The Tarnobrzeg county comprises 4 communes. It covers 520 km2. Grebow commune is the largest as far as the area is concerned - 186 km2, Nowa Deba town and commune cover 142 km2, Baranow Sandomierski town and commune - 125 km2 and Gorzyce commune - 69 km2. The county has got the population of 55000 residents. County roads are 158 km long. The county area is crossed by national roads: the road no. 9 Warsaw - Radom - Barwinek and the road no. 77 Sandomierz - Nisko — Przemysl as well as the railway line Debica - Stalowa Wola branching off towards Skarzy­sko-Kamienna and the wide-gauge line from Silesia to the Ukraine.

 

For the last 50 years the region of Tarnobrzeg has heen perceived as the biggest European centre of sulphur industry. The time has shaped the identity of the local population thus becoming the industrial community showing high vocational qualifications. The industrial monoculture is the reason of the present economic problems of the region. The so-called middle class taking the risk activity in other domains than trade and services is created with a great effort.

The county of Tarnobrzeg needs other ways of using its economic and intellectual potentials. New technologies of chemical industry, bio-fuels production, etc. that could be introduced to the region are widely accepted by the society. However, the land needs an outside investor as firms established as a result of transforming the former Sulphur Mines and Processing Works do not have sufficient capital for launching a new production. A considerable reserve of production means as: electricity, water supply, possibility of sewage draining, availability of buildings and ground, constitute a good base for locating economic activity within the county.

Appreciating the positive influence of economic development on the quality of living standards in the area, local governments offer a variety of encouragements for investors within their area. They are also doing their best to increase the attractiveness of investing by expanding local infrastructure.

The Tarnobrzeg county displays advanced agricultural characteristics and, though small and medium-sized farms prevail in the area, they are well provided with machines and equipment and specialise in horticulture.

On 7 August 1998 the Cabinet issued a regulation creating counties as administrative units. By force of this regulation the Tarnobrzeg county was established encompassing within its limits: Baranow Sandomierski town and commune. Gorzyce commune, Grebow commune and Nowa Deba town and commune. Tarnobrzeg, a town with county rights forming itself a so-called municipal county, is also the seat of the Tarnobrzeg county. The Tarnobrzeg county council of the 2nd tenure has got 17 memhers.