Sędziszów Małopolski is a town in Ropczyce-Sędziszów County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, Poland, with a population of 12,226 (1 January 2019). Sędziszów is located in eastern Lesser Poland, near the historic boundary between Lesser Poland and Red Ruthenia. The name of the town probably comes from ancient Polish given name Sąd, which was popular in the noble Odrowąż family in the 13th century. In the past, Sędziszów was also known as Shendishov, Sandissów, Sandyszów, Schandzyssów, and Sandzischów. The town is home to a sports club Lechia, established in 1914. Location In the Middle Ages, Sędziszów Małopolski was located on the border between the Kingdom of Poland and Red Ruthenia. In 1340, after King Kazimierz Wielki annexed Ruthenia, Sędziszów lost its status of a border town. The town lies between two geographical regions of Poland - the Carpathian Mountains, and Sandomierz Basin. Sędziszów's area is almost , and the town is divided into 5 districts (osiedla). Sędziszów Małopolski lies along European route E40 as well as major rail line E30, which goes from Kraków towards the border with Ukraine. History First mentions about Sędziszów Małopolski come from 1320s, when its parish church belonged to the deanery at Dębica. The village belonged to the Odrowąż family, and due to efforts of Jan Odrowąż, Sędziszów was incorporated as a town on February 28, 1483, by King Kazimierz Jagiellończyk. In 1512 Sędziszów received the rights to organize weekly markets (on Tuesdays), and in 1555, the town passed to the hands of the Tarnowski family. In the 1620s, it belonged to Mikołaj Spytko Ligęza, who built roads and strengthened river banks. In 1649 Sędziszów Małopolski belonged to the Lubomirski family, and the town suffered in the 1650s. First, there was a plague, which decimated the population (1652), then, during the deluge, Sędziszów was destroyed by the army of George II Rakoczi. In 1661, the town passed on to the Potocki family, as a dowry in a wedding of Feliks Kazimierz Potocki with Krystyna Lubomirska. The Potockis made several investments in Sędziszów Małopolski, building a town hall, a new parish church and a monastery. In the 18th century Sędziszów was frequently looted and burned - among others, during the Great Northern War and the Bar Confederation. In 1772 (see Partitions of Poland), Sędziszów was annexed by the Austrian Empire, and in a fire of 1817, large parts of the town were destroyed. Between 1856 and 1858 Sędziszów received