{{Infobox settlement | name = Otrokovice | other_name = | settlement_type = [[Obec|Town]] <!-- images --> | image_skyline = Otrokovice, kostel svatého Vojtěcha.jpg | image_caption = Church of Saint Adalbert | image_flag = Otrokovice_CZ_flag.svg | image_shield = Znak mesta otrokovice.svg <!-- location --> | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{CZE}} | subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of the Czech Republic|Region]] | subdivision_name1 = [[Zlín Region|Zlín]] | subdivision_type2 = [[Districts of the Czech Republic|District]] | subdivision_name2 = [[Zlín District|Zlín]] <!-- maps and coordinates --> | image_map = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Czech Republic | pushpin_relief = 1 | pushpin_map_caption = Location in the Czech Republic | coordinates = {{coord|49|12|36|N|17|31|51|E|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_footnotes = <!-- government type, leaders --> | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Hana Večerková | leader_party = {{polparty|Czech Republic|ANO}} <!-- established --> | established_title = First mentioned | established_date = 1141 <!-- area --> | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 19.63 <!-- elevation --> | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 190 <!-- population --> | population_as_of = 2026-01-01 | population_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |title=Population in municipalities as at 1. 1.|url=https://data.csu.gov.cz/datastat/data/VYBER/OBY02AT02|work=DataStat|publisher=[[Czech Statistical Office]]|date=2026-05-18}}</ref> | population_total = 17239 | population_density_km2 = auto <!-- time zone(s) --> | timezone1 = [[Central European Time|CET]] | utc_offset1 = +1 | timezone1_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]] | utc_offset1_DST = +2 <!-- postal codes, area code --> | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = 765 02 | area_code_type = | area_code = <!-- website, footnotes --> | website = {{URL|https://www.otrokovice.cz/}} | footnotes = }} '''Otrokovice''' ({{IPA|cs|ˈotrokovɪtsɛ}}; {{langx|de|Otrokowitz}}) is a town in [[Zlín District]] in the [[Zlín Region]] of the [[Czech Republic]]. It has about 17,000 inhabitants. It lies at the confluence of the [[Morava (river)|Morava]] and [[Dřevnice]] rivers and is known as an industrial centre, with a tradition in the production of shoes and tyres.
==Administrative division== Otrokovice consists of two municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):<ref>{{cite web |title=Public Census 2021 – basic data|url=https://vdb.czso.cz/vdbvo2/faces/en/index.jsf?page=vystup-objekt-parametry&z=T&f=TABULKA&sp=A&skupId=4690&katalog=33475&pvo=SLD21043-CO|work=Public Database|publisher=[[Czech Statistical Office]]|language=cs|date=2022}}</ref> *Otrokovice (12,391) *Kvítkovice (4,740)
==Etymology== The town's name is derived from the word ''otrok'', meaning 'child' or 'juvenile' in old Czech (instead of 'slave' in modern Czech). There are several theories as how the name originated. Otrokovice may have been owned by an immature owner in the distant past, or the settlement could be established as property for some of the children of the owner of the surrounding lands.<ref name=zldenik>{{cite web |title=Otrokovice nepojmenoval otrok, ale patrně malé dítě|url=https://zlinsky.denik.cz/zpravy_region/otrokovice-nepojmenoval-otrok-ale-patrne-male-dite.html|work=Deník.cz|language=cs|date=2010-04-22|access-date=2022-01-03}}</ref>
==Geography== Otrokovice is located about {{convert|8|km|0}} west of [[Zlín]]. The eastern part of the municipal territory lies in the [[Vizovice Highlands]] and the western part lies in the southern tip of the [[Upper Morava Valley]]. The highest point is at {{convert|325|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level. The town lies at the confluence of the [[Morava (river)|Morava]] and [[Dřevnice]] rivers, and the Mojena Stream. The Morava forms the western border of the municipal territory.
