Szakoly is a village in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg county, in the Northern Great Plain region of eastern Hungary. It is 135 mi to the east of Budapest and 21 mi to the north east of Debrecen. It is home to the Szakoly Power Plant. Szakoly was first mentioned in 1290.

Geography

It covers an area of 41.44 km2 and has a population of 2539 people (2024). There is a lake on the southern border of the settlement. Average annual precipitation is about 560–590 mm, and the annual average temperature is between 9.5 to 9.6 C.

History

Szakoly was first mentioned in 1290. Inhabited area as early as the Avars age was built by '''B.C. II.-I. century'''. This is evidenced by several archaeological finds. During the reign of King of Bela III. of Hungary, it was a hospital in Szakoly. Here was a county assembly in 1320. It were owned by the Zakoly family in 1487, hence the name of the settlement known today. The Turks almost completely destroyed the settlement in the 18th century. As a border settlement, it was part of the Kingdom of Hungary and the Principality of Transylvania. Szakoly was annexed to Romania for a year, only to return to Hungary again after the Trianon peace dictatorship in World War II. During the Horthy era, many emigrated to America (USA, Canada). Szakoly's fire brigade was established in 1992. Hungary's first greenfield biomass power plant was built here, with a production capacity of 19.8 MW. Operating since 2009, it is now owned and strategically important by the French Veolia Group. An extremely rare event was observed, aurora borealis in 2024.

Economy

There is a biomass power plant in the village with a capacity of 19.8 MW. Operating since 2009, it is now owned and strategically important by the French Veolia Group. Residents of the village work in the nearby towns industry (Major employers: LEGO, Michelin Tyres, Hübner H Rubber, Jasz Plastic in Nyíregyháza; TEVA Pharmaceutical, Gedeon Richter, BMW, GLOBUS, National Instruments, CATL in Debrecen; Coloplast, Unilever, Rosenberg in Nyirbator) and in agriculture (for example: apple, corn, wheat, melon, tobacco). There is thermal water (60 °C or 140 °F) under the Szakoly, but it is not utilized.

Education

Arany János Primary School, Vocational School and High School

Education of the population

32% be only primary school 35% must be skilled 25% have a secondary education (grammar school, technical school) 6% have a higher education degree (college, university) 2% to be illiterate

Religion

Health Care

There is a Health Center in Szakoly, with a family doctor, a pharmacy, and a dentist.

Leisure activities

Leisure programs are organized in the Básty Garden. There is also a riding stable. More important events, for example May Day (May 1.), Corn Festival (in August), Harvest Festival (in October), Tractor Parade (in December).

Cultural values

Historical memories of Szakoly

Sister cities

Ardud, Romania Orosi, Slovakia

Common surnames in the settlement

Elek, Győri, Kiss, Kovács, Módis, Nagy, Szabó, Szűcs, Tóth, Vadon, Papp There are three Christian cemeteries in the settlement, but only one is in active use, the others can only be visited.

Common surnames in the settlement

Weisz, Lichtmann, Reizmann, Rozinger There is also an old Jewish cemetery in the settlement, but it has not been used or taken care of for a long time.

Famous people

Peter Parthenius - bishop (1592.) Zsigmond Móricz - novelist and Social Realist (1898.) János Szilágyi - Founder of Szakolyért Bárati Klub (1930.) Tihamér Kiss - Szakoly's private doctor, composer (pseudonym Tihamér Dalnoki: published numerous musical compositions) (1937.)