Kosice (Hungarian Kassa; German Kaschau), city in eastern Slovakia, on the Hornád River. Kosice is an important industrial center, with various light industries; an iron and steel center is nearby. Among the many historic places of interest in the city is the Gothic Cathedral of Saint Elizabeth (14th-15th century). A technical university and a college of veterinary medicine are also located in the city. Since the founding of Kosice in 1241 it has been held at various times by the Austrians, Ottomans, Hungarians, and Russians. By the terms of the Treaty of Trianon in 1920, the city was ceded by Hungary to Czechoslovakia. It reverted to Hungary in 1939, at the beginning of World War II, but was recovered by Czechoslovakia at the close of the war in 1945. Kosice served as the seat of the first Czechoslovakian government after the war—a government that paved the way for Communist control of the country. The city grew rapidly in the postwar era, doubling in population and becoming a cultural and economic center for the region. Kosice became part of independent Slovakia on January 1, 1993, following the breakup of Czechoslovakia. Population (1999 estimate) 241,941.
