industry in Czechia, the economic troubles were shortened and alleviated by the proximity to Prague. In 2000 the city received the status of a statutory city (statutární město). Demographics Economy Kladno was one of the historical birthplaces of heavy industry in Bohemia. For years, the city was home to the Poldi steel factory, the region's largest employer. Since economic restructuring in the 1990s, the heavy industry was largely replaced by services and light industry. A number of companies has established production in Kladno, including Lego, Dr. Oetker, NKT Cables or La Lorraine. A large percentage of residents commute work in Prague. Sport The city known as the home of many internationally known ice hockey players, such as Jaromír Jágr or Tomáš Plekanec. Its ice hockey club is Rytíři Kladno, which was successful in the past and is connected with many famous players of Czech ice hockey history, including Olympic gold medalists Jaromír Jágr, Pavel Patera, Martin Procházka, Libor Procházka and Milan Hnilička. The club plays in the top tier again, with Jaromír Jágr as its owner and president. The local football club SK Kladno played in the Czech First League in 2006–2010, but since 2013 it plays in the fourth tier. 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 Antonín Kachlík (1923–2022), film director and screenwriter 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 Twin towns – sister cities Kladno is twinned with: Bellevue, United States Vitry-sur-Seine, France Kladno also cooperates with Aachen in Germany. References External links Official website Cities and towns in the Czech Republic Populated places in Kladno District