==History== The first written mention of Otrokovice is in a deed of bishop [[Jindřich Zdík]] from 1141. Until 1570, it was a part of the [[Malenovice Castle|Malenovice]] estate. Between 1570 and 1649, it was a separate estate and a fortress, which served as the manor house, was built. From 1649, Otrokovice estate was merged with [[Napajedla]] estate and remained its part until the abolishment of [[manorialism]] in 1848. The manor house was demolished before 1767.<ref name=history>{{cite web |title=Historie města|url=https://www.otrokovice.cz/vismo/osnova.asp?id_org=11673&id_osnovy=1749|publisher=Město Otrokovice|language=cs|access-date=2025-09-21}}</ref>
A railway through Otrokovice was buil in 1841.<ref name=zldenik/> A railway station was not established until 1882. Important for the development of Otrokovice was the construction of a new railway Otrokovice–Zlín–[[Vizovice]] in 1899.<ref name=history/>
The fastest development of Otrokovice occurred in the 1930s, after [[Tomáš Baťa]] bought land here and had built auxiliary plants and aircraft production of his [[Bata Corporation|Bata company]]. A modern industrial district called Baťov was built, and the municipality was renamed Baťov for several years. In 1960, the municipalities of Otrokovice and Kvítkovice were merged. Otrokovice became a town in 1964. In the following decades, further industrial expansion occurred.<ref name=history/>
==Demographics== {{historical populations |align=none|cols=3 |1869|1351 |1880|1489 |1890|1545 |1900|1629 |1910|1752 |1921|1927 |1930|2645 |1950|8929 |1961|10486 |1970|11925 |1980|18082 |1991|20267 |2001|19261 |2011|18343 |2021|17131 |source=Censuses<ref>{{cite web |title=Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011|url=https://csu.gov.cz/produkty/historicky-lexikon-obci-1869-az-2015|publisher=[[Czech Statistical Office]]|language=cs|date=2015-12-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Population Census 2021: Population by sex|url=https://vdb.czso.cz/vdbvo2/faces/en/index.jsf?page=vystup-objekt-parametry&z=T&f=TABULKA&sp=A&skupId=4429&katalog=33515&pvo=SLD21001-OB-OK|work=Public Database|publisher=[[Czech Statistical Office]]|date=2021-03-27}}</ref>}}
==Economy== In past the town was significantly connected with the [[Bata Corporation|Bata company]] which owned multiple local industries including the large shoe factory that created its initial wealth.
[[Barum (company)|Continental Barum]] has a manufacturing facility in Otrokovice and is the largest employer with headquarters in the Zlín Region. This tyre producer was founded in 1948 by merger of three tyre manufacturers. The company became part of the German [[Continental AG]] conglomerate in 1993.<ref>{{cite web |title=The history of Barum: How it all began|url=https://www.barum-tyres.com/car/about-barum/history|publisher=Continental AG|access-date=2022-01-03}}</ref>
Another important manufacturing sites are the large TOMA Industrial Zone where various companies of various industries are located, and [[Zlin Aircraft]] that operates from the airfield next to the Barum factory.
==Transport== [[File:Otrokovice, nádraží, projíždějící Euro City.jpg|thumb|Otrokovice railway station]] The [[D55 motorway]] runs through the town. The I/49 road splits from it and connects Otrokovice with Zlín.
Otrokovice is a major railway junction of the Zlín Region.<ref name=zldenik/> [[Otrokovice railway station]] lies on the railway of national importance and has connection to main Czech cities. It is located on the lines [[Prague]]–[[Luhačovice]] and [[Brno]]–[[Olomouc]] (further continuing to Poland, Slovakia and Hungary).<ref>{{cite web |title=Station details Otrokovice|url=https://www.cd.cz/en/stanice/otrokovice/35575|publisher=[[České dráhy]]|access-date=2026-05-22}}</ref>
Otrokovice has a regular bus service, linking main areas of the town. The town operates a transport company together with the neighbouring city of [[Zlín]]. [[Trolleybus]] line connects Otrokovice with Zlín.<ref>{{cite web |title=Historie MHD|url=https://www.dszo.cz/zabava/historie-mhd/|publisher=Dopravní společnost Zlín-Otrokovice, s.r.o.|language=cs|access-date=2022-01-03}}</ref>
In addition to the conventional modes of transport, Otrokovice is also equipped with a private domestic airport and a wharf at the Morava River.
==Sights== [[File:Otrokovice, Společenský dům (4).jpg|thumb|''Společenský dům'']] [[File:Otrokovice, památník T. Bati (2).jpg|thumb|Tomáš Baťa statue]] ''Společenský dům'' (i.e. "Social House") is architecturally the most valuable building from the Baťa's era.<ref name=history/> It was designed by [[Vladimír Karfík]] and built in 1936. This functionalist building serves today as a hotel and is protected as a cultural monument.<ref>{{cite web |title=Společenský dům|url=http://tic-otrokovice.cz/spolecensky-dum/|publisher=Tourist Information Centre Otrokovice|language=cs|access-date=2022-01-03}}</ref>
The Church of Saint Michael the Archangel is located on the town square in the original centre of Otrokovice. It was built as a chapel in 1769 and expanded into a church a hundred years later.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kostel sv. Michaela|url=http://tic-otrokovice.cz/kostel-sv-michaela/|publisher=Tourist Information Centre Otrokovice|language=cs|access-date=2022-01-03}}</ref>
The Church of Saint Adalbert was built in 1995 and is modern landmark of the town.<ref name=history/>
The statue of St. [[John of Nepomuk]] on the town square was created in 1823. The statue of St. John of Nepomuk in Kvítkovice comes from 1723. According to legend, the statue in Kvítkovice was originally in Otrokovice and was bought for beer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Otrokovice|url=http://tic-otrokovice.cz/otrokovice/|publisher=Tourist Information Centre Otrokovice|language=cs|access-date=2022-01-03}}</ref>
The statue of Tomáš Baťa is cast from the original located in the English [[Tilbury]]. There is also a memorial to the site of the plane crash in Otrokovice, when Tomáš Baťa died in 1932.<ref>{{cite web |title=Otrokovice|url=http://www.ic-zlin.cz/wcd/pages/atraktivity/po-stopach-t-bati/stopami-batu-brozura-celek/po-stopach-batu_brozuraa5_160x160_nahled-celek.pdf|publisher=City Information and Tourist Center Zlín|pages=18, 53|access-date=2022-01-03}}</ref>
==Notable people== *[[Josef Odložil]] (1938–1993), athlete, Olympic medalist *[[Pavel Svojanovský]] (1943–2024), rower, Olympic medalist *[[Oldřich Svojanovský]] (born 1946), rower, Olympic medalist *[[Pavel Valoušek]] (born 1979), rally driver *[[Jan Kameník]] (born 1982), football manager *[[Pavla Gajdošíková]] (born 1991), actress *[[Jakub Jugas]] (born 1992), footballer
==Twin towns – sister cities== {{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in the Czech Republic}} Otrokovice is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Partnerská města|url=https://www.otrokovice.cz/partnerska-mesta/ms-1047/|publisher=Město Otrokovice|language=cs|access-date=2025-08-27}}</ref> *{{flagicon|SVK}} [[Dubnica nad Váhom]], Slovakia *{{flagicon|SVK}} [[Partizánske]], Slovakia *{{flagicon|HUN}} [[Vác]], Hungary *{{flagicon|POL}} [[Gmina Zawadzkie|Zawadzkie]], Poland
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|Otrokovice}} *{{official|https://www.otrokovice.cz/}}
{{Zlín District}} {{authority control}}
[[Category:Cities and towns in the Zlín Region]] [[Category:Populated places in Zlín District]]