Graudenz (Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland) Graudenz
(also known as Grudenc, Grudencz, Grawdencz, Grawdenz,
Grawdentz, Grudenz, Grudentz, and Graudentz; now known as
Grudziądz; coordinates: 53.483333° N, 18.766667° E [53° 29′ 33″
N, 18° 46′ 34″ E]; 1955 population, 36,805, 2007 population,
100,000) a city of former West Prussia, now in the Kuyavian-
Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland. After the devastating floods of
the Vistula River about 1560, large areas of the territory of
Graudenz were depopulated. This stricken territory was then
largely taken over by Dutch settlers, usually Mennonites, who
were granted the privileges of freedom of religion, their own
schools, and transporting their products on the Vistula free of
taxes. In the 17th century Mennonites predominated in the
following villages: Parsken, Kommerau, Klein-Lubin, and Dragass;
they were very numerous in the villages of Klein-Wolz, Tresch,
Gross-Lubin, and Klein-Lubin. In Graudenz and its vicinity there
were until 1945 numerous Mennonites, espe