Řeka is located about 15 kilometres (9 mi) east of Frýdek-Místek and 27 km (17 mi) southeast of Ostrava. It lies in the historical region of Cieszyn Silesia in the Moravian-Silesian Beskids mountain range. The highest point is the Šindelná mountain at 1,100 m (3,600 ft) above sea level, located on the southeastern municipal border. The Ropičanka Stream originates in the municipal territory and then flows across the municipality.
History
Řeka was founded in 1644 was formed by the separation from Smilovice and Guty, and originally named Řeka smilovská. It belonged then to the Duchy of Teschen. The village was established as a typical mountain settlement by associating already existing scattered mountain pastures and mountain farms. In the following years, other small farmers settled in the newly formed village. The main source of livelihood of the inhabitants was mountain farming.[2]
After Revolutions of 1848 in the Austrian Empire a modern municipal division was introduced in the re-established Austrian Silesia. The village as a municipality was subscribed to the political and legal district of Cieszyn. According to the censuses conducted in 1880–1910, the majority were native Polish-speakers (between 95.5% and 99.6%) accompanied by a small German-speaking minority (at most 19 or 4.1% in 1890) and Czech-speaking people (growing from 1 in 1880 to 10 in 1910).[2] In terms of religion in 1910 the majority were Protestants (92.6%), followed by Roman Catholics (6.8%) and 3 people adhering to another faiths (but not Jewish).[3]
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