 1982), ice hockey player
- Michael Frolík (born 1988), ice hockey player
- Jakub Voráček (born 1989), ice hockey player
- Radko Gudas (born 1990), ice hockey player
- Jiří Sekáč (born 1992), ice hockey player
