{{Infobox settlement |name = Szolnok |settlement_type = City with county rights |official_name = |image_skyline = |image_caption = | image_blank_emblem = |image_flag = Szolnokzászlaja.svg |image_seal = |image_shield = HUN Szolnok Címer.svg |nickname = Capital of Tisza, Gate of Transtisza, City of Waters|image_map = |map_caption = |pushpin_map = Hungary Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok#Hungary#Europe | pushpin_relief = |coordinates = |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = |subdivision_type1 = County |subdivision_name1 = Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok |subdivision_type2 = District |subdivision_name2 = Szolnok |established_title = |established_date = |leader_party = Fidesz |leader_title = Mayor |leader_name = Ferenc Szalay |unit_pref = Metric |area_total_km2 = 187.24 |area_land_km2 = |area_water_km2 = |elevation_footnotes = |elevation_m = 68 |population_total = 71285 |population_as_of = 2019 |population_rank = 11th in Hungary |population_density_km2 = auto |timezone1 = CET |utc_offset1 = +1 |timezone1_DST = CEST |utc_offset1_DST = +2 |postal_code_type = Postal code |postal_code = 5000 to 5008 |area_code_type = Area code |area_code = (+36) 56 |website = }} Szolnok (; also known by other alternative names) is the county seat of Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok county in central Hungary. A city with county rights, it is located on the banks of the Tisza river, in the heart of the Great Hungarian Plain, which has made it an important cultural and economic crossroads for centuries. Szolnok also has one of Hungary’s best waterpolo teams. Name and etymology Szolnok was named for the first steward of the city, Szaunik or Zounok. The town was first officially mentioned under the name Zounok in 1075. In the following centuries, it was recorded as Zounok, Saunic, Zounuc, and Zawnuch. The variety of spellings likely comes from phonetic discrepancies occurring when Hungarian sounds - originally written in runic Old Hungarian script - were recorded using the Latin alphabet. Another possibility revolves around speculation that the name Szaunik was not a personal name after all, but rather a title relating to the significant salt trade (salt, ) in the area. In most other languages, the city's Hungarian name is used without derivation (for example , ). The city has its own name in a few languages (for example , , ), deriving from these languages' historical relationship to the city. Location and physical geography Szolnok is located in the heart of the Great Hungarian Plain, at the confluence of the Tisza and Zagyva rivers. It lies about east-southeast from Budapest. The climate of the area is continental, with hot summers following relatively mild winters. The region is one of the sunniest in Europe